The Pahrump Town Board unanimously approved a request from Buildings and Grounds Manager Matt Luis authorizing him to go out to bid for major improvements to Simkins Park, at a meeting Tuesday.

A Request for Bids (RFB) will be prepared for an amount not to exceed $250,000 funded by a capital improvement Payment Equal to Taxes (PETT) grant budgeted for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. There is no financial impact to the town's general fund.

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board developed a five-year master plan for the park that includes lighting for a softball and/or small soccer field and a full size football and/or soccer field. A tennis court, basketball court and snack bar will also be added in phases.

The park already has a softball field. Bleachers are proposed along with sidewalks, fencing and landscaping.

Currently, work is underway to complete a playground area; however, children using the equipment are completely exposed to the sun as there are no trees nearby. To remedy that, fabric shade covers similar to those used at Pahrump elementary schools are proposed for the playground.

Also, just east of the playground a 48-by-48-foot all metal pavilion is planned with picnic tables to facilitate such events as birthday parties.

Lewis also was granted approval to go out to bid on a new service truck to replace a department pickup truck that has been driven almost 414,000 miles. According to Lewis, the engine is no longer operational and the overall condition of the vehicle makes it "unreasonable to repair."

The service truck would have a large utility box to facilitate storage of tools so the maintenance crew does not have to make trips back to the Building and Grounds facility for special items.

The truck will be assigned to the crew that services and maintains the heating and air conditioning for town facilities. A similar truck was purchased in 2008 for the staff that handles construction work such as remodels, building repairs and painting.

Lewis noted this is a good time to buy a new vehicle because dealers are willing to negotiate and it was a purchase planned in the 2008-2009 budget.

The board voted 4-1 to remove all items involving distribution of town funds from the town consent agenda and place them on the regular agenda for full discussion. Board member Vicky Parker voted against the proposal made by board member Bill Dolan.

Parker said each item involving giving funds to local organizations was already scrutinized by the Tourism Advisory Board and it would lengthen already long board meetings to go back through the same steps. Dolan countered that many of the recipients of town funds had not shown acceptable accountability.

"Show me the receipts," said Dolan.

Public comment favored Dolan's viewpoint. Jeff Weise said he agreed everything needs to be accounted for. "Everything should have a receipt for every little thing."

Sean Brooks, who ran for a town board seat in the last election said, "No one is questioning the honesty or integrity of anyone on these boards. We are trying to show everybody transparency."

John Koenig also thought it was a good idea, as did Donna Cox, president of Concerned Citizens for a Safe Community. She also questioned items that were discussed and passed by the board in instances where specific amounts may not be known, such as the recent repair of the well at Honeysuckle park. The damage to the well was more than originally estimated and Lewis had to come back to the board for additional funds.

Cox was told that all vouchers (checks from town funds) are listed at each board meeting and the list is available to the public at board meetings. Chairman Nicole Shupp gave Cox her list.

At the end of the meeting during public comment, Cox said, "I would like to clear up a rumor that the town manager got a $5,000 desk. Did he?"

Bill Kohbarger answered, "No."

Dolan added, "I've seen the desk. It's a piece of garbage."

Dolan was correct about the old desk. It was partially held together with duct tape and made for a smaller person than Kohbarger who could not comfortably fit his knees under the desk.

A day or two after the meeting, this reporter saw the original receipt for the desk bought with town funds. A total of $1,075 was paid for the desk and matching return where the computer is located.

Other topics of public comment include John Koenig's question whether an RFP appeared in the paper for the $19,500 approved previously for an incorporation feasibility study. Parker said it had not. Koenig also said, "I respectfully object to public comment at the end of the agenda instead of at the beginning of the meeting where it always has been except with this town board."

Thomas Anthony Zuccaro commented that as a tax-paying resident of Pahrump, he should not be restricted from wearing his sandwich board and should not be asked to leave the meeting or threatened with being arrested. "I am here to exercise my First Amendment rights."

Town Attorney Rick Campbell told Zuccaro he could attend the meeting wearing his sandwich board as long as he did not march up and down the center aisle, which would disturb the meeting. Shupp also said he was welcome to wear his board in the back of the room.