Incorporation has been a topic of conversation for many years in this valley, but it has rarely moved beyond just conversation. It is interesting that the main reason for incorporating has remained largely unchanged. We have felt for years that we have not been adequately represented by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). Recent events have made that painfully clear. While the BCC has the legal right to appoint anyone they desire to the town board, it is contrary to the very principles on which this country was founded. Our forefathers fought for self-government and representation, yet our elected officials don’t represent our will. In last week’s TAB meeting, Commissioner Collins stated that the county, with his oversight, has invested quite a bit of money in the valley for various services. A comment was also made that rarely, if ever, are we asked if we wanted or needed these services.

Providing services, no matter the quantity, without asking if we want or need that service, is NOT representation. Selecting town board members contrary to the democratically expressed will of the people, is NOT representation. This is what Commissioners Collins and Sisolak apparently fail to understand: we don’t want to be told what we need and don’t need; we can determine that for ourselves. This desire to self-govern is the essence of being American, and is what has made this the greatest nation in the history of the world.

Since our commissioners can’t understand that principle, it is time we take control, through incorporation.

It is time for us to come together as a community and make the decision to govern ourselves. The process that we have to take to successfully incorporate will require hard work, and a community effort, but in the end, we will have control - representation - of our valley.

Incorporation won’t solve all of our challenges, but it will give us the liberty to determine how those challenges are addressed. We will have representation that will listen; and if they don’t, we, the residents of Moapa Valley, will have the ability to replace them.

The time has come to stop blaming others for our dissatisfaction with our elected leaders and take control of the situation. We can start by creating a petition of registered voters who are in favor of looking at incorporation. The more signatures we collect, the stronger our voice will be. In the coming weeks, more information will be available about this petition drive, and the incorporation process as a whole. We need to come together as a community to accomplish this, so volunteers will be needed. Information on how to volunteer will also be announced in the next couple of weeks.

So, what does incorporation mean for the valley? It means that we will have the liberty to succeed - or fail - of our own accord. It means we will no longer be dictated to by residents of other cities, who understandably aren’t concerned about what happens in Moapa Valley. It means we are responsible for governing ourselves.

The time is right, the reason is right. It is time, once and for all to incorporate.

Ben Robison

Published in the Moapa Valley Progress on 1/21/09

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