Housing authority takeover endorsed

The city of North Las Vegas is moving forward with a plan that will allow the city to take over management of the failing North Las Vegas Housing Authority.

A reduced City Council on Wednesday unanimously voted to authorize City Manager Gregory Rose to negotiate an agreement with the housing authority that will allow Rose to "temporarily provide management services" to the troubled agency on a month-to-month basis.

Mayor Michael Montandon and councilmen William Robinson and Robert Eliason, who also serve on the housing authority's board, voted in favor of the proposal. Councilwoman Stephanie Smith, who too sits on the agency's board, was absent. So was Councilwoman Shari Buck, the only council member who doesn't also sit on the housing authority board.

Buck has repeatedly criticized the housing authority board's make-up and said last week she wasn't sure whether she would support the city taking over management of the housing authority. She could not be reached Wednesday evening for comment.

Don England, the agency's embattled CEO, submitted his resignation last month effective as soon as his replacement can be found.

Officials have said the city will have to continue helping the housing authority financially.

Last month, the city approved a $100,000, unsecured, interest-free loan to the housing authority to help relocate 21 families living in the crumbling Casa Rosa public housing complex.

The city ordered the housing authority to either repair or demolish many of its decades-old family units because they are unsafe. The agency decided to pursue demolition of the Casa Rosa complex near Las Vegas Boulevard and Owens Avenue, but doesn't have the estimated $1.9 million necessary to do so.

A first priority upon the city's assuming control of the housing authority will be dealing with Casa Rosa, Rose said last week.