THE WEEK IN REVIEW: CLARK COUNTY

By Tony Cook

Monday, Nov. 19, 2007 | 7:05 a.m.

For many, the old Sunrise Landfill has become a symbol of Clark County's cushy - and often controversial - relationship with garbage company Republic Services.

Skepticism grew after the Sun revealed last month that a California attorney who advises the county on the dump also has been working for Republic in California.

Commissioners didn't even know about Scott W. Gordon's dual roles and some of them called it a conflict of interest that should have been disclosed, especially because the county, Republic, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are in talks about how the landfill should be closed and who should pay for it.

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani even called for the county to dump Gordon.

So what's the latest?

Commissioners will consider an amendment to Gordon's $83,225 contract Tuesday. The proposed changes are intended to make sure Gordon represents only the county in discussions with the EPA about how much work is needed to finish closing the landfill, not discussions with Republic about who should pay for the work. It also waives the possible conflict of interest inherent in his work for Republic in California.

Meanwhile, we've been doing some more digging since the controversy first surfaced.

What did we find?

County management has maintained that Gordon disclosed his work for Republic in 2000 to John Schlegel, then the county's director of development services. The disclosure was either verbal or by e-mail, a county spokesman said.

The California bar requires "informed written consent," but let's put that aside for the moment.

We caught up with Schlegel, now planning director for Wichita and Sedgwick County in Kansas. He said in a phone interview that he has "no recollection" of a disclosure from Gordon.

We also found that Gordon has accepted several expensive dinners paid for by Republic Services of Southern Nevada.

Bob Coyle, area president of Republic, said he hosted Gordon at least twice, and maybe a third time.

What were these dinners like?

Here's a rundown. The information comes from Coyle, who checked his records at the Sun's request.

Dinner #1

Where: Del Frisco's, a dimly lit steakhouse with a rich cigar scent in the air (no kidding, we've been there) on Paradise Road, near Flamingo.

When: July 6, 2006, the night before a meeting with the EPA.

Who: Coyle, Gordon, a Republic vice president, two Republic attorneys and two Republic consultants. Gordon was the only county representative at the table.

Cost: $133 per person, on average. Coyle picked up the tab, including Gordon's portion.

Dinner # 2

Where: Maxfield's, a swank restaurant in San Francisco.

When: Jan. 10, 2007, again the night before an EPA meeting.

Who: Coyle, Gordon, two Republic attorneys, a Republic engineer and Alan Pinkerton, deputy director of the county's air quality and environmental management department.

Cost: $130 per person, on average. Coyle picked up the tab. Pinkerton contributed $40 in cash. Gordon did not pay anything.

Coyle said Gordon also attended another dinner in San Francisco prior to an EPA meeting. However, one of Coyle's superiors picked up the tab, so he doesn't have the records, he said.

What does all this mean?

That depends on who you ask. Coyle described the meals as typical business dinners. Gordon didn't respond to our inquiries.

But to residents already suspicious of past coziness between Republic and the county, it doesn't look good.

"Common sense says you don't hire a guy who works for both sides," said Bill Martin, a Las Vegas resident and former sanitation supervisor in Milwaukee. He said it looks to him like there's "some hanky panky."

What else is going on at Tuesday's commission meeting?

Commissioners are likely to make a final decision about the coroner's inquest process. The unsettled issue is whether family members of those who have been killed by police should be able to have an attorney question the witnesses orally in the presence of the jury.

Under the existing process, family members must submit written questions to the hearing officer, who decides whether they should be asked.