MVRP Members Discuss Recent Successes, Upcoming Efforts

July 2nd, 2014 |Author: vrobison

 

By VERNON ROBISON

Moapa Valley Progress

 

The Moapa Valley Revitalization Project (MVRP) held a meeting on Wednesday, June 25 at the Northshore Inn in Overton. About 14 people were in attendance at the meeting where a variety of topics were discussed, all meant to bring improvements to the local community.

MVRP member Kathi Cooper announced that the group had enjoyed some success in their recent work with Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT). For quite some time, the MVRP has been appealing to NDOT for better signage leading regional travellers to and through the Moapa Valley community.

Firstly, they had asked that new signs be placed near the I-15 exit 93 interchange which included the Valley of Fire State Park. Currently the freeway signage at that exit indicates access to the Lost City Museum and the Lake Mead Recreation Area, but does not mention access to the State Park. Cooper said that new signs at the I-15 interchange had been approved and would soon be installed by NDOT.

Secondly, the MVRP members had asked NDOT to install a sign south of Overton letting travellers know that they could access the I-15 by continuing on State Route 169 through the Moapa Valley. MVRP members were concerned that many visitors may not be aware that they can get back to I-15 by way of Moapa Valley. So they might be turning around to go back the way they came, missing the experience of the local community. As a result of MVRP efforts, an I-15 directional sign has recently been installed south of Overton near Scamp Ave, Cooper said.

The meeting continued with presentations by three guest speakers.

The first of these was Janice Ridondo of County Commissioner Tom Collins’ office. Ridondo spoke briefly about her role in the ongoing efforts to make the Moapa Valley township an OHV-friendly community.

Ridondo said that it was something of a misconception that this effort had to be a long and expensive process. Early dealings with Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) had sparked those misconceptions, she said. The community had approached NDOT officials to request that segments of State Highway 169 be designated as ATV accessible, meaning that off road vehicles could be operated on the right-of-way along the highway in thos segments. These requests were met by “a mountain of red tape,” Ridondo said.

“But according to state law, it is legal for ATVs to cross the state highway,” Ridondo said. “So that is our ‘in’. It really doesn’t have to be an expensive or a lengthy process.”

Ridondo said that she had asked Clark County staff to draft language for an ordinance that would allow ATVs to be operated on all county maintained roads in the community. This would allow drivers of ATVs to move around town and, while they could not travel along the state highway, they could cross over it and continue on along county roads.

Ridondo said that she would circulate the draft language of the ordinance as soon as it was completed, which she expects to be within the next six months or so.

The second guest speaker at the meeting was Logandale resident, and Great Basin Cooking Company owner, Rik Eide. Eide told MVRP members that he was planning a two-day event at the Logandale Fairgrounds which he was calling the “Logandale Fall Festival”. This event, which is scheduled for October 31-November 1, would be aimed both at the local residents and at bringing people from throughout the region into the community.

A nationally-sanctioned Barbecue Cook-off would be one of the headliner events at the Fall Festival. Eide explained that he was working to get a special proclamation that would make this cook-off a qualifying event for other major national cook-off events.

“The whole idea is to do whatever I can to bring in more (BBQ cooking) teams to participate and come to the community,” Eide said.

Eide had also been in contact with the Southern Nevada Bluegrass Society and had found that they were interested in participating in the Fall Festival event.

“For years they held their annual Bluegrass Festival here at the Fairgrounds, and it drew hundreds of people from all over the place into the community,” Eide said. “I’d like to see some of that return.”

The festival would also include the community Trunk or Treat event on Halloween and a major Car Show event, Eide said.

Eide asked MVRP members if they would help him in coordinating an open craft show during the two day event.

“I don’t want it to compete with the Pomegranate Festival which happens the next weekend,” Eide explained. “The Arts Guild is much more selective in their vendors. They are limited to handmade arts and crafts; as they should be. This would be open to any vendors that would be appropriate at a family-friendly event.”

MVRP members expressed interest in assisting in coordinating the craft show.

The third guest speaker for the evening was Partner In Conservation Administrator Elise McAllister. McAllister talked about another community event being planned for the Fall. PIC is planning a Public Lands Day event on September 27 to do some cleanup work at the Logandale Trails area.

“We are involving the Las Vegas 4-wheeler groups that use that area a lot,” McAllister said. “But we also wanted to involve people from this community to be a part of the event.”