The Southern Nevada Water Authority recently awarded a contract to Colorado-based Merrick and Co., an engineering, architecture, design-build, surveying, planning and geospatial firm, to conduct three-dimensional imaging across parts of Southern Nevada’s geographic terrain. The effort will support the authority’s water conservation efforts.
Merrick will provide the authority with high-resolution Lidar, or light detection and ranging, which is designed to produce precise, 3-D information about the region’s shape and its surface characteristics.
Merrick aims to help identify types of regional vegetation throughout the region and assist with ongoing vegetation research associated with the authority’s Water Smart Landscape program — a rebate incentive program for local property owners to remove grass and switch to desert landscaping.
The Water Smart Landscape program was created in the late ’90s. It has encouraged owners to convert more than 177 million square feet of turf.
The two agencies’ effort comes as part of an award through the U.S. Geological Survey’s 3-D Elevation Program. The program was designed to assist with the growing need for 3-D elevation data for communities to better handle natural hazards and disasters, support infrastructure, ensure agricultural success and to enhance environmental planning and protect national security.
The authority’s award is one of 26 across 23 states and territories. The federal program, and its funding, could help protect the local region’s water resources against geological hazards and potential seismic activity.
UnitedHealthcare to stay on Nevada’s health insurance exchange
Nevada will be one of the remaining states where UnitedHealthcare Group Inc. plans to do business on an Affordable Care Act insurance exchange in 2017, with Health Plan of Nevada remaining an option on the state’s marketplace. The company said in April that it planned to remain in only a handful of exchanges in the upcoming enrollment.
“There has been a lot of discussion in the press about UnitedHealthcare exiting state marketplaces,” said Janel Davis, communications officer for the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange. “We wanted to be sure that everyone understands that Health Plan of Nevada will continue to be accessible to Nevada’s consumers in 2017.”
NevadaHealthcare had expanded its participation in exchanges to 34 states this year. But, because of heavy losses, the company plans to slash that number significantly in 2017, company officials said.
Along with Nevada, the company plans to stay on in Virginia, The Associated Press reported. So far, it plans to exit exchanges in Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan and Oklahoma.
UnitedHealthcare reported expected losses of $650 million in 2016, up from its earlier $525 million projection. Last year, the company lost $475 million in the insurance exchanges.
Quillin named agency of record for Mesquite Gaming
Quillin Advertising, Public Relations and Social Media was recently named the agency of record for Mesquite Gaming, which operates the Virgin River and CasaBlanca hotel-casinos in Mesquite.
Quillin will provide Mesquite Gaming with marketing and events programming, website development and social media, according to a release from Quillin.
Partners Tim and Sharry Quillin started the agency in 2003.
The company works in several sectors including health care, financial, lifestyle, automotive, casino and nonprofit.
Its client list includes America First Credit Union, Chapman Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, Best Mattress, Henderson Hyundai Superstore and Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation.
Mulligan’s sold for
$1.5 M in leaseback
Mulligan’s Bar &Grill, a 3,416-square-foot net-leased property at 6471 Boulder Highway in Las Vegas, has been sold for $1.5 million.
Ray Germain, associate vice president investments in the Las Vegas office of national commercial broker Marcus &Millichap, had the exclusive listing to market the property on behalf of the seller, KSRD Real Estate, LLC, a limited liability company. The buyer, Boulder Hwy Properties, LLC, was secured and represented by Germain as well.
The sale represents the third sale of a net-leased tavern site by Germain in less than 12 months. Two of the deals involved a complex sale-leaseback transaction.
“This sale-leaseback transaction was an effective way for the former owner to focus on their operations and reinvest the proceeds in the business to ensure their continued success in the Southern Nevada submarket,” said Germain. “Additionally, this was a great fit for an out-of-state investor who was looking for a stable management-free income for years to come.”
