Arbitrator Orders Employee Pay Raises
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communITy Kids get self-defense training MESQUITE Page 1B HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Preview of fall teams LOCAL NEWS Page 4-5B THE WEEK OF AUG. 18, 2016 NPA 2015 GENERAL EXCELLENCE AWARD Vol. 12, No. 44 CITy OF mESQuITE Arbitrator orders employee pay raises By Barbara Ellestad Police officers began receiving step -in Arbitrator Byron Berry apparently Should that hold the city is not only on MLN creases retroactive to July 1, 2014, while agreed with the union saying in his rul- the hook for all the back pay but also for Fire & Rescue employees also received ing “It is the clear intention of this deci- retroactive Public Employee Retirement A federal mediator ordered that “su- step increases retroactive to July 1, 2013. sion to make sure that any and all finan- System (PERS) contributions that runs pervisors and non-supervisors be com- Teamsters Local 14 representing cial raises given to the police officers and at 27.5 percent of each employee’s gross pensated an equitable and fair amount rank-and-file city employees say those firefighters …shall also be given to the pay per year. of additional pay equal to the amount increases kicked in a “me too” clause in members of Teamsters Local 14 for the Davis previously estimated the city of money received by police officers and the contract that says “if any other group time period of July 1, 2013 through June will owe somewhere between $728,929 firefighters between July 1, 2013, and June receives any monetary gain in the nego- 30, 2016.” and $749,490 depending on the exact fi- 30, 2016” in a ruling between the City of tiated collective bargaining agreements Berry also cited that the aggregate aver- nal numbers of the pay raises. Mesquite and Teamsters Local 14. for 2013/14 – 2015/16, other than for a age pay raise police officers received was Sweetin said the arbitrator’s ruling is The ruling issued Aug. 10 culminates necessary job reclassification, an equal 16.32 percent while firefighters received “something the city already agreed with months of negotiations between the monetary gain shall be given to all em- an average aggregate increase of 14.22 that the employees deserved some sort of union and city that began in March 2015 ployees subject to this Agreement.” percent. Grant Davis, vice president/di- raise. That they wouldn’t has never been after the Mesquite Police Officers Asso- City Attorney Bob Sweetin, with city rector of operations, Teamsters Local 14, at play. Now we have spent a bunch of ciation union settled with the city in De- council approval, argued back that the said that should garner a 5 percent pay money for an arbitrator to tell us ‘figure cember 2014 and Teamsters No. 14 con- step increases did not constitute a wage raise per year for city employees with a out the amount.’ But the Teamsters have tract for Fire & Rescue was signed with increase, therefore, were not subject to three year total of 15 percent retroactive the city in February 2015. the “me too” clause. to July 1, 2013. o > See RAISES, Page 8A wATER DISTRICT GROwTH Davis sworn in; Lee explains birth river line discussed of Rising Star By Stephanie Frehner MLN Sports Ranch It was a meeting for questions on Tuesday as the Virgin By Barbara Ellestad Valley Water District Board discussed several things lined MLN Editor up for repairs and improvements. With Board President Nephi Julien being absent, Vice President Barbara Ellestad Drawing on his personal experience ferrying conducted the meeting. his own children to sports events, Greg Lee re- Newcomer Ben Davis was sworn in before business was lated how he and others developed the idea for tasked in purchasing equipment to the SCADA system the new Rising Star Sports Ranch located on which includes Project Logic Controls systems and Human/ Sandhill Boulevard in Mesquite. Lee, chairman of the Eureka Resort Casino and part of Urban > See VVWD, Page 6A Land of Nevada, spoke to a packed house at the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Water District begins work on new well Aug. 10. The decision to purchase the old Mesquite By Stephanie Frehner Star came shortly after a different company tried MLN to buy the property for a travel center and truck stop. When that failed, in part due to public dis- After a year of negotiations between Urban Land of Ne- approval, the Lee’s stepped in and purchased vada and the Virgin Valley Water District, work has be- the property from Mesquite Gaming LLC. gun on a new well site located near the corner of Pioneer Lee described a conversation with his father, and Oasis Boulevards beside the Nevada State Bank. Ted, who said, “I’ll buy the property but you The old well located adjacent to the new site became un- kids have to figure out what to do with it.” The usable almost two years ago, said Kevin Brown, VVWD Barbara Ellestad kids were a reference to Greg Lee and Andre manager. A new well had to be at least 100 feet away from Greg Lee, chairman of the Eureka Resort Casino and part Carrier, CEO of Eureka Casino and Rising Star. the old one. That put it outside the boundaries of the land of Urban Land of Nevada, spoke to a packed house at the “We were interested developing something that owned by VVWD. The right-of-way easement for the old Mesquite Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Wednes- was planned and provided a stronger city. It was site ran down the middle of less than a quarter of an acre day, Aug. 10 describing how the Rising Star Sports Ranch my dad’s patience and ability to make a deci- > See WELL, Page 6A came to be. > See LEE, Page 6A nEw buSIness Every day can be hump day at Camel Safari By Teri Nehrenz latter part of 2015 hoping to have the safari opened by MLN early spring. As with most permits, plans, construc- tion and inspection timelines that never work out on The time you’ve been waiting for since early spring our time frame, the same held true for Seeklus and has finally come. The Camel Safari in Bunkerville is his amazing camels; but it was well worth the wait. officially open for business and owner Guy Seeklus The farm is very picturesque with palm trees and can’t be excited enough about sharing his very large, the Virgin River bordering the farm and mountains very cuddly camels with the world. in the distance. There is brand new fencing and shel- Trek around 80 of the 176 acre farm on an unfor- ters for the herd and clean, open areas with smooth gettable safari atop one of their majestic camels. Your pathways for touring. Your tour can happen either ride is led by an experienced camel safari handler. on the camels or the all- terrain Segways that are also You will also get a tour of the farm and an opportu- available for rent at the farm. nity to get up close and personal with your camel for During the process of expanding his Safari to Teri Nehrenz an experience you’ll never forget. Colton Teerlink grooms Fabio for his picture. Seeklus moved the camels to the desert during the > See CAMEL, Page 5A Get Daily News at www.mesquitelocalnews.com sign up to get our daily newsletter with the day’s headlines! 2A MESQUITE LOCAL NEWS The Week of Aug. 18, 2016 September 2th, 8:30pm Host: Charlie Stone Featuring: Brent Taylor Charlie moved to Sin City, Headliner: Robert Duchaine Brent is most known for his where he now performs Robert is a surly misanthrope. celebrity impressions. Brent nightly at comedy clubs on His sarcastic social has comedy sketches that the world famous “Las commentary pokes fun at a can be seen on All Def Vegas Strip”. When he is not myriad of topics including race, Digital. He is based out of in Las Vegas he can most religion, and relationships. Los Angeles and can be likely be seen performing at currently seen monthly at comedy clubs across North The World Famous Comedy America. Store in Hollywood and performing all over. 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