August '07 Nevada Government—Governor Jim Gibbons Column

Governor Gibbons Appoints Kloberdanz to Transportation Authority
GOVERNOR JIM GIBBONS today [August 9, 2007] announced the appointment of Michael J. Kloberdanz to the Nevada Transportation Authority (NTA), formerly the Transportation Services Authority. He replaces former NTA Commissioner Samuel Thompson, who resigned in June to take a position on the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.

"Mike Kloberdanz has extensive experience in business, in state government, and particularly in the Transportation Authority," said Governor Gibbons. "He is a proven manager, peace officer and regulator. I am pleased that he is willing to bring his skills back to the Nevada Transportation Authority as commissioner."

Michael Kloberdanz served as the chief investigator for the Nevada Public Service Commission/Transportation Services Authority from 1990 until 1999, managing a division of as many as 15 peace officers charged with enforcing motor carrier regulations. He also has an extensive background in computer and data systems, having served as systems engineer, senior programmer/systems analyst and account manager in private industry as well as interactive learning center manager for the Community College of Southern Nevada. He is a member of the Standing Committee on Judicial Ethics and Election Practices for the State of Nevada Supreme Court.

"I am extremely honored to be given this appointment by the governor of our great state. I will serve him, Nevada's citizens and the Transportation Authority with integrity, dignity and impartiality," said Kloberdanz.

The Nevada Transportation Authority administers and enforces state laws pertaining to passenger transportation, household goods movers, household goods storage and tow trucks. The NTA operates as a division of the Nevada Department of Business and Industry.

Business and Industry Director Mendy Elliott stated, "Mr. Kloberdanz will bring an informed perspective and regulatory balance, assuring the safety of the traveling public while encouraging the economic health of the transportation industry."

Klobertanz begins his new position as NTA commissioner Monday, August 13th.

Governor Gibbons to Address Border Security, International Trade and Other Issues on Separate Visits with Nevada Guard Troops at U.S.-Mexico Border, Mexican Government Officials and Arizona Governor Napolitano
GOVERNOR JIM GIBBONS will make three trips in the month of August to receive briefings and discuss important border issues. He will first travel to the U.S.-Mexico Border to meet with Nevada National Guard troops and see first hand how Nevadans are working to secure our nation's border against illegal immigration and trafficking of illicit drugs.

The following week he will travel to Mexico to meet with senior government officials including President Felipe Calderón to discuss trade and tourism, border security, and methamphetamine trafficking. These international issues have strong impacts in Nevada. Former Nevada Governor Bob Miller visited Mexico in 1998, and governors Rick Perry of Texas and Arnold Schwarzenegger of California have conducted trips to meet with government officials in one of our nation's largest economic partner nations.

Finally, Governor Gibbons will meet with Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano to discuss ways both states can pool resources to increase border security and fight methamphetamine and human trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border.

BORDER/NATIONAL GUARD TOUR
Governor Gibbons will meet with and receive briefings from Nevada National Guard troops who are assisting with the enforcement of our nation's border laws. The Nevada troops are currently stationed at Camp Morena, located on the California-Mexico border.

WHAT: Governor Gibbons and Adjutant General Cindy Kirkland to travel to Camp Morena to meet with Nevada National Guard troops
WHERE: San Diego, Tecate, and Camp Morena, California
DATE: Thursday, August 9, 2007
TIME: Arrive in San Diego at 9:30 a.m. PDT (approx.)

MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CALDERÓN AND MEXICAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

Governor Gibbons is scheduled to travel to Mexico to meet with President Felipe Calderón, senior government officials, educators, and the International Representative from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

WHAT: Governor Gibbons to meet with President Felipe Calerón, Ms. Josefina Vázquez Mota—Ministry of Public Education, Dr. Jóse Angel Córdova Villalobos—Ministry of Health, Ambassador Patricia Espinosa Cantellano—Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Eduardo Medina Mora Icaza—Attorney General of the Republic, and Mr. José Luis Santiago Vasconcelos—Under Attorney General, President of the University of Guadalajara Lic. Antonio Leaño Reyes and the International Representative for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Marco Aguilar.
WHERE: Mexico City, Mexico and Guadalajara, Mexico
DATE: Monday, August 13, 2007–Wednesday, August 15, 2007

MEETING WITH ARIZONA GOVERNOR JANET NAPOLITANO

Governor Gibbons is scheduled to meet with Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano to discuss shared border security issues including immigration, homeland security, and drug trafficking. While Nevada does not share a direct border with Mexico, the level of security on the southern border continues to have a significant impact on our state. Currently, more than 90% of methamphetamine confiscated in Nevada is smuggled in from Mexico through the porous border.

WHAT: Governor Gibbons to meet with Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano
WHERE: The Office of the Governor
DATE: Thursday, August 23, 2007

Governor Gibbons' Statement on Test Results
Proving Fallon Milk Safe
THE U.S. FOOD and Drug Administration (FDA) today [August 6, 2007] released the results of its tests of milk from Churchill County dairies, and the findings show there are no human health concerns for human consumption of the milk. Water tests had shown that wells providing drinking water for dairy cows at two dairies near Fallon contained larger amounts of polonium-210 than did water from neighboring wells, and the FDA cooperated with Nevada state agencies in expediting the testing of milk from cows on those dairies. Governor Gibbons issued the following statement upon learning the milk is safe:

"I wish to commend Nevada's state agencies and the Food and Drug Administration for making this determination so quickly. FDA personnel and officials of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, Dairy Commission (of Nevada's Department of Business and Industry), Health and Human Services and Conservation and Natural Resources have all put in long hours over the weekend to expedite the testing of milk. Their combined efforts have assured Nevadans that their milk is safe to drink and have assured the continued viability of the dairy industry in Churchill County."

Nevada Division of Business and Industry Director Mendy Elliott, who oversees the Nevada Dairy Commission, praised the dairy farmers for their cooperation.

"The farmers deserve recognition for being proactive in the face of a difficult situation," Elliott said. "On Friday, the Sorensen family and Oasis Dairy began voluntarily dumping their milk to assure the safety of the milk supply. I am glad today's test results literally put them back into business as well as reassuring Nevadans that our milk has been safe all along."

Governors to Create Working Group to Address Land Management Practices and Wildfire Threats
GOVERNOR JIM GIBBONS and Governors Butch Otter (Idaho), Jon Huntsman, Jr. (Utah), and Dave Freudenthal (Wyoming) today [August 6, 2007] agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) within two weeks to officially create a bipartisan, multi-state working group that will review and apply proven methods of wildfire suppression, prevention, and rehabilitation through sound scientific practices.

"The objective of today's meeting was to promote healthy land and landscapes through sound management practices that will break the cycle of catastrophic wildfires," said Governor Jim Gibbons.

The governors will appoint experts in agriculture, range management, wildlife, and firefighting from each state to serve on the working group, which will explore effective ways to better utilize state and federal resources.

"Together, we can accomplish far more than we otherwise would alone, as one state," Gibbons added. "It is my hope that we will find alternatives to previous rangeland management practices that will benefit all western states facing similar challenges."

Additionally, the working group will address a number of challenges that many western states are facing this fire season, such as the limited supply of seed needed for land rehabilitation. With fire season just passing the half-way point, seed will be a critical component of a fire-ravaged state's ability to not only return land back to previous conditions, but also to better prepare for future fire seasons.

After the working group assesses sound scientific methods of land rehabilitation, those findings will be applied to burned rangeland within each state through an intensive land management pilot program. The pilot program will explore various methods of fuel management, including the use of fire-resistant and cheat grass-deterrent plant species that will provide habitat and grazing for wildlife and livestock.

Photo: Governor Gibbons pictured with Governor Butch Otter during press conference in Boise, Idaho.