State construction program comes under fire

Friday, April 6, 2001 | 11:18 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins said Thursday the governor should have the power to fire the manager of the state's construction program, which has encountered several problems.

Perkins, D-Henderson, told the Assembly Government Affairs Committee he has experienced a "high amount of frustration" watching the troubles escalate at projects such as the Lied Library at UNLV, the veterans home in Boulder City and a new state prison in Southern Nevada.

The manager of the state Public Works Board, which oversees millions of dollars of construction every year, should be responsible to an elected official who, in turn, is accountable to the voters, said the speaker.

Perkins' bill, Assembly Bill 414, would give either the board or the governor the right to remove the manager for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance. At present only the board, which is appointed by the governor, hires and fires the manager.

Perkins said he wanted more legislative oversight of this position, but that would violate the separation of powers concept.

Dan O'Brien, appointed to the manager's position about five months ago, said he had no problem giving the governor this authority. "If the governor said I was not doing the job, I would move on," he said.

Perkins said O'Brien was not on board when the problems arose, and he has since worked to turn things around.

Assemblyman Roy Neighors, D-Tonopah, endorsed the bill. Neighbors said the veterans nursing home "was a real mess," as it has cracked walls and ill fitting doors. "It's really a shame what happened down there." He also said that construction of a high-tech center in Pahrump experienced "delay after delay."

Perkins was upset at the $3 million to $4 million in change orders during construction at the Lied Library at UNLV. He said the Interim Finance Committee, which oversees these projects between sessions, has no say. Changes are made by the manager, and the committee can reject these modifications.

Eric Raecke, the former manager, deleted a gymnasium at the High Desert State Prison near Indian Springs. Perkins said this changed the scope of the project and was done without lawmakers' approval.

O'Brien promised to bring major changes in a construction project to the Legislature or Interim Finance Committee before they are made. He said, however, that he still needed to retain the authority to approve small change orders on the hundreds of projects. Otherwise, these projects would be delayed until a meeting of the Interim Finance Committee.

O'Brien was questioned by Assemblyman Harry Mortenson, D-Las Vegas, about problems with the beams at the Lied Library.

O'Brien said there was a change order on the beam construction, but it "was not the fault of any individual." UNLV changed the book storage system, which was designed to support 150 pounds per square foot. The new stacking arrangement by the school meant the floor had to be strengthened to carry a heavier load.

The committee did not take action on the bill, but its chairman, Doug Bache, D-Las Vegas, said he liked the measure.