DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

Clark County Public Works - Deriving Benefits from Growth

  The county continues to grow.  With that comes an increased number of roadway miles and flood channels that need to be maintained, more traffic signals that need to be installed and maintained, and more street lamps that need to light the way, along with numerous other infrastructure increases that need to be operated and maintained.  New roadways create alternate route options for our residents; however, the growth also brings additional volumes on the roadways.  Although we are a relatively new community, we are beginning to experience the affects of the natural aging process that requires a higher level of infrastructure maintenance dollars to be spent.

Clark County Public Works, without the increased workforce commensurate with the added responsibilities and coupled with huge cost increases for materials and contracted construction, must work smarter to provide more.  In the past ten years, for instance, the number of standard lane-miles of roadway has increased nearly 50%.  In addition to expecting more from each and every employee, we constantly look for innovative and cost effective ways to manage this increased workload.

The concepts of global warming, sustainability and conservation now also need to be considered in the development of our capital improvement projects.  To that end, Clark County Public Works seeks to economically use and protect energy resources.  For instance in 2007, a project was completed to modernize streetlight systems and save energy in Plata Del Sol subdivision (northwest of Harmon Avenue and Nellis Boulevard) with more modern equipment and circuits.  That project, at a cost of $709,620, was completed in March 2007.  Another project began in August 2007 to modernize the streetlights in the Desert Hills subdivision from Mountain Vista Street to Boulder Highway, and from Harmon Avenue to Tropicana Avenue at a cost of $913,097.  The replacements are expected to be completed by Spring 2008.  Other streetlight modernization replacements are scheduled in the older mid-town residential area near the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2007.

Copper wire theft became a serious crime in our community during the past year due to the high value of copper.  Not only was our streetlight wiring susceptible to the theft but many developers also reported such theft from homes and commercial buildings under construction.  Prior to April 2007, around 10,000 feet of wire were stolen per month.  Since that time, the rate has risen to 25,000 feet per month.  Law enforcement and the District Attorney's Office have been able to successfully apprehend and prosecute several cases so far.  We have plans to better secure the access to the wiring by changes to specifications and modifications to current fixtures.  This problem is common throughout the valley and is a constant frustration for the community as well as for Public Works staff.  We thank the members of the public who report streetlight outages and the activities of wire thieves.