State seeks new site of home for vets

Friday, May 8, 1998 | 10:12 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Legislators are going ahead with the design for a 180-bed state veterans home in Southern Nevada but they are looking for a new site.

Because of soil problems at Fifth Street and Craig Road in North Las Vegas, the Legislative Interim Finance Committee voted this week to abandon that location.

State Public Works Board Manager Eric Raecke said it could take up to an additional $2 million to solve the problem on the property that was donated by the U.S. Air Force.

Assemblyman Morse Arberry, D-Las Vegas, a member of the site selection subcommittee that has been reactivated, said he leans toward locating the veterans home in Boulder City. He added, however, there must be an arrangement for the state to acquire land there at no cost.

The subcommittee, headed by Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, will meet to try to pick a location but there's a timing problem.

The state must submit its application along with an environmental assessment of the property for federal funds before Sept. 30. Assessments can take up to six months to complete.

The federal government would put up $12.5 million of the required $19.3 million for the veterans home.

The finance committee suggested the state apply for the federal grant and ask the government for a delay in the completion of the environmental assessment.

The subcommittee will come up with a recommendation for the full finance committee by its meeting in June.