Clark County official shifts

The woman who ran Clark County's dissolved redevelopment program will be placed in a new job as a liaison, earning her same $123,000 yearly salary.

Lesa Coder will recruit companies, especially those in the renewable energy industry, to rural areas such as Laughlin. She also will oversee the county's sustainability program.

The county will pay for the job using some of the $7.3 million being transferred to the general fund from the scrapped redevelopment program, said Don Burnette, the county's chief administrative officer.

"We're getting a lot of requests from a lot of companies looking to move here," Burnette said. "She will use her redevelopment experience to work with companies to relocate here in rural Clark County."

Fostering business growth would have a long-term benefit to the county and local economy, Burnette added.

Most of the $7.3 million in redevelopment money earmarked for the general fund will go to the University Medical Center.

The money comes from a $37 million fund that accrued during the redevelopment program's six-year life. The fund will be divvied up among the hospital, schools, fire and other services.

The state will receive $2.5 million from the fund, plus $11 million a year in tax revenue from properties in the redevelopment areas.

The County Commission decided last week to temporarily halt its redevelopment program in the face of revenue demands from the state Legislature and sagging revenues because of the recession.

Contact reporter Scott Wyland at swyland@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.