Pahrump, the prison town

Nye County Board of County Commissioners are voted into office "to promote our health, safety and general welfare." Our BOCC spent millions of dollars to create Pahrump Nye County Regional Planning Department, who established the 9.5-mile Law, (a prison must be located at least 50,000 feet from a residential district) and other ordinances, zoning, and restrictions to protect Pahrump property owners and residents from a dangerous nonconforming business in our residential area.

They also spent $3 million-plus and with public participation developed a Pahrump Master Plan to further define and protect the public.

Then they turn right around and changed the master plan by rezoning approximately 520 acres to heavy industrial and removed our protections so a prison can be built in our neighborhood. Why?

On Dec. 16, 2008, all five Nye County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve a development agreement with CCA, to build and operate a prison. This prison will bed 1,500 of the world's worst of all humanity in Pahrump while they go through the Las Vegas federal court system.

Once they're sentenced or released, they will be replaced. This means hundreds of thousands of rapists, murderers, pedophiles, druggies, gang members, terrorists and other federal prisoners will be living in and transported through Pahrump.

This is not in our citizen's best interest. Nye County did not ever have the courtesy to give written notice to the property owners and residences that are directly affected.

All public bodies exist to aid in the conduct of people's business. It is the intent of the law their actions be taken openly and their deliberations be conducted openly.

The prison site is in a residential area of some of the best land in Pahrump -- a retiree's paradise located on the fan with beautiful mountain, valley and sunset views with large parcels close to downtown, on solid ground for building, no valley puff dirt, flood problems or contaminated well water.

This residential area should be developed into homes and business sites as per the original Pahrump Master Plan, not a dangerous nonconforming prison.

What happened to common sense? The federal government owns 92 percent of the land. Pahrump has about 86 percent of Nye County's population, which most live within 9.5 miles of the prison site.

CCA should develop land south of Pahrump closer to Las Vegas federal court, and water and sewer facilities. This way prisoners will not be close to Pahrump citizens.

Nye County would get the same benefits plus new taxes if the prison was on previously-owned government land.

Tourists and Pahrump citizens would live in a prison-free town without fear. This translates into a win-win situation for everyone.

If you are not notified, you can't get involved. We were kept in the dark, so we could not voice our opinions. Now, with a stroke of a pen, 1,500 prisoners will be next door and could escape anytime. Their buddies and families will be staying in Pahrump while visiting, which is real scary. We will be living in fear every time there's a noise outside or when strangers come by, wondering if they are escapees or prisoners' buddies.

We will need to be armed, keep everything locked up and barricade ourselves in our homes. When did we the people become we the prisoners? We will be living in constant fear and stress, our safety and security will be greatly jeopardized.

Why? Where's the Pahrump Town Board on this?

Pahrump, wake up. If Nye County gets away with this, no one in Pahrump is safe. It's not a done deal yet, thanks to a group of Concerned Citizens for a Safe Community.

ROBERT AND CHARLENE RYLIE

Property tax cap

As I hear about all that people are going through to get their property taxes reduced (justifiably so), I wonder how many paid any attention to the tax initiative former Assemblywoman Sharon Angle was trying to get through?

That tax initiative would have accomplished everything they are trying to do and more. It almost got on the ballot this last time.

A property tax cap that could never be reversed by politicians/government (the cap we have now could be changed tomorrow by the government) and an assessment rollback.

I am sure the government would weasel additional taxes out of everyone in other ways but at least it would be spread around a little and such a big burden would not be placed on the property taxpayers.

I think Sharon Angle was not able to get enough attention and backing because she has been trying for a long time and it never was publicized well, and I am afraid now she has given up.

I wish we had some real crusaders (maybe Harley Kulkin), who would work on getting that tax initiative on the ballot and work on getting it passed into law, because once it's done, my understanding is it could only be changed by a big proportion of voters, and believe me, once it is in, no one will want to change it.

It would be wonderful for anyone who lives in a house -- owners, renters, everyone.

BETTY COLLINS