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May 13, 2005
PROSTITUTION BAN Is Willis tied to brothel owner?WISDOM QUESTIONS BOARD MEMBER'S TIES TO BORDELLO, NUDE BAR OWNER JOE RICHARDS
By BREANNE HUBBARD Town Manager Dave Richards took no stand on the issue, but he also attempted to get the information out to the public, in order to educate. Even with those apparently futile efforts, residents still gathered at the Pahrump Town Board meeting Tuesday night in the Bob Ruud Community Center to take a stand against the amendment. Board members departed from past procedure when the first reading of the amended town ordinance appeared on the April 26 agenda without any prior discussion. With the lack of information, residents were grabbing at straws before the Pahrump Valley Times published a letter written by Willis on May 6. Twice the current town board has enacted or attempted to establish, amend or repeal local legislation without any prior citizen input or any outreach to the community regarding the proposed legislation. Before public comment began, board Chairman Richard Billman told audience members to watch their language and profane words wouldn't be tolerated. Longtime resident and realtor Tim Hafen was the first man at the podium to voice his opinion against the ordinance. The line of people looked similar to what happened at the last board meeting, even faces were the same. Hafen was straightforward in his opposition to changing the ordinance. "Lately there's been a lot of questions and statements," he said, about why the brothels aren't in the town. Hafen discussed property taxes and market value to prove to the board bringing brothels within town limits wouldn't be worth the price. "I don't know what share of the tax the town would receive, but it's not much," he said. Jane Wisdom, former town board member, wasn't shy in stating her disapproval. Wisdom, a former two-term Assemblywoman, said she talked to several residents and no one quite understands why this is happening. If the ordinance is amended, Wisdom fears the Gentlemen's Kingdom, a nude bar on the corner of Highway 160 and Homestead Road, would turn into a brothel. "They already have the red lights," she said. The attention focused on Willis, sitting at the dais, taking in all of the words. Wisdom asked him: "What's in it for you? A nice cash bonus? Free sex, or what?" Billman told the audience he was trying to avoid those types of comments as Wisdom sat back down. Wisdom's questions might come from someone who has a legal right to have them answered. A complaint has or will be filed against Willis alleging a conflict of interest due to his longtime relationship to Joe Richards. Another resident said she has done research and talked to other officials in town. She said after what she's found, the town board is only giving half of the truth. Peggy Warner, longtime resident and former assistant town manager, was also opposed to the ordinance. "It is not broken. I don't see any reason on why we should fix it," she said. Resident and pastor Keith Markley, who also spoke at the last town board meeting, said he had the opportunity to speak with Willis, but still remained concerned. He said he feels the ordinance would hurt future business in Pahrump. Sally Devlin, who said her middle name is "Map," would personally challenge the board if the amendment passed. "We have no boundary map," she said. Until one comes around, Devlin doesn't see how it would even be legal. Regional Planning Commissioner Charles Dupre didn't speak on behalf of the commission, but as a private resident. He's concerned with the hurdles the zoning and master plan would create. Dupre also said that although some might not find it likely to let a brothel build, 12 people are responsible for that decision - the commission and Nye County Board of Commissioners. Depending on which way the wind blows, it would only take four county commissioners to approve a brothel. Several other residents complained about the amendment, before public comment was closed. The final reading and action on the amendment is scheduled for May 24. Three votes are all that is needed to repeal the ordinance, and many in the community believe those votes are already tallied even before the final reading will be made. |
