Whom to blame: Mr. Collins, Mr. Sisolak, the county, the state, or Mr. President Bush? How about ourselves? I believe that allowing our community to remain governed by the county for this long is our fault. This has left us vulnerable to leaders that may not represent our community’s common interests.

I hope the recent decision of the commissioners to not respect our community’s tradition of the straw poll vote will inspire us to stand on our own feet and govern ourselves. Moapa Valley Incorporated!

I remember the local schools’ recent jubilation in learning that they had been selected to be empowerment schools. Essentially, each school selected has more control over their own destiny rather than being reined by the Clark County School District. We need this same empowerment on a local government level.

Our valley recently experienced what might be termed a “close call” of multiple large scale developments being built here. I would expect that as a community we realize that such development will come again. We need to incorporate to properly handle the terms of these developments.

Our town board members have done the best to their knowledge with the jurisdiction that has been allotted them. It is time to move to the next level.

I believe that I do not need to convince readers of the benefits of incorporation. The majority of Moapa Valley knows this is the direction the community should pursue.

NRS 266.018.1 discusses the “Notice to Incorporate” that needs to be completed in order to start this process. “If a committee of five qualified electors wishes to organize an incorporated city, it may file a notice to incorporate with the county clerk”.

This process should have been started 10 years ago, but that is water under the bridge. What should we do about today? I plead for our town board or incorporation committee or “five qualified electors” to initiate this process today. Place it on the next town board agenda and get it done.

NRS 266.034 in summary states that the costs to perform the provisions relating to incorporation are covered by the county if the area is not incorporated. If the area is incorporated, the costs fall on the newly incorporated city. I would suggest hiring a firm to have these studies completed. This would enable the process to be completed efficiently.

Many locals fear what will happen to this great community that we live in if we incorporate. However, I fear what will happen to this community if we do not incorporate.

The process will take time, a year or two, but it is definitely better than further procrastination. We need to control what happens to our community. Right now we have no control.

Moapa Valley Incorporated, it’s the right decision and the right time. Let’s get this done!

Ryan Wheeler

Published in the Moapa Valley Progress on 1/14/09