84°F
weather icon Clear
Boulder City, NV
Opinion

Letters to the Editor

By Ron Eland Boulder City Review
August 24, 2023 - 6:47 pm
 

A concrete plan

As a local general contractor, I can attest to the recent rise in construction costs (20% overall post-COVID). In the pre-COVID era we saw construction costs parallel the consumer price index (CPI) with exception to fuel cost spikes and an occasional forest fire.

Post-COVID, however, has shown construction costs substantially outpacing the current record-high inflation. And the leader of that pack is concrete. Three years ago, I paid $69 a yard for delivered wet mix. Today we’re at $132-140 per yard and we were just notified of a price increase coming in September. That’s a 100% increase in three years compared to the industry’s 20% and inflation’s 8%.

Our pool is going to take a helluva a lot of concrete. Any and all creative solutions for supplying concrete to our pool build should be considered prior to going to contract.

Don Rodriguez,

Boulder City

Displeased with hangar issue

Why is our City Council asking people on fixed incomes to subsidize some of the most affluent members of our community? The tenants of our airport hangars were given a sweet deal 30 years ago to help establish our new airport. Their lease is such a great deal that many of them are subletting their hangars for more than 10 times what they pay the city in rent!

Obviously, they are reluctant to give up this lucrative opportunity and they contributed generously to our present Council’s election (except Matt Fox), all of which is a matter of public record. Unfortunately, none of our Council have disclosed these contributions or recused themselves from voting on this issue.

The hangar tenants all signed a contract with the city and were well aware that after 30 years the hangars would revert to the city and they would be charged market prices to continue the leases. There are over 180 people on a waiting list to lease a hangar at our airport who are willing to pay those prices.

Nevada Revised Statutes and our own City Charter compel our Council to lease the hangars at market value, not to mention the FAA, who funds improvements at our airport. Let’s have a town hall and find out why hanger tenants, many of whom do not even live in Boulder City, should be offered these long-term contracts (20 years) below market value?

Our Council already has a bizarre record of paying out huge settlements to people who were losing their court cases with the city. It does seem a bit tone deaf to be raising our utility rates while subsidizing people who own airplanes…

Maybe they think we won’t notice and maybe they are right!

Nicola Collins, Boulder City

MOST READ
THE LATEST
bcr default image
Gathering is golden
By Rod Woodbury

Boulder City is exceptionally adept at staging major annual events and festivals for visitors to enjoy. Art in the Park, Spring Jam, Best Dam Barbecue, the Fourth of July Damboree Celebration, Wurst Festival, Santa’s Electric Light Parade, and Bootleg Canyon mountain bike events are just a few examples. Of course, many Boulder City residents enjoy those, too.

bcr default image
Pack safety into sun and fun plans
By Julie Calloway Parks and Recreation Director

Summer is almost here. As the temperatures rise, many of us will be looking for opportunities to cool down.

bcr default image
May may be my favorite month
By Mayor Joe Hardy

Boulder City is the place to be this time of the year, with so many fantastic events and festivals.

bcr default image
Castile soap, the superstar multi-tasker
By Norma Vally

Soap isn’t typically something we give much thought to, but when Castile soap bubbled up in my world three times in one week, for completely different reasons, I took it as a sign. So, in scrubbing up on my soap knowledge it became clear—Castile soap is, well, soaprier.

bcr default image
A graduation gift to remember
By Ron Eland Editor

Over the last couple of weeks, I twice drove over the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Bridge, aka the Hoover Dam bypass.

bcr default image
Democracy dies in … Oh, shut up
By Bill Evans Boulder City Review

OK, so, fair warning. I may be a little “spicier” than normal. It’s been a challenging couple of weeks and I’m in a worse mood than usual.

bcr default image
Real ID will help combat terrorism
By Chuck N. Baker

Most veterans in Nevada are aware that when they obtain a driver’s license or renew their old one, they can ask the DMV to add the word “veteran” on the license. While that won’t give them a get-out-of-jail-free card, it might evoke some sympathy from an officer if a veteran is pulled over for a minor infraction. (No guarantee, but it has happened to me.)

bcr default image
Centenarian Sara, a Boulder City treasure
By Rod Woodbury

At 100 years of age, Sara Denton is certainly one of Boulder City’s oldest residents. And if you’ve met her, you’ll likely agree that she’s one of its most cheerful residents as well. Sara loves to laugh and has always lived life with gusto and adventure.

bcr default image
Know what wheels kids can (and can’t) operate
By Police Chief Tim Shea and Acting Fire Chief Greg Chesser

Motorized devices are growing in popularity, especially with teens, but many parents don’t know the legalities or the dangers.

bcr default image
Teamwork resonates in City Hall
By Mayor Joe Hardy

Every year, college basketball fans get excited for their team to play in the “Big Dance.” March Madness (women’s and men’s NCAA basketball) is down to the final four teams this weekend. It’s estimated that 34 million brackets were completed this year.