Residents demand town hall as debate over Pahrump fairgrounds design and water rights continues
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Summary
Multiple Pahrump residents urged Nye County commissioners to hold a town-hall meeting on the proposed fairgrounds, citing nearly $1 million spent on designs, uncertain water rights and potential maintenance costs; county staff said water rights were purchased previously but currently applied elsewhere pending beneficial-use proof.
Several Pahrump residents used the county’s public-comment period on Feb. 3 to press the Nye County Board of Commissioners for a public town hall and more citizen oversight of the proposed Pahrump fairgrounds.
"It's time for a town hall on the Pahrump Fairgrounds," Mary Ann Hollis told the board, saying “almost $1,000,000 of taxpayer money has been spent on designs” and urging a public forum before more funds are committed. Other residents asked for clearer visual materials at meetings and for community input from South-end neighborhoods that they said risk being affected by the project.
Jenny Sartin, a Mountain Falls homeowner, told commissioners she supported calls for a town hall so South-end residents “can have a voice” about the fairgrounds’ plans and financing. Linda Clark asked whether the new meeting-screen system could be used to display maps showing parking and other design details so residents can see and comment on proposals.
County staff told the board that Nye County previously funded $1,300,000 to purchase water rights for the town of Pahrump intended for the fairgrounds. The manager said those rights are currently being used at other parks while the county continues to prove beneficial use and accumulate rights “so we can keep proving up those water rights,” but that use at the fairgrounds is not yet in place.
Supporters and opponents appeared in public comment. Robert Adams and other residents said the fairgrounds belongs to the entire community and urged the county to maintain momentum on a long-delayed project. Opponents cited fiscal strain, potential maintenance and water-cost burdens, and asked the commissioners to call a town hall or create a citizens’ committee to review project scope and location.
The board heard repeated requests for a formal citizen committee or an open town-hall meeting; no formal motion to require a town hall or create a citizens’ committee was recorded in the Feb. 3 meeting, and commissioners did not set any additional hearings specific to the fairgrounds during the session. The manager and commissioners acknowledged the community’s concerns and noted the county holds responsibility for certain steps (including water-rights management) while other approvals may involve state agencies or outside contractors.
The meeting adjourned at 11:39 a.m.; the fairgrounds remained a topic for future discussion, and residents said they would continue to press for a formal town-hall process.
