I went to Boulder Creek on Thursday for a public meeting on the Boulder City Bypass Project, which is now being called “The 11.”

As I walked in, I was struck by the same type of maps I had been looking at since 1998 when I was a reporter for the Boulder City News.

Rose Ann Miele, Commentary

I looked around the room where the meeting was being held and saw some of the same faces I had seen back then.

…{+}

The rest of this article is available to premium members only.
Login or Become a member

Visitors to Lake Mead National Recreation Area contribute significantly to the Boulder City economy, according to a new report and businesses in the city. Improvements to U.S. 93 through the city have increased traffic travelling to the park. File Photo.

By Rose Ann Miele, Boulder City Review

Boulder City is surrounded by majestic mountains, superb hiking trails and Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. Most of these natural resources are located within the boundaries of the National Park Service and play a crucial role in the local economy, according to a recent report.

A study released by the park service in late February stated that nearly 7.1 million visitors spent $254.9 million at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and communities in Nevada and Arizona near the park. That spending supported 2,452 jobs in the local areas, according to the report.

…{+}

The rest of this article is available to premium members only.
Login or Become a member

By Rose Ann Miele, Boulder City Review

The City Council received the recommended fiscal year 2013 city budget on March 15, including the status of solar revenue and the stabilization of utility rates.

Adoption of the tentative budget is scheduled for the regular April 10 council meeting and the final budget must be approved on May 15.

During the presentation, City Manager Vicki Mayes pointed to what she considered the most important accomplishment during these budget discussions — the council’s decision to use capital improvement money to help make an accelerated payment for the construction of the third intake at Lake Mead.

…{+}

The rest of this article is available to premium members only.
Login or Become a member

A Cameraman from KTNV Channel 13 news from Las Vegas films file footage outside Back In Thyme antique store on Tuesday, March 20. President Barack Obama's visit to Boulder City brought news cameras to the area to interview residents and city officials about the visit. Mayor Roger Tobler appeared on "Face To Face with Jon Ralston" on Wednesday, which airs in Las Vegas, Reno and Elko. Photo by Arnold M. Knightly.

By Rose Ann Miele & Arnold M. Knightly, Boulder City Review

The visit by President Barack Obama on Wednesday to the Eldorado Valley shined a light not only on solar energy, but Boulder City’s role in helping the energy companies establish their plants.

Mayor Roger Tobler said it is about time people outside the area notice what is happening in the city.

“We’re just proud and excited by what we’ve been accomplishing down in the energy zone as a city,” Tobler said. “Finally we are starting to see some awareness and recognition of the fact that we’re leading the way in solar energy. Of course, these aren’t our plants, but this is something we’ve been working on for eight years.”

…{+}

The rest of this article is available to premium members only.
Login or Become a member

By Rose Ann Miele, Boulder City Review

While only 10 citizens attended a meeting to gather input for the city’s Envision 2020 strategic plan, there were plenty of ideas brought to the table during the two-hour discussion held Feb. 9 in the City Council Chambers.

The city is currently gathering residents’ input for Envision 2020, a plan to help guide elected officials as they make decisions for Boulder City’s future. There are two more community meetings scheduled for later this month.

“I think the most important thing is that the citizens of Boulder City have the opportunity to share their voice … their ideas and vision for the city as we move into the future,” said Harry Ray of Zimmerraystudios, one of the plan’s facilitators hired by the city, during the Feb. 9 session.

…{+}

The rest of this article is available to premium members only.
Login or Become a member

Rose Ann Miele Commentary

Everybody complains. Parents complain about kids. Kids complain about parents. Everyone complains about the government. Prices are too high. The city doesn’t do enough. The federal government is too involved in everyone’s life.

This list can go on and on.

So if everyone complains, why don’t things change? Why don’t all the things we complain about just get fixed?

…{+}

The rest of this article is available to premium members only.
Login or Become a member

To be perfectly honest, I don’t spend much time talking to teenagers. Yet, there I was in a situation a few weeks ago where I was surrounded by teens, giving me the opportunity to strike up some conversation.

If you know me, I couldn’t pass up the chance to get involved in some type of discussion with these young people. Here’s what transpired.

Rose Ann Miele, Commentary

The Senior Center was visited by some young people taking part in what is called “Week of Hope.” They were sent by Group Cares, a nonprofit, nondenominational, religious organization providing short-term trips to these young people who would provide volunteer services to the organization to which they were assigned.

…{+}

The rest of this article is available to premium members only.
Login or Become a member

By Jack Johnson, Boulder City Review

A shrinking tax base and a $3 million lease payment that never materialized are now affecting the city’s cable television station, BCTV.

Beginning Dec. 1, the station’s services will be significantly cut back due to the early retirement of Public Information Officer Rose Ann Miele, who also works as the BCTV coordinator, handling programming and most of the filming.

City public information officer Rose Ann Miele monitors the recording of the Oct. 12 City Council meeting for BCTV. Miele's position as PIO was eliminated and her duties at BCTV reduced by the City Council. Miele will retire Dec. 1. Photo by Jack Johnson

The BCTV position, which was absorbed by Miele in February 2009, will now be handled by a part-time technician. The technician is a newly-created position which will involve working 19 hours a week.

The local channel has been airing events such as concerts, city-wide talent shows, fundraisers, school activities and one-on-one interviews under Miele’s direction. But once the BCTV Technician takes over, it will be reduced to the “baseline services” of airing City Council meetings and posting community bulletins, said City Manager Vicki Mayes.

…{+}

The rest of this article is available to premium members only.
Login or Become a member

By Jack Johnson, Boulder City Review

The City Council voted Tuesday to eliminate the city’s public information officer position, and reduce the amount spent on both golf course maintenance and additional-duty pay for police officers.

The cuts go into effect Nov. 17 and are part of the second phase of budget adjustments outlined by City Manager Vicki Mayes. The changes are being made because of a shortfall of about $1.6 million that was supposed to come from a lease agreement with SolBio Energy.

The company signed a lease with the city in December to build a solar plant in Eldorado Valley but never obtained financing. Mayes issued SolBio a notice of default on Oct. 6 which the company had 30 days to address from the time of receipt.

“At this point, I’m not optimistic that the project will be moving forward with (SolBio),” Mayes said.

…{+}

The rest of this article is available to premium members only.
Login or Become a member