News briefs for March 20, 2002

Wednesday, March 20, 2002 | 9:40 a.m.

Senators to get forum comments

Nevada's remaining wilderness needs protection, a coalition of citizens agreed during a forum Tuesday night at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Public comments made at the forum will be forwarded to Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev., who are co-sponsoring a bill to protect millions of acres of wilderness in Nevada, Jeremy Garnecarz, Friends of Nevada Wilderness Southern Nevada director, said.

Former Boulder City Mayor Eric Lundgaard said protecting wilderness also preserves the quality of small-town life.

Wilderness, adventure guide Randal Grandstaff said, can boost economic prosperity and tourism for visitors.

Labor Commission takes up case

The state Labor Commission on Tuesday heard testimony on whether the city of Henderson fully investigated complaints of underpayment by workers during construction of a city parking garage.

New laws passed by the 2001 Legislature require that awarding bodies, in this case Henderson, conduct interviews on public works projects to ensure that workers are paid state-mandated wages.

But because the job classification was difficult to determine Tuesday, the hearing stretched past closing time at the Sawyer State Office Building in Las Vegas. The hearing will continue in April.

Six former employees of Precision Concrete -- the subcontractor that completed much of the $7.2 million, 4 1/2 story garage in December -- testified that the company owes them $25,547 in unpaid wages. They say they were paid laborer wages while doing carpenter's work.

If the Labor Commission decides workers were unfairly classified, Precision Concrete would have to pay any outstanding wages.

An internal audit by Henderson officials concluded that if job classifications are correct, then workers are owed nothing.

County approves extra salary

Clark County's bilingual employees are now eligible for additional pay after commissioners ratified an agreement Tuesday between the county and the Service Employees International Union.

Employees whose duties require them to communicate in a second language at least 20 percent of the time can earn an extra $25 a week -- potentially $1,300 a year.

Aside from the 20 percent threshold, employees must have long-term duties with clients unable to speak English and they must complete the county's bilingual proficiency exam for the second language they speak, according to a county report.

Agencies prepare for terrorism

More than 40 local, state and federal agencies will participate in a mock biological terrorist attack Thursday to test the response of officials if the Las Vegas Valley were exposed to a chemical agent.

The emergency exercise will take place at Cashman Field, but is not open to the public or the media. Officials said briefings will be given after the exercise.