FROM THE EDITOR:Will Willow Creek rise again?

Hallelujah!

Willow Creek is about to become a former dilapidated, defunct, eyesore, embarrassment for the community.

At least that’s what I and hundreds of residents near the old golf course hope.

I generally don’t like commenting on stories that I have a role in writing — that whole bias thing — but today’s piece on Willow Creek is simply too important to ignore.

It’s important because it signifies — hopefully — a closing of a pretty ugly chapter in Pahrump’s history.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: It was a sin to ever allow Willow Creek, a once fondly patronized gem, to fall into the sad state it has been mired in now for years. A sin.

I have more than once said it was high time this county simply foreclose, swipe that property from out beneath Jim Scott’s feet, run him out of town for good to boot.

But he pretty much did that for us — he lost some costly court battles, spent last Thanksgiving in jail for ignoring one judge’s order, and then filed Chapter 11 on the shell company that owned Willow Creek, not to mention his own personal bankruptcy, which is fascinating reading for anyone who wants to know how not to conduct business. (His assets in the Chapter 7 case in California amounted to $2.15 million. Liabilities? Only $35.15 million.)

Ouch.

Now, with Willow Creek, a plan in Las Vegas federal bankruptcy court spells out that Utilities Inc. of Central Nevada will soon take possession of 15 of 16 parcels, pending quick approval later from the public utilities commission and state environmental protection folks. Good.

Part of the settlement also gives Nye County the opportunity to take possession of six easements to be used as flood control and park and recreational spaces.

That’s awesome. And what a relief for beleaguered homeowners near Willow Creek. The end is Nye.

But, somewhere after this plan was confirmed in court back in June, Nye County officials either got cold feet or didn’t appreciate the language in the plan that sort of saddles the county with some responsibilities as far as zoning changes, lifting deed restrictions, maintaining the water lines through the easements, even maintaining one pond on one of the parcels. I can see where paying $100,000 and getting saddled with potential liability issues for perhaps unforeseen problems — remember those odor issues and costly remediation orders? So maybe the county asked for more than either UICN or the bankruptcy trustee wanted to give.

Frankly, I don’t know, and officials who do know aren’t really being forthcoming about it for some reason. I have my suspicions.

Well, the situation so deteriorated last week that the bankruptcy trustee — he pays the bills until this thing gets squared and he wants to stop paying as soon as he can — filed a motion to entirely cut Nye County out of the plan altogether. Bye, bye parks.

For a second there, it looked like the county was going to say bon voyage as well, (hint, many county officials, and plenty of other people, too, believe UICN is like a boa constrictor around the neck of this community, more concerned with squeezing profit from of our pockets than actually being partners for progress.)

But something happened — I wish I knew what so I could tell you — but now there’s an item on Tuesday’s county commission agenda that will put the county’s participation in the plan to a vote.

I say vote for the plan and let’s let government do what it’s supposed to do to improve things for taxpayers at a reasonable cost.

Otherwise, and the plan is already in motion, UICN will get the whole enchilada — save for the church-slash-clubhouse, that goes to one of Scott’s unpaid money lenders — and the county will be cut out of the game altogether.

I don’t think that is a good thing. Hopefully, commissioners avoid that outcome.

Already, and we will report developments as they happen, I am hearing that some local businesses — think giant building with flashing lights and aging smokers and lots of clanking money sounds — have already gotten together with residents and UICN to discuss Willow Creek’s future. Cha-ching.

Future as what is left to be seen. One joke email rolling around town suggests maybe Willow Creek will be the home of the new Contour Entertainment developed tank-driving attraction. Ha. Now that’s funny. But the town apparently was not involved in any of this. Aww.

But no. There’s a real opportunity here. First for homeowners. But also for the community to develop something great on a great piece of property. UICN would do very well, probably profit wise as well as public relations, to really lead the way and do something great, either by finding a great person to sell the property to, or to do the developing themselves with much public input and county support.

The county would do well to put differences aside and make nice nice to undo the sad, sad, sad damage done by Scott and the people in charge who should have capped his knees a long, long time ago.

Of course, this being Nye County, I’m going to hedge my bets, and you should to.

While Willow Creek may very well soon be returned to some semblance of its former glory (did I say Hallelujah!), don’t be surprised if something jumps out and mucks this whole thing up, or unfolds a story we have yet to learn.