Council approves much-needed drainage project

      Residents of the Bluffs subdivision received some much-needed help from the Henderson City Council on Jan. 6.
      The council unanimously approved a drainage-system project to relieve high groundwater levels suffered on the properties of many residents of Palisades Drive in Promontory Point and Helmsdale Drive in Nuevo Estates. Many of the residents have already built drain systems on their property to try to combat the problem.
      "It is an absolute nightmare," Councilman Jack Clark said. "We need to attack this as quickly as we can to alleviate this problem. These people have lost the use of their back yards."
      Palisades resident Doris Johnson said her back yard is flooded with mosquito-infested, ankle-deep water which stems from water coming from underneath her home.
      "My back yard is a bog," she said.
      Plans for the approved project call for construction of a drain system on Palisades to intercept groundwater and provide it into a storm drain inlet being constructed at Arroyo Grande Boulevard and Navarre Lane. The project also includes a drain on Helmsdale which would discharge into an existing storm drain inlet.
      The project, which is slated to cost about $40,000, includes about 1,200 feet of drain pipe in Arroyo Grande and Palisades and about 300 feet in Helmsdale. The project will be constructed in conjunction with the drainage improvements at the intersection of Navarre and Arroyo Grande, which had already been approved.
      In other business, the City Council:
      Approved applications for a nonrestricted gaming license, nonrestricted liquor license and package liquor license for Ameristar Casino Las Vegas Inc. The licenses were granted for The Reserve Hotel & Casino, located at 777 W. Lake Mead Drive, which is scheduled to open sometime next month. An exact date has not been announced.
      Continued until Jan. 20 a mayoral appointment from Ward 3 or Ward 4 to the Henderson Planning Commission. The seat is currently held by Colleen Bell.
      Approved a six-month time extension for a power-screening facility at the southwest corner of Paradise Hills, near Horizon Ridge Parkway and Foothills Drive. The application was originally approved for six months by the council on June 9, 1997. The council warned about adhering to conditions which limits the usage to between the hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and providing on-site dust mitigation.
      "In the last six months, I have not had one complaint, which I think is rare for how close that operation is to homes," Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers said. "I'm willing to grant another six months, but I'm not willing to go any farther than that."
      Approved an architec-tural/engineering services agreement with Cella Barr and Associates for the design of a 10-acre park adjacent to Brown Junior High. The park, listed as the top priority in the East Park District by the Henderson Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, will include restrooms, lighted soccer fields, a tot lot, picnic ramadas, a volleyball area, horseshoe courts, a parking lot, security lighting and additional lighting of the school baseball fields and off-sites. Cost of the project is estimated at $125,000, with funds coming from the 1997 Park Bond Fund.
      Accepted the comprehensive annual financial report presented by Kafoury, Armstrong & Company for the annual audit of the city's funds and accounts for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997.
      Approved an interlocal cooperative agreement between the city of Henderson and the Nevada Department of Transportation for improvements to Lake Mead Drive, between Pawnee Lane and the Lake Mead National Recreation Area boundary. The $1.26 million project will create two additional travel lanes on Lake Mead Drive.
      Continued to Jan. 20 two items to contract Morrison Knudsen Corporation for emergency repairs of flood control facilities.
      Approved an interlocal contract with the Clark County Regional Flood Control District for the C-1 Channel at Lake Mead Drive. The channel, which has failed twice in the last five years, carries high-velocity flood water and makes an abrupt turn as it crosses under Lake Mead Drive. The $700,000 project will straighten the channel and provide a new culvert under Lake Mead Drive. It will be constructed in conjunction with the widening and paving project being undertaken by Lake Las Vegas and the Nevada Department of Transportation.
      Honored Jose Munoz, an equipment operator with the utilities division of the public works department, with an Employee Service Award for 25 years of service.
      Honored Jeffrey Gebhart, a water facilities operator with the public works department, as the city's employee of the month for January.