New builder picked for veterans home

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2001 | 8:27 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Work is expected to resume next week on the much-delayed Southern Nevada Veterans Nursing Home in Boulder City.

Dan O'Brien, manager of the state Public Works Board, said Wednesday that Metcalf Construction of Carson City has been awarded a preliminary $10,000 contract to re-start the project. And a full contract will be worked out by next month, he said.

O'Brien estimates there is about three months of work needed to complete the home, which is already about $1 million over budget. The original cost was estimated at about $19 million.

Metcalf, Reyman Brothers of Sparks and Precision Construction Co. of Las Vegas were the three finalists chosen in the bidding process. Six bids were submitted to the Public Works Board.

Metcalf was selected, O'Brien said, because it has experience in building medical facilities and getting them licensed.

Meanwhile, a hearing is scheduled Monday before District Judge Jeff Sobel in Las Vegas on the petition for a preliminary injunction sought by Addison Construction Inc., the original contractor.

The Public Works Board ordered Addison off the job after it failed to complete certain work before established deadlines. The home was scheduled to be finished by January 2001, and the state assessed Addison a $2,885 penalty for every day the project was overdue.

Addison in turn claims the state owes it more than $1 million for work it was not paid for and wants an injunction to allow it to return to the job. It sought a temporary restraining order against the state, but Sobel refused to grant that.

O'Brien said Metcalf will be contacting the subcontractors to see if they want to return to finish the job. Some of the subcontractors have filed claims, alleging the state owes them money for completed work.

O'Brien said his agency is working with the state fire marshal's office and the state Bureau of Licensure and Certification to see that the work complies with the standards.