More money asked for fire academy

Jennifer Knight

Friday, Feb. 22, 2002 | 9:45 a.m.

The contractor that built the Fire Science Academy in Carlin wants an additional $1 million to correct construction defects at the facility, slated to open May 1.

A court-appointed mediator is working with the contractor and the University of Nevada, Reno, to determine responsibility and to ensure the academy opens on time, said John Fredrick, UNR's interim executive vice president and provost.

The university has already entered into several contracts with vendors.

"The difficulties we have with the cost overruns for the repairs has put that date in jeopardy," Fredrick said. "We have contractual agreements to offer courses, and that's a big part of the reason we need to open on time."

Regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada will meet Monday at 10 a.m. at the to address the cost overruns.

A $5 million settlement was reached after the university sued Sparks-based Clark & Sullivan Constructors in 2000. The money was expected to cover the necessary repairs to the academy, said Tom Ray, general counsel for the university system.

"It's looking like the $5 million wasn't enough to correct the problems," Ray said. "We're not in a situation where we owe them money, but we are fast approaching running out of money."

"Enhancements (to the facility) have increased since the original mediation," said B.J. Sullivan, president of Clark & Sullivan. "That's the reason there is a budget problem. But, we've been working with the university as a team since August. This is just one little hurdle that we're going to get over."

The fire academy opened in 1999 to low enrollment, which was blamed on its remote location in northern Nevada. A year later soil at the site was found to be contaminated, the academy closed and the university defaulted on $230,000 per month loan payments.