Council moves forward with solar plant; accepts $50,000 donation

Multiple agenda items, including discussion of the demolition permit for the old Six Cos. Hospital, were tabled during Tuesday's 45-minute long City Council meeting.

City Attorney Dave Olsen recommended postponing a decision on the demolition permit of the old hospital and that it be moved to the Oct. 21 Planning Commission meeting.

City Manager Dave Fraser also recommended agenda items three and four, a bid for the solar-powered shade structure project and an amendment to the Southern Nevada Water Authority's 2011 major construction and capital plan, be moved "to a later meeting."

Councilman Duncan McCoy then "preintroduced" Bills 1775, 1776 and 1777, moving forward with an agreement between the city and SunPower Corp, allowing the San Jose, Calif.-based company to "commence construction and development of a solar power generation facility" in the Eldorado Valley.

Additionally, Boulder City Sunrise Rotary presented a check for $50,000 to support the city's efforts to continue funding the Breaking the Cycle drug court program.

The city established the year-long drug treatment program in August 2014. It serves local addicts by helping them get clean, find employment and obtain a general education degree through the help of a 12-step program, Boulder City Judge Victor Miller said Tuesday.

"It's amazing how these people can and have turned their lives around," said Doug Scheppmann, representing the Rotary club. "We stand with the city and support them in their efforts to help."

Scheppmann said the club originally agreed to Tuesday's donation if the city could match Sunrise Rotary's original $25,000 donation. But when the city didn't have funds to meet the club's goal, Sunrise Rotary offered the $50,000 anyway.

Miller said Sunrise Rotary's donations fund individual and group counseling, GPS monitoring and legal fees, among other services for program participants.

"We want to them to make the transition from addiction to a positive member of the community," Miller said.

The judge also said he wants to hire a part-time social worker, and hopes to eventually expand the 11-person program to about 15-20 people.

Contact Chris Kudialis at ckudialis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283. Find him on Twitter: @kudialisrj.