Detention center construction costs continue to mount

Adrienne Packer

Friday, Nov. 16, 2001 | 9:39 a.m.

The costs associated with the construction of Clark County's Detention Center continue to mount as commissioners mull whether to extend a consultant's contract through September 2002.

Administrators propose paying consultant Marty Solomon $12,000 a month to continue facilitating communications between the county and builders.

The county's $85 million jail expansion project has been delayed by problems with the ventilation system and fighting between subcontractors. The project was scheduled to open in May but has been delayed until April 2002, said to Mike Alastuey, assistant Clark County manager.

Alastuey said Solomon, who was initially paid $100,000 for six months of consultation work, has been helpful in resolving disputes involving the general contractor and subcontractor.

"We've found his consultation to be of value," Alastuey said. "If anything, Mr. Solomon has been helpful in analyzing the delays and placing the issues correctly before the county for consideration."

The most significant obstacle at the detention center has been the fire ventilation system, which did not meet city of Las Vegas fire codes, and subcontractors disagreed on how to resolve the problem. Alastuey met with general contractor AF Construction and project manager Jacob Facilities Inc. last week.

Once the fire dampers are fixed, construction on the downtown jail will resume.

The county created contingency funds that amount to about 10 percent of the total budgeted cost. Alastuey said that, despite the delays, the project has not yet run over budget.

"Our concerns over the budget grow," Alastuey said. "At this point we're not over budget, but our contingency has grown thin."

County Finance Director George Stevens said he expects the detention center to run over the budgeted $85 million. To cover the cost overruns, the county plans to refinance debts and take money from funds reserved to staff the new jail.

"We didn't have to hire the staff as fast as we intended, so we'll take some money from those savings," Stevens said.

The accompanying $170 million Regional Justice Center has also been wrought with problems. The new courthouse was scheduled to be completed in mid-2002, but Alastuey said the more likely opening date is spring of 2003.

"We're not hearing from the general contractor any strong prospect that the justice center will come in on time," Alastuey said. "But our immediate concern right now is the jail."

County commissioners are scheduled to consider Solomon's contract extension Tuesday. The proposal was placed on the consent agenda, a portion of the agenda that is passed without discussion.