Rising water bills worry residents

City Council continues ordinance until Aug. 6

The North Las Vegas City Council, in the absence of Mayor Michael Montandon, continued an ordinance concerning water rates for the city. Despite the continuation until the Aug. 6 meeting, residents turned out to voice their opinions.

Seniors and low income families were the objects of concern for residents who are afraid their water bills will triple. City Manager Kurt Fritsch explained that although City Council hasn't made any decisions, residents who are in the low usage tier, including seniors and low income families, could possibly see an approximate $2 per month increase. Those in the second and third tiers will be hit the hardest in an attempt to discourage excessive water use.

Jacque Risner, community development director for the City of North Las Vegas, also presented the council with an update on the development of the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance. The ordinance, which will make the existing ordinance more concise, will allow for the hiring of three additional senior code enforcement officers. The officers, who expect to be hired in January, will go into neighborhoods and notify neighbors of clean-up efforts. City employees will then help residents clean up trash, inoperable vehicles and graffiti in order to save code citations.

"If you comply, we'll help you. We'll do all the hard work," Risner said. "If you don't, you'll have to pay for it."

Citations would become more pricey under the new ordinance and more fees will be charged for return trips by code enforcement personnel. Currently, city employees are offering these services to the neighborhood behind City Hall. An adoption of the ordinance would allow the area to broaden and help preserve more of the mature areas of the city. It would also allow the city to tow vehicles whereas the North Las Vegas Police Department has the authority now.

There is no set date for the ordinance to appear on the City Council agenda.

The council also announced the appointments by Montandon, who was absent while recovering from brain surgery, and by councilwoman Shari Buck for the Citizens' Advisory Committee. Montandon appointed Carlos Morales Jr. and Buck nominated Jack Zietz. The committee discusses items such as utility rates. The next meeting of the Citizens' Advisory Committee will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Community Development department conference room, 2266 N. Civic Center Drive.


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