School Board OKs ban on contractor

Terry Webster

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2000 | 11:06 a.m.

Precision Construction was banned Wednesday from performing work for the Clark County School District through the rest of this year.

The School Board agreed to uphold a recommendation from the district's construction management department to bar the firm, which performed renovations for Orr, Brinley and Robison middle schools and Western High School.

Construction officials said there were quality problems with the company's work and that the work was not completed on time.

More than 15 people urged the board to ignore the construction department's advice.

Orlando Sandoval, a member of the district's Bond Oversight Committee, said he reviewed various documents and said the district should not bar the firm.

School officials countered, noting the district did not round up people who had problems with Precision to speak at the meeting.

Steve Quinn of Precision Construction claimed the district began retaliating against him after he won an arbitration award. Shortly after the decision, Quinn said, the district began issuing various warnings about work quality.

He called the turn of events "totally unprofessional."

But construction officials justified their complaints by pointing to problems with the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, fire alarm systems and other areas.

Quinn produced letters of recommendation, some of them from school district officials, including principals.

Fred Smith, director of the construction management department, said some of the problems relate to areas that school principals and others would not be able to see.

Precision Construction will have the option of submitting another application to perform work for the district in 2001.