Contractor given more time to finish vets nursing home

Friday, July 20, 2001 | 11:28 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Significant progress has been made in cleaning up the construction problems at the state veterans nursing home in Boulder City and the contractor will be given more time to make corrections.

The state Public Works Board Thursday agreed to keep Addison Construction Co. on the job rather than finding another contractor.

David Johnson, a Las Vegas lawyer hired as special counsel for the board, said, "Although it is not perfect and not finished, significant progress has been made in the last three months."

Bringing in another contractor at this point, Johnson said, may not make economic sense.

There are still major issues to be corrected, however. And there's the possibility of litigation over such things as cracks in the walls, water pressure for the fire sprinkler system, doors that don't close properly and meeting federal handicapped standards.

Addison was awarded a $14.7 million contract in June 1999 and the original completion date was May 1, 2000. But change orders costing more than $1 million pushed back the completion date to Jan. 4 this year.

The state has served notice that Addison will be hit with liquidated damages for being late at the rate of $2,885 per day since January.

State Budget Director Perry Comeaux, a member of the Public Works Board, said he was "not tickled to death" with what is happening at the project. But he added the contractor is making a "good faith effort" to complete his work. But he added there are "serious issues" that may have to be fought in court.

Addison has filed claims, saying it is owed another $1.1 million because of extra work ordered by the state.

The original project called for 112,000 square feet but that was reduced to 88,000 square feet because of budget limitations. It will accommodate 180 patients.

The administrative staff has been able to move into one section of the building. But there's no estimate when patients might be accepted.