County checks tapes showing Barrett in building over weekend

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2001 | 10:59 a.m.

Clark County administrators today plan to review surveillance camera footage that captured former facilities manager Bill Barrett in a county building over the weekend.

Assistant Mike Alastuey will determine whether county regulations were broken when Barrett was seen being escorted into the central plant building by his former right-hand man, Wally Kosbob, on Saturday.

"What we're trying to determine is why he was here and what he was doing here," said county spokesman Doug Bradford, who added that the facilities crew often does testing on weekends.

"We're going to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he was finishing up unfinished business so his former employees know what needs to be done," Bradford said.

Barrett accepted a voluntary separation package Wednesday, and although he will be on the county payroll two weeks, he was told to clean out his office. Bradford said Barrett also was told the only time he could enter a county building is when he is visiting the human resources division.

The surveillance tape, captured by the county's security desk, will be reviewed to see if Kosbob violated county policy and whether Barrett broke his verbal agreement.

Barrett's abrupt resignation came one day after he stood before county commissioners and claimed he was being targeted by a board member and by a top administrator.

He left after a flurry of ethics allegations and a federal Environmental Protection Agency probe into the mishandling of refrigerant in Barrett's department.

The Nevada Ethics Commission will decide during its sessions Thursday and Friday whether to file a formal complaint against Barrett, who is accused of campaigning for county commissioners while on duty.

Barrett has refused to speak with the media. He was, however, scheduled to appear on a radio talk show late Friday afternoon, but canceled at the last minute because of a reported illness. Barrett was seen in the county building early Saturday.