Haggling over NLV fire station nearing conclusion

Dan Kulin

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2002 | 8:48 a.m.

A monthslong struggle over a North Las Vegas fire station being built by a developer in return for permission to put commercial and residential development around the property may be coming to an end.

City officials will inspect the shell of the fire station at 5725 Allen Lane on Wednesday, Deputy Fire Chief Jim Stubler said Monday.

The builder, Ann Allen LLC, was supposed to have the shell of the station completed by August. After the building is turned over to the city, additional construction inside the shell will be done, and the new fire station could be open by April, Stubler said.

Ann Allen representative George Garcia said Monday that he believes all the work on the station has finally been completed. Building construction was substantially completed by late summer, he said.

But since at least September, city officials and Ann Allen representatives have been negotiating details of the deal, Garcia said. For example, some electrical work needed to be finished, and the city was asking for proof of building warranties, he said.

"At this point we expect everything to be wrapped up," Garcia said.

Mayor Michael Montandon said he's hopeful the matter will be resolved soon because the city needs a fire station in the area of the intersection of Ann Road and Allen Lane.

Since September the City Council has put off deciding whether to declare that Ann Allen violated the development agreement with the city. Montandon said that threat was a negotiating tool for city officials, and that he never wanted to scuttle the deal.