Supervisors OK new park use law

By Jim Seckler Mohave Daily News

KINGMAN - The Mohave County Board of Supervisors approved a new county ordinance Monday regulating the use of county parks. Meeting in Bullhead City for the first of two scheduled meetings this year, the supervisors heard arguments concerning a new ordinance that grew out of dispute when Bullhead City refused to issue a temporary use permit to La Mesa RV to hold a recreational vehicle sales event at Davis Camp. La Mesa RV also held a similar sales event in November. A Superior Court judge ruled in the county's favor in January, which allowed La Mesa RV to hold the show later that month. Charles Stickerod of Paul Everts RV County in Bullhead City said he is opposed to the recent recreational vehicle shows held at Davis Camp. Stickerod said any out-of-area businesses that holds RV or any sales events generally take millions of dollars from the area for its own personal use and is not a benefit to the local economy. Stickerod spoke of the amount of money donated to local schools, police and fire departments by his and other local recreational vehicle businesses. He also said some employees of recreational vehicle businesses may lose their livelihoods if these shows are allowed. Richard Adams of the Bullhead City Regional Economic Development Authority also opposed the use of public lands for commercial businesses. Adams said in the long run, the shows do not provide a benefit to the community. Ken Daily spoke in favor of the shows, saying employees of the non-local recreational vehicle dealers do bring money to the local economy by eating at local restaurants and shopping at grocery stores. Deputy Mohave County Attorney John White said the ordinance does not permit commercial businesses to be hold sales events at county parks. It only allows the Board the option to issue a permit. "It doesn't protect any commercial businesses," White said. "It doesn't give one commercial business heads up over another commercial business." White and County Manager Ron Walker said the ordinance only gives the county authority over its own parks. In other action, the supervisors approved the transfer of $64,844 from the county general fund to cover the cost of this year's West Nile Virus season. About $42,000 will go for fogging. The money also includes $7,890 for temporary employees. The remainder will include $3,000 for vehicles and $2,000 for chemicals, mosquito traps and other equipment. This season is expected to be worse than last year when six county residents, mostly in the Bullhead City and Mohave Valley area, were diagnosed with the West Nile Virus. The county has already started trapping for mosquito along the Colorado River communities. A Golden Valley man spoke at Monday's meeting of standing water from recent rains on his road and said the West Nile Virus is a death sentence for some of his neighbors. County Public Health Director Patty Mead said county staff took samples at the site but found no evidence of mosquitoes. Mead also promised to continue to monitor the area. The Board also approved three restroom and shower units for public use at Davis Camp at a cost of $127,000. The Board approved the formation of the Bullhead City lighting improvement district No. 9 located in the El Camino Village. The district contains more than 117 acres. The Board also heard from Richard Kuczek economic development director of the Western Arizona Economic Development District. Kuczek warned the Board of federal plans to cut the Community Development Block Grant program in 2006. Mohave County receives about $500,000 from CDBG grants every two years. Money from that program would dry up. The county already received about $5 million in CDBG grants in the past 20 years. The Board took no action whether to direct county staff to provide the supervisors with updates on lobbying efforts at the state legislature on behalf of the county. The Board also approved extending the contract of the full-time investigator for Colorado City for one year. District 3 Supervisor Buster Johnson requested the position to be a permanent position instead of being on one-year contracts. The investigator was recently hired to investigate reported child abuse cases in the polygamist community near the Utah border. The Board also approved a lease agreement with the state Attorney General's Office to use part of the new county building recently opened in Colorado City. The Board also rescheduled the July 5 Board meeting for July 6.

mohavedailynews.com Originally published Monday, March 21, 2005

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