95°F
weather icon Clear
Boulder City, NV
Opinion

Letters to the Editor

May 4, 2023 - 7:00 pm
 

Unjust enrichment

Three terminated Boulder City officials received a combined $1.875 million to settle their specious legal claims. The City Council chose consent agenda placement, meaning no public discussion as to payment merit or justification. The settlements were not confidential personnel matters.

The city consistently prevailed against two individuals in over two years of legal gymnastics. A higher-level state court requested an attempted negotiated settlement. Rather than telling the court a settlement was inappropriate, triggering an eventual court verdict, the Council prematurely caved.

Three of the five Council members are subordinates in a superior-subordinate relationship with one individual and needed to recuse themselves from voting; it did not happen. The same terminated employee was inserted by his former law partner (then the city’s mayor) into his former position, again no recusal, and paid outsized compensation inconsistent with comparable Nevada cities. The appearance of favoritism is as important as its reality.

The current mayor claimed the Council could not publicly discuss the settlements despite a full history in public court documents. It is preposterous for a 24-year elected official to make such an inaccurate statement.

Some insisted that because the city’s insurer, POOL-PACT, might pay part of the settlements, it is free money. No, Boulder City’s taxpayers pay premiums. If claims are high, the premiums increase.

The same ineffectual Council has failed to significantly reduce excessive water consumption at city facilities, seeks construction of a grandiose $50 million Olympic swimming pool complex, fails to rent city airport hangars at market rates, and fails to staunch multi-million-dollar losses at two city golf courses. Will voters care about Council’s repeated inability to prudently exercise fiduciary responsibilities, while unduly favoring friends and associates?

Fred Voltz

Only in Boulder City

Only in Boulder City, Nevada can an at-will employee be terminated for cause. Said employee sues Boulder City in Clark County District Court; loses their causes of action; appeals to Nevada Supreme aka Appellate Court. Then, Boulder City settles for $1,710,000 before the Supreme Court had reviewed the case. The two defendants that won in Clark County District Court, did not settle.

Only in Boulder City, Nevada, do the losers of Clark County District Court Cases receive over $1 million in settlement.

It pays to lose in court in Boulder City!

This is why we don’t need gambling in Boulder City, Nevada.

Edward Denaut

MOST READ
LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE
THE LATEST
bcr default image
The view from the hallway
By Amy Wagner Principal, BCHS

September is always a busy month at Boulder City High School.

bcr default image
Cozy fall décor that works in the desert
By Norma Vally

That first day I feel a little fall chill, I always chuckle to myself thinking about the “sweata weatha” exchange between Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler from their SNL sketch. While much of the country is pulling on sweaters, downing pumpkin lattes, and decorating for fall, we’re still wearing flip-flops and kicking on the AC.

bcr default image
My visit with Mickey and the gang
By Ron Eland

Walt Disney once said, “I think what I want Disneyland to be most of all is a happy place – a place where adults and children can experience together some of the wonders of life, of adventure, and feel better because of it.”

bcr default image
Library gearing up for upcoming holidays
More than Books By the Boulder City Library

The holiday season is almost upon us, with Halloween coming up.

bcr default image
My 9/11 experience
By Chuck N. Baker

I’m certain that today every American who was an adult on 9/11 remembers what he or she was doing during the terrorist attacks.

bcr default image
Understanding Boulder City’s electrical rates
City Talk By Gary Poindexter, Public Works and Utilities Director

“The city held rates as low as it could for as long as it could.”

bcr default image
State of emergency
By Rod Woodbury

My favorite memories as a Boy Scout and church youth group leader always seem to center on community service opportunities.

bcr default image
It’s all about first impressions
By Mayor Joe Hardy

When I was younger, my parents instilled in me the importance of making a good first impression. Look people in the eye. Make sure you give a firm handshake. Focus on what they are saying and don’t be distracted.

bcr default image
September offers something for everyone at Boulder City Library
More than Books By the Boulder City Library

As the heat finally comes down outside, inside the library we have cooked up some amazing events for this upcoming September that we’re excited to tell you all about. No matter what age our patrons are, we pride ourselves on having something for everyone, and our programming schedule for September is no exception.