LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A Nevada state senator is asking the Henderson City Council to pipe up about a $1.3 million neighborhood waterline problem. The request prompted questions of a muddling precedent.
Will Bradley, special assistant to Republican State Senator Carrie Buck, started the monthly Southern Hills Republican Women’s Club meeting by presenting an 8 News Now story from Saturday on waterline problems at Renaissance Townhomes.
“I give you exhibit ‘A’ on why we are ground zero for the state and maybe the nation on HOA issues,” he said.
On Mar. 7, Renaissance Townhomes residents received an “urgent community vote” notice indicating that 73 of their lateral water lines needed replacement. A special assessment showed the total cost would be $1,367,1680, which equals a $16,879 charge per home.
The issues at Renaissance Townhomes follow similar issues at Somerset Park, which the city stepped in to help but not for free. A city spokesperson previously confirmed staff were aware of the issue and pointed out the city is limited in their response.
Bradley ended his speech by reading a statement from Buck—looking directly at the four members of the Henderson City Council.
“[Buck] feels a precedence has been set with Henderson getting involved with Somerset,” Bradley said. “And she asks that the City of Henderson does what they can to help the poor people of Renaissance.”
Following the meeting, Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero responded to the claim on if a precedent for the city’s involvement was established.
“I don’t believe it has,” Romero said. “That was a very specific situation where we had life safety issues. We literally had cars caving into the pavement. The structures were at risk. There were risks of the water being contaminated.”
The ask from Buck follows her introducing of three bills in the Nevada State Legislature regarding HOAs, one bill allowing residents to take their HOA to small claims court.
“Her bills do address issues that are greatly needed attention to right now, they address the lack of oversight for homeowners’ associations,” Romero said. “They address homeowners’ inabilities to go after their homeowners’ association if they have mismanaged funds and things like that.”
Romero added Henderson also has a bill introduced in the legislature which enhances the city’s ability to help and empower residents.
“Our bill helps on the front end a little bit so we can get ahead of an issue,” she said. “Right now, we’re completely in it, unable to do anything according to state law, unless it’s a life safety issue.”
Councilman Dan Stewart echoed Romero’s points on the limitations of the city’s involvement and indicated an interest in enabling the city to assist through Local Improvement Districts (LIDs).
“The local improvement district [sic], they’re used for building new construction, although the city can’t use them for repairs or reconstruction,” Stewart said. “And we’re hoping to be able to be able to use LIDs, which are kind of special assessment districts, to go in and be able to help the citizens of and the residents of HOAs make the repairs and then be able to space payments out over a long period.”
Following the meeting no commitments were made by city officials, who did note the financial challenge the Renaissance Townhomes neighborhood is facing.
“I feel sorry for them,” Stewart said. “And hopefully we can find mechanisms to help them.”
