County news briefs for June 19, 2002

Wednesday, June 19, 2002 | 10:30 a.m.

Construction moving ahead

The Regional Justice Center and jail expansion -- Clark County's two largest and most troubled construction projects -- are expected to be finished by their new deadlines if no further problems crop up, officials said.

Aviation Director Randy Walker, who is overseeing the construction, said he expects prisoners to be housed at the jail in October and trials to be held in the new $170 million courthouse by December 2003.

"Progress is moving 10 times faster since I got involved but is still half of what it should be," said Walker, who was assigned to the projects in March.

"We have to watch carefully; there are no guarantees until the project is done, but right now there is no reason for alarm."

Commissioners, who in April agreed to fund some $30 million in cost overruns related to the two projects, told Walker Tuesday they would not consider another request for more money.

"We won't give any more money," Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates said. "Don't even bother calling."

Diversity exec named

Therese Frederick-Scupi on Tuesday was named administrator of Clark County's Office of Diversity, a revamped version of the Equal Opportunity Office.

Commissioners ratified County Manager Thom Reilly's recommendation to hire Frederick-Scupi, who has more than 15 years experience in human resources and most recently served as a county senior management analyst.

Reilly said he hopes to re-direct the focus of the Equal Opportunity Office by becoming more aggressive in addressing employees' concerns before they become significant problems and lawsuits are filed.

Staff members with the newly named Office of Diversity will train department heads on diversity issues and familiarize themselves with ongoing issues that plague different divisions.

New department authorized

Clark County took the first step in streamlining building and planning services by approving an ordinance authorizing the creation of a new department.

County staff members will work with stakeholders in the development community to develop a plan for the new division, which will be located in the county's permit application center.

The new ordinance allows the county to merge development-related responsibilities from Comprehensive Planning, Public Works and the Building Department. The purpose of the reorganization is to provide "one-stop shopping" for developers.

Justice hiring process OK'd

A new process to hire replacements for justices of the peace who leave before their terms expire was approved Tuesday by Clark County commissioners.

The board agreed to create a selection committee to recommend finalists for vacancies to the commission, which will make the final decision.

The Clark County, national, Asian and Latino bar associations will each submit two nominations for a committee pool; the state bar association will be asked to submit three candidates for the pool.

The board will choose five candidates from the bar associations to serve on the committee and add two board-approved citizens. The committee will review applications, interview candidates and make its recommendations.

Until Tuesday, the county had no formal process. Commissioners presiding over the district in which the departing justice of the peace served has traditionally recommended a replacement.