LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Rick Martinez watched the Henderson Metropolis Council assembly nearly and grew involved when his head-scratching started to match the confusion expressed by his elected officers who struggled to reply a $682,293.74 query.
Repairs to a non-public water system inside the Somerset Park group have been on the heart of disputes amongst residents, elected officers, and the group’s house owner’s affiliation board—recognized on the workplaces of CAMCO. In September town agreed to restore the water system after preliminary considerations of going through condemnation.
Councilmembers and workers met at Henderson Metropolis Corridor throughout an everyday assembly Tuesday night time to debate and vote on an authorization to let metropolis workers begin the method of acquiring debt owed from Somerset Park residents. Nevertheless, the subject of the vote prompted confusion and battle between elected officers.
“We had another option where the city never had to be involved,” Councilwoman Carrie Cox stated.
“Well, that’s immaterial at this point,” Councilman Dan Shaw responded.
“With all due respect-” Cox stated.
“With all due respect, that’s not right,” Shaw responded.
Cox stated she was involved for residents’ wellbeing given the vacation season and requested for the agenda merchandise to be pushed two weeks, however metropolis workers argued the Dec. 17 vote wouldn’t affect residents till a tax lien had been filed with the Clark County Treasurer’s Workplace which has an choice of presumably being filed in June, 2025.
“You can make the decision not to assess this if you want,” Nicholas Vaskov, the Henderson Metropolis Lawyer, stated. “Or you can choose to make the assessment. As Ian said, we don’t have a lot of control over how those payments are made on that assessment. That goes to the treasurer’s office.”
The 30-minute debate on what to do, and find out how to do it prompted Henderson Assistant Lawyer Wade Gochnour to step into the fray and try to clear up any confusion.
“I want to remind you what you are doing with this item,” Gochnour stated. “You are authorizing staff to assess the lien. You are not saying staff will tomorrow go out and assess the lien.”
A number of miles away Rick Martinez, a Somerset Park group resident, watched the assembly nearly and stated he was rising frightened that town council appeared as confused as he was.
“We were told by the city council that we were misinformed and that we didn’t really understand the letter,” he stated. “We spent like a whole hour just talking about that one topic, and it was just a lot of, ‘I don’t knows,’ asking the city attorney.”
Martinez stated he and different residents like him have taken second jobs to arrange for the funds to town, however stated he felt like solely Councilwoman Cox was matching his considerations.
“I agree with Carrie Cox. I very strongly disagree with Dan Shaw and his just- he just wants to get the ball rolling in terms of we owe things, and we already know that,” he stated. “All Carrie Cox was asking for is another two weeks to get all her P’s and Q’s in a row and just try to go from there.”
The burden on high of the neighborhood has prolonged far previous residents, in response to Martinez, who stated potential consumers have sidestepped the group altogether.
“I’ll tell you right now, nobody is buying homes here. If I see people coming here to buy homes, they see the state of disarray that this place is in already,” Martinez stated. “It’s disheartening to hear that the most of the city council cares about the dollar more than the citizen.”
The Henderson Metropolis Council handed 4-1 the authorization for employees to evaluate the lien.
Day after responses
Councilwoman Cox responded to a Wednesday request from 8 Information Now concerning the problems at Somerset Park.
“It is not acceptable that the residents were told and media were told that the schedule would be over two tax cycles and eight quarters. I have expressed my concerns from the beginning regarding residents inability to pay back large amounts at a time. It’s a shame that this situation [wasn’t] resolved with a private contractor and private financing which would have allowed the residents to pay off the debt over a longer period of time and much smaller payments. I felt strongly that this item needed to be moved to the January 7th meeting giving us proper time to have all the information before voting as well as allowing Councilman Elect Dr. Monica Larson the opportunity to weigh in. I feel this was rushed through. I am worried about the residents of Somerset Park and hope to be able to have answers from the County Treasurer’s Office by the end of next week. I will continue to work diligently as the Ward 3 Representatives to do all I can for the residents. I am disappointed that the other members of the city council did not opt to put residents first.” -Councilwoman Carrie Cox, Ward III
Metropolis of Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero additionally responded to a Wednesday request from 8 Information Now concerning the problems at Somerset Park.
“We have been in close communication with the Clark County Treasurer’s Office and have been working on a plan to address concerns of the Somerset Park residents. We are cognizant of the emotional and financial burdens this situation has placed on Somerset residents, and we are working swiftly to come to a resolution.” -Mayor Michelle Romero, Metropolis of Henderson
The Metropolis Council remains to be finalizing choices and plans to contemplate a plan on the Jan. 7 common assembly.