Clark County commissioners voted to proceed with the condemnation process to acquire a strip of land needed to complete Tropicana Avenue improvements west of Conquistador Street, after a public hearing at the Aug. 5 meeting.

The county’s Department of Public Works said the project requires approximately 4,700 square feet of right of way to construct pavement, curb, gutter, sidewalk and a streetlight. Department representative Kaizad Yazdani told commissioners the acquisition would allow widening of the existing asphalt north of Conquistador and installation of curb, gutter and lighting.

The parcel under consideration is listed in the public record as assessor’s parcel number 163‑19‑402‑006 and is held in a trust controlled by Shahrokh Torani, who addressed the commission during the public hearing. Torani identified himself as the trustee and owner, described a recent fraudulent deed incident that required legal action to clear title, and said county staff and his office had discussed easement and purchase options over several years.

Torani told the commission he had invested in berms and walls on parts of the property to deter trespass and illegal dumping and said he preferred to reach an agreement rather than pursue condemnation. He also asserted that some utilities on the parcel had been placed without his authorization and asked the county to complete due diligence before taking possession.

County counsel and staff said negotiation efforts had taken place for years; when negotiations stalled the county brought the matter to the agenda to obtain authorization to proceed with eminent‑domain steps. A county attorney’s office representative stated that eminent‑domain procedure provides the owner judicial protections and that negotiations would continue even after the board’s authorization. The commission then moved to approve the agenda item authorizing the condemnation process; the motion passed unanimously.

Discussion on the record centered on the history of negotiations, the parcel size and the county’s stated need to complete an important road project, while the owner stressed his desire to avoid an indefinite negotiation that would delay construction. Commissioners indicated staff should continue negotiating but that there must be finality to secure the right of way for the Tropicana improvements.

No compensation amount was announced at the meeting; the county indicated the eminent‑domain process would include appraisal and judicial procedures to determine just compensation if negotiations do not yield an agreement.