At the April 5 County Council meeting, County Manager Kathleen Otto requested an eye-popping $600,000 to $800,000 of public funds from the “reserve maintenance fund” to build a fence to surround the lovely Clark Court house campus, complete with gates and check points.
Two council members supported this fence (Karen Bowerman and Gary Medvigy), while two opposed it (Sue Marshall and Glen Yung.) There were no design specifications on the fence, style, height presented from Ms. Otto. It was clear the county’s noble intention is to protect property and staff cars and the homeless from sleeping on the campus.
Creating barricades to public buildings is a terrible idea in a democracy. It sends a message that our government will protect themselves while it leaves the public on their own to deal with the same problems. The proposal will be brought up for public comment at the meeting on April 18. No alternative ideas were presented at the April 5 meeting. Please write the Clark County Council with any alternative ideas as opposed to a fence and consider delaying this plan for alternative solutions.
