County in court over justice center

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 1998 | 10:57 a.m.

Several Las Vegas lawyers accused Clark County officials Tuesday of reneging on land deals and failing to follow proper eminent domain practices while grabbing property for a regional justice center.

"They have gotten so arrogant," attorney John Netzorg said of the county.

Netzorg and four other lawyers listened to four hours of testimony from Clark County administrators who appeared Tuesday before District Court Judge Sally Loehrer. The judge will determine whether the condemnations were fair.

Loehrer was assigned the cases despite attorneys' contention Clark County judges should be disqualified because the justice center will provide them with new courtrooms and offices.

The county settled on property along Casino Center Boulevard between Third and Fourth streets to build the $120 million regional justice center, which will include courtrooms, a 1,500-cell jail and a parking garage.

While the jail and courthouse may satisfy eminent domain laws that weigh public good against private damage, some attorneys feel the parking garage does not meet that condition.

In addition, Netzorg claimed the county began condemnation proceedings on businesses without having enough funding readily available to finish the project.

"I would like to see the county pack up its bags and start over and do it right so we don't waste all these people's time," he said, motioning toward fellow attorneys and business owners.

Netzorg and lawyers Owen Nitz and Thomas Beatty were miffed at the county Finance Director George Stevens' comment that a $120 million bond approved by voters in 1996 won't fully cover the cost of the justice center.

The attorneys said the manner in which the bond was advertised intimated it would pay for a new regional justice center. Stevens, however, said that was never the county's intention. The bond was to cover the cost of expanding the jail and youth and family services and help with the regional center.

Stevens said the Clark County Commission will sell an additional $80 million worth of bonds.

Netzorg balked at the county's intention to sell the Third Street courthouse and share proceeds with the city of Las Vegas, which will also pitch in for the justice center.

He said the county's agreement with Union Pacific, which was forged in the early 1900s, deeded the property to the county specifically for a courthouse. When the building is no longer a courthouse, Netzorg said it automatically reverts back to Union Pacific.

"They are planning to sell property that isn't even their's," he said. "This is outrageous."

The attorney asked county officials to read a list of pros and cons considered when the justice center site was contemplated. Netzorg said not once did the county consider damage that may be done to businesses that would be condemned.

Rich Richardson has owned Sarret Office Supply Co. on Casino Center Boulevard for 28 years. When the county came calling, he hammered out an agreement: $1 million for the property and moving costs and he could stay in his business for two years.

The county agreed and cut a check, but five days before the deal was to be finalized, it fell through. Richardson said his building was condemned.

"I can't move a retail operation in 90 days," Richardson said Tuesday. "We've looked around and found zip."

Don Burnett, assistant director of administrative services for the county, said three site alternatives were submitted to the County Commission in early 1997. The locations were chosen by Tate & Snyder Architects, which produced a $1 million, eight-volume report on potential sites and space needs.

Burnett said the present site was the best among the other alternatives that were strewn across nine blocks. Having the jail adjacent to the courthouse is more efficient because it reduces transportation costs. It would also require less security to escort inmates back and forth.

The trial is expected to continue at 9 a.m. Thursday when Netzorg's witnesses are scheduled to testify.