County commission briefs for February 6, 2002

Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2002 | 9:32 a.m.

Chronic delays to the construction of the Regional Justice Center have cost Clark County an extra $1.3 million to keep the project's architect on the job. Commissioners voted Tuesday to extend the contract a year.

The $170 million downtown justice center was scheduled to be finished last month, but now is expected to open in the fall, Assistant County Manager Mike Alastuey said.

"We need to keep the architects engaged throughout the course of the construction process," Alastuey said. "If conditions arise as the project goes forward, in the event you have questions on design, you need the architect all the way through."

The total amount of the contract is about $11 million.

Alastuey said additional costs due to delays will not push the project over budget, but county officials are closely watching the funding limit.

Task force to study feasibility

A task force that will study the feasibility of creating a domestic violence court in Clark County is scheduled to have its recommendations back to the Clark County Commission by June 4.

Commissioners on Tuesday approved the task force and named Nevada Supreme Court Justice Bill Maupin as chairman.

The committee will explore the costs of a centralized domestic violence court. The streamlined system would allow one judge to be assigned to a couple and hear related cases such as divorce decrees and child custody and protection orders.

Indigent share funding approved

Lake Mead Hospital and Medical Center on Tuesday was made eligible for Disproportionate Indigent Share funding, a designation that will help it recover money lost because of uninsured patients.

Clark County will use taxpayer money to assist Lake Mead with indigent patients. Administrators believe the total cost each year will be nearly $600,000.

University Medical Center, which treats the most low-income patients in the Las Vegas Valley, received all of the indigent share funds until April, when Lake Mead officials made a pitch for a portion. The commission's vote Tuesday formalized its April decision.

Bush to get economic report

A Clark County report outlining devastating effects if nuclear waste is shipped to Yucca Mountain was approved by commissioners Tuesday.

The report and a video that accompanied Tuesday's presentation will be forwarded to Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham and President Bush.

The study shows tourism rates would plummet, causing gaming revenue losses of between $1.1 billion and $1.7 billion. About 5,000 residents would lose their jobs because of the repository's effect on the economy.