North Las Vegas council briefs

Friday, July 6, 2001 | 10:53 a.m.

Preliminary plans receive approval

Preliminary plans for a new North Las Vegas courthouse and jail received informal approval from City Council members Thursday during a staff briefing.

The 91,000 square-foot building would include 40,000 square feet of courtroom space and a 36,000 square-foot jail.

The existing municipal courthouse is roughly half the size of the proposed project, Capt. Dan Lake, of the North Las Vegas Detention Center, said.

The new courthouse would include three courtrooms to handle misdemeanor cases such as traffic offenses, shoplifting and DUIs, Chief Ken Ellingson, of the North Las Vegas Detention Center, said. North Las Vegas currently has one courtroom to service the city.

Some of the funds required to build the new facility will come from contracts the city has with the federal government to house federal prisoners in city jail space. The contracts generate about $8 million a year, about half what it costs to run the jail.

Actual construction costs and detailed design work for the new building will be presented to the City Council in October. Assistant Director of Public Works Bob Harary hopes to complete the entire project by fall 2003.

Two construction pacts awarded

Eight parks in North Las Vegas will be upgraded with funding the City Council approved last year.

The City Council awarded two construction contracts Thursday to begin renovation work this month.

Capriati Construction will oversee phase one of the project, which includes College, Herbert Memorial, Tom Williams and Windsor parks.

J.A. Vay & Sons will renovate the remaining Hartke, Joe Kneip, Petitti and Walker Memorial parks.

Improvement to the parks will include construction of concrete walkways, lighting, irrigation and landscaping improvements, painting the existing restrooms, installation of picnic tables, shade shelters, trash receptacles, barbeque grills and city-furnished play equipment. An undeveloped portion of Walker Memorial Park will also be developed.

The total cost for renovating all of the parks is about $1.7 million. Renovations on the parks should be completed four months after construction begins.

The cities of North Las Vegas and Las Vegas

have agreed to aid each other in the event of disruptions that may occur in their respective jails. Assistance would include dispatching additional corrections officers and providing emergency equipment and communication support.