Panel OKs more building inspectors

Tuesday, May 17, 2005 | 9:51 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- In an effort the avoid future construction problems such as those that plagued the Sawyer State Office Building in Las Vegas and the veterans home in Boulder City, the Senate Finance Committee on Monday approved hiring more state building inspectors.

The Finance Committee agreed to add seven new positions to the inspection staff of the Public Board. The positions include three project managers and four inspectors.

The total inspection budget will rise from the present $4.7 million to $5.2 million next year and $5.4 million in fiscal 2007.

Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, said there would not have been problems at the Sawyer building "if it had been properly supervised."

"It was just plain sloppy work by the tile masons," Coffin said. "It was not glued on right."

After tiles fell off the building, the state authorized $1 million to remove the remaining tiles. The state filed suit against the general contractor Precision/Kitchell, the tile contractor Carrera-Marble Co., and architect Luchesi-Galati.

There has not been any resolution.

Binding arbitration sessions are expected to begin later this year between the state and Addison Inc., over construction of the $14.9 million veterans home. The state Public Works Board pulled Addison off the project in a dispute over delays in the project. The home was delayed one year and was about $1 million over projections.

Also on Monday the committee approved the budget for the veterans home for more than $27.5 million over the next two years. The home this fiscal year has paid $521,201 in overtime because it cannot fill its nursing and other positions at the 162-bed home.

The committee also approved adding six more positions to the Commission on Veterans Services. It will increase the budget by more than $480,000 over the next two years. And the new positions will provide assistance to the women's veteran population, estimated to be 30,000 in Nevada. The budget will rise from $1.5 million this fiscal year to $1.8 million next fiscal year and $1.9 million in fiscal 2007.