Price set to patch tennis courts

Dan Kulin

Friday, Oct. 21, 2005 | 7:41 a.m.

Resurfacing all 23 courts at Las Vegas' new tennis center -- work needed, officials charge, because of a botched job by the contractor -- probably will cost the city as much as $250,000, Deputy City Manager Steve Houchens said Thursday.

The courts at the Stacy and Amanda Darling Memorial Tennis Center opened less than two months ago, but the courts already have cracks.

During his Thursday press conference, Mayor Oscar Goodman said the cracked courts were "shameful but correctable."

Although Goodman estimated it could cost $1 million to fix the courts, Houchens immediately afterward said the figure is closer to $250,000. The repairs are expected to take about eight months.

The new tennis complex is at one end of Washington Buffalo Park, along Washington Avenue between Buffalo and Durango drives.

City staff has blamed contractor Asphalt Products Corp. for the problems, and has barred it from bidding on a potential $35 million contract to build Centennial Hills Community Center.

Asphalt Products, which was paid $33.4 million to build the park, is appealing that decision and disputing the allegations of shoddy work.

In the appeal letter, company attorney John Randall Jefferies claimed it performed the work that it was assigned to do, adding that any changes to original construction plans were approved by city staff. Jefferies also noted that city inspectors signed off on the court construction on Sept. 1.

Asphalt Products' appeal of the decision to not allow it to bid on the Centennial Hills project is expected to go to the City Council on Nov. 16.

Jefferies also said Asphalt Products is planning to file a $10 million claim against the city for costs incurred by the company and its subcontractors during construction of the park and tennis courts. That claim would be handled by the city, and would go to an arbitrator if the company and city officials cannot reach an agreement.

If the company remains locked out of the Centennial Hills bid process, it will go to court on that matter, he added.

As those issues play out, Las Vegas is spending about $100,000, plus the cost of its workers, to widen two courts in preparation for a professional men's tennis tournament at the center in February. Along with the complex's center court, the two widened courts will give the center the three courts needed to accommodate the tournament

The tennis center is currently hosting the Mountain West Regional Collegiate Men's Tennis Tournament.

Dan Kulin can be reached at 259-8826 or at dan@lasvegassun.com.