GINA B. GOOD / PVT Long time Pahrump resident Debra Strickland, president of Strickland Construction, talks at the back of the auditorium. Her company develops residential and commercial lots as well as building and servicing wells and septic systems. Advertisement

One subject that stirred residents and Pahrump Town Board members alike at Tuesday's meeting was a request from Utilities Inc. for a letter of support from the town for a proposed public-private partnership.

The company wants to cap Pahrump's 12,000 to 14,000 domestic wells and close all the septic systems currently in use after installing 500,000 feet of water pipes and 500,000 feet of sewer pipes using federal money.

Utilities Inc. would then provide service to the properties now served by those wells and septic systems.

The company plans to request $238,500,000 in stimulus handouts next week, using contacts in Washington, D.C., to accomplish its goal.

The board unanimously denied the request, but not before its members, lead by Vicky Parker, thoroughly grilled Utilities Inc. Regional Vice President Paul Burris. The affable Burris then faced questions and comments from the community, including business owners who have seen their utility bills triple and quadruple in recent months.

According to the company's proposal, the septic systems pose "great risk to the potable water system due to nitrites and nitrates."

Burris said, "We already lost one well due to high nitrates."

However, during public comment, well-owner Harley Kulkin said the nitrates are in the ground because large areas of the valley were once used for commercial farming and nitrates are found in fertilizers. Kulkin said if only one well out of 14,000 failed, the earth was doing a good job of filtering out contaminates.

Member Bill Dolan asked Burris about the cost to property owners connecting to the new system, how long the project would take and what steps are in place for oversight of the federal funds. He also asked to see area maps.

Burris replied there would be no cost to property owners if the stimulus money is a grant, rather than a loan; however, during public comment Charlie Gronda said, "That's our tax money. Our grandchildren will pay for all the stimulus spending."

As for timing, Burris said if the federal funds are awarded, the money must be spent within 18 months. The project, including capping of domestic wells, would be completed by Dec. 31, 2011. Mapping the areas would take place after the monies are granted.

Burris also stressed the project would be a partnership between the county, town and Utilities Inc.

In a Jan. 16 email included in the agenda backup information, Pam Webster, Nye County assistant county manager, responded to an inquiry from Burris, stating: "The county supports this project."

Kohbarger replied to the same e-mail from Burris, saying the town would need more information, including area maps, information about phased construction, hook-up fee waivers, costs for new residential and commercial business hookups and more.

"The Town would like to say good luck," wrote Kohbarger.

Burris said that nothing in the draft document said property owners would have to hook up to utilities. "In general, this project would bring infrastructure to Pahrump that new customers must currently pay for," said Burris.

He said fees are regulated by the company's current tariff and would not change unless the Public Utilities Commission allowed it.

"I will not force any resident on a working well and septic system to hook up to Utilities Inc.," stated Dolan. "Right now, I am not convinced we should support this package."

Board member Mike Darby expressed the view many property owners in the auditorium echoed when he said, "It's up to the people if we want our wells capped. I don't want my well capped."

But it was Parker, who has followed Utility Inc.'s policies closely for the last three years, who held Burris' feet to the coals.

"Would you still be charging businesses so much for drains that they have to go out of business, or would you still be raising prices for senior citizens on fixed incomes?" said Parker. "Will the stimulus package make any difference to the senior citizens you are threatening to put out of their group home?

"Would this stimulus package make you any more Pahrump friendly," Parker continued. "Would you be any more business friendly?"

Burris said, "With or without the stimulus package, we're working to improve customer service. The drains have always been in the tariff since 2003. There was no change to that."

A physical inventory by Utilities Inc. counting the sewer and water drains, caused monthly service charges to increase in many types of businesses, including hotels, casinos, medical facilities and every school serviced by the company. Rather than charge for the volume of water used, the company now charges a flat fee for each drain.

For instance, a restaurant pays more than $23 for each dish-washing sink, mop sink, toilet, etc.

"We had to bring the system into compliance with the PUC," said Burris. "The rates are set by the PUC. We will be looking at volume rates next time we go to the PUC."

That meeting won't take place for three years.

Parker countered, "Wasn't it Utilities Inc. who asked that the rates be increased?"

"It's a complicated process," said Burris.

"Is it true that you go out and spend money as you see the need and then go to the PUC and say, 'We spent all this money' and ask to get it back?" said Parker.

"Yes," confirmed Burris.

"I live in this community and I get complaints about Utility Inc. regularly. To get the support of this community for this project, which could benefit Pahrump tremendously, you need to become more Pahrump-friendly," said Parker.

Addressing the residents, Parker said, "Many of you that are on wells will see some time in the future -- it could be five years or 20 or 30 years from now, but there will be a time -- that there will be a demand for a public utility.

"This could be an opportunity. It will cost a lot more later," she said.

"I am a resident of Pahrump," said Burris. "I do pay our fees just like anybody else. I am sorry you have to hear complaints about us," he said to Parker. "If we don't know about a problem, we can't fix it."

Member Frank Maurizio told Burris, "You ain't got my approval and you never will. Put into the proposal that this is not forcible. People can't be forced to connect."

Dolan moved to deny the town's support and Darby seconded the motion. The meeting was then opened for public comment before board members voted unanimously not to lend the town's support to the proposal.