Commissioners could approve $297,000 sewer contract

County commissioners could award a $297,000 contract to B.R. Construction for a sewer extension to Ridgeview in north Douglas County.

Historically, the area has used septic systems. Nitrates filtering from those tanks have increased nitrate levels in Ridgeview's well number 4 to the point where its water can only be used for park irrigation.

Once groundwater is contaminated, other local wells can be affected.

The well was already contaminated when the district took responsibility for the Ridgeview water system several years ago, according to a report prepared by county staff.

Total cost for the project is $423,207. An additional $125,846 is being spent for access easements, sewer connection fees, engineering and grant administration.

The project is being funded by a $203,628 community development block grant, $96,080 for sewer connection fees from the Douglas County Redevelopment Agency and $123,499 from the county construction fund, according to county staff.

In other business:

-- Commissioners will address goals and policy direction regarding Douglas County's operating and capital improvement budget for the upcoming 2007-08 fiscal year

Dwindling sales, gaming and room tax revenues could mean a significant budget shortfall for Douglas County. As a result, residents could see the implementation of a new business license fee, utility operator fee or quarter-cent sales tax. Those three proposals that have been brought forward as commissioners struggle to resolve budget shortages.

-- Projects proposed for conservation easements that could impact Douglas County will be the focus of a talk by Greg McKay, representative for the Federal Advisory Committee for the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act.

Used as a tool for conservation easements in Douglas County, the funding is derived from the sale of Bureau of Land Management land in Southern Nevada. Revenues are split between with 5-percent from the Nevada's General Education Fund, and 10-percent the Southern Nevada Water Authority. The balance is held in a special account available to the Secretary of the Interior for everything from capital improvements to conservation initiatives and environmentally sensitive land acquisitions, according to information from the Bureau of Land Management.