Veterans home completion date set

Thursday, Jan. 17, 2002 | 10:50 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Construction on the long-delayed state veterans nursing home in Boulder City is scheduled to be completed by the end of March.

But the first patient probably won't be admitted until July 8.

A report was submitted to the state Public Works Board today on the new dates for the $20 million 180-bed home that was scheduled to open in January 2001. The project is also about $1 million over budget.

John Sias, director of the home, told the board it would take about 90 days after completion before patients could be accepted. Federal and state inspectors must survey the project and grant licenses first, he said.

Sias intends to admit five patients on June 10 to test how the home will operate, and then more patients in July.

Dan O'Brien, manager of the public works board, presented the new timetable by Metcalf Builders of Carson City.

The public works board fired Addison Inc., the original contractor. It was the first time the state has fired a contractor on a public works project.

Addison has sued. At issue are millions of dollars of unpaid claims, according to the lawsuit in District Court in Las Vegas.

Sias has already hired staff who have been putting together the programs and preparing for the state and federal inspections.