LAS VEGAS -- Thursday was to be the final day of existence for the Clean Water Coalition, a regional agency which has apparently outlived its purpose. But the elected officials who oversee the coalition found a reason to keep the agency alive, at least for awhile longer.
The plan was to drive a stake through the heart of the CWC on Thursday. But like a vampire, it rose from the grave, not before handing out a pile of public dollars to its own boss.
The coalition was created to consolidate regional wastewater programs. But once the need evaporated for a massive new wastewater pipeline out into the lake, CWC essentially had no reason to exist.
Once the I-Team started pointing out the obvious in a series of reports last year, the decision was made to abolish the CWC altogether, and Thursday was supposed to be the day.
Board members from four local governments did vote to terminate their office lease and to continue a legal fight over $62 million, which the state tried to take away from the agency's coffers.
The board also approved a generous severance package for former County Commissioner Chip Maxfield, who helped to create the CWC and then became its first general manager.
Las Vegas Councilman Steve Ross was the only vote against the package of goodies for Maxfield.
"The City of Las Vegas' position is that the severance packages that were being offered were quite generous and they were in the lines with the cities and counties in the old economy. We have a new economy today, so you have to look at it as to how we are dealing with our budgets today," he said.
So how much did Maxfield get? How does $191,703 in total compensation sound? Maxfield was awarded nine months of his regular salary, plus retirement and medical benefits, starting June 30th when the CWC would presumably no longer exist.
Not so fast said the board member from North Las Vegas. Councilman Eliason objected to ending CWC. He feels his city is owed millions of dollars because of promises that were made in the very beginning.
Since it takes a unanimous vote to dissolve the agency, it is still alive and will remain alive at least until yet another meeting can be held to see if something can be worked out to satisfy North Las Vegas.
