Guinn seeks control of Public Works Board

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2001 | 11:03 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state Public Works Board, which has been criticized for its handling of such construction projects as UNLV's Lied Library and the Veterans Home in Boulder City, may be headed for some big changes.

Gov. Kenny Guinn said Wednesday he favors restructuring the board in a way to give him more control over the agency that handles more than $200 million worth of state construction every two years.

The board is composed of lay members appointed by the governor. It meets every few months and has the power to appoint and remove the manager who does the day-to-day supervision.

"We are going to look for some structural changes," the governor said, after a meeting of the state Board of Examiners, which discussed delays in building two schools in White Pine County.

The 1999 Legislature allocated an estimated $16 million for school construction in Lincoln and White Pine counties. But the school construction at Lund and Pleasant Valley in White Pine County hasn't even started.

Guinn complained that it has been 22 months since the money was allocated. He said he opened a letter recently thinking it was an invitation to attend a dedication of the Lund and Pleasant Valley schools. He said he was "stunned" to learn the groundbreaking hadn't even been held.

At the meeting, Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said her office was considering filing a suit in connection with the building of the Lied Library.

Del Papa is concerned about the claims presented for payment by the contractors. But she said no decision has been made whether litigation would be pursued. That decision will come before the Feb. 14 meeting of the examiners board.

There have been delays, cost overruns and other problems on the Lied Library, the veterans home and the High Desert State Prison in Southern Nevada.

Last month, the Legislative Commission ordered an audit of the construction of the Lied Library after being told there were $5.6 million in claims filed against the contractor and the state, and that there was no money to pay them. In addition, the library was supposed to be ready in January 2000, but it won't be opened until this spring.

The "whole process" of the Public Works Board needs to be reviewed, Del Papa said, adding that she was impressed with Dan O'Brien, who became manager of the board about five weeks ago.

O'Brien told the board his agency has "not been aggressive in taking control of projects."

"We have to start with the architect and agencies," he said. "We have to be tough with the contractors."

Guinn said Public Works Board members are the experts, and they must tell the agencies and their clients "no" when it comes to change orders that exceed the scope of the project and jack up the price.

What worked in the past may need to be streamlined, Guinn said, because the projects are "getting too big and complex." There are now projects that cost $65 million, which are far bigger than in the past.

On the two White Pine schools, the Public Works Board hired Lombard-Conrad Architects Nevada Ltd, which took about nine months to design the two schools. The combined project was estimated to cost $7.4 million, but the bids came in about $1 million over the expected cost.

O'Brien said the architectural firm is re-designing to cut cost. And the firm is not being paid for the re-design.

Mark Shellinger, superintendent of White Pine Schools, notified the state in January of a change in plans. The school district wants to construct the Lund school with all the alternatives, such as a soccer field with lights while scaling back Pleasant Valley, where there are only 31 students.

The Pleasant Valley students are now bused a short distance to Utah school. There are more than 100 students in Lund.

Before the examiners board will take any action, it wants to meet with the White Pine County School Board to ascertain if it is are supporting the changed concept. White Pine wants to scale down the proposed $3.6 million Pleasant Valley school to about $1.1 million.

Secretary of State Dean Heller suggested the two school buildings be scrapped and the Legislature take another look at the project. But Guinn said the state should try to move ahead with its plan.

Guinn said the Public Works Board must show a "sense of urgency" in starting and completing these projects. "Usually it takes you longer to get the money," Guinn said. "Now we got the money and look how long it takes to get action.

"That's no way to run a business."