County rejects 215 Beltway bids, will start from scratch

Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 | 5:01 p.m.

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Paver learns its skeletons cost it a 215 Beltway job, not record (8-14-2009)
Judge halts work on 215 Beltway project (8-5-2009)
Company files new lawsuit over county award of construction job (7-30-2008)
County reaffirms vote, rejects lowest bid for road project (7-21-2009)
Judge: Protest of 215 Beltway paving bid too late (6-12-2009)
Judge upholds temporary restraining order in Beltway paving lawsuit (4-27-2009)
Company that lost 215 Beltway paving bid sues county (4-23-2009)
215 Beltway widening contract sparks controversy (4-21-2009)
Interchange opens on Lake Mead, 215 Beltway (11-26-2008)
Road construction continues despite economic downturn (11-21-2008)

In a third vote on a project to widen part of the northern Las Vegas Beltway, Clark County commissioners on Tuesday rejected the previous bids and started the process over again.

The proposal to widen the beltway from Tenaya Way to Decatur Boulevard has been mired in controversy since the commission awarded the project to Las Vegas Paving in April.

In Tuesday’s vote, it was the threat of more lawsuits and further delays that led the board to reject the previous bids and direct the public works department to make changes to the project before sending it out for another round of bids.

“Regardless of who we could award this contract to under the current situation, there is a strong likelihood of continued expensive litigation that would hold up this project beyond the seven months that this project has already been held up,” said Commissioner Larry Brown, who represents the area that includes the project.

Brown also asked public works officials to consider ways to make the project less expensive and to consider adding an interchange at North Fifth Street.

“Given the board’s experience on recent bids and the bidding environment in Las Vegas, I think there’s a strong possibility of a lower cost on this project if we rebid it, which definitely would serve the public interest and the taxpayer dollar,” Brown said.

Commissioners Rory Reid, Susan Brager and Lawrence Weekly joined Brown in rejecting the bids.

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani voted against starting the project over, saying it would take longer and could add unnecessary components to the project.

“Vote it up or vote it down at this point rather than reject all bids and just stretch it out,” she said.

Commissioners Tom Collins and Steve Sisolak abstained from voting and left the room when discussion on the contract began.

The project has been held up since the commission initially awarded it to Las Vegas Paving. In doing so, the commission rejected Fisher Sand and Gravel, whose bid was $4.6 million less than Las Vegas Paving’s.

Fisher responded by filing a lawsuit in District Court, where a judge ordered the commission to vote on the project a second time.

The commission again awarded the project to Las Vegas Paving after Sisolak brought up other concerns about Fisher, including the convictions of three former employees on tax charges in North Dakota, a discrimination suit filed in New Mexico and allegations the company violated water and air quality laws on projects in Arizona.

Fisher then sued in federal court, and the commission was ordered to vote again. The judge also ordered Collins and Sisolak to abstain from the vote because they were biased against Fisher.

Collins then filed his own lawsuit for the right to vote, but that suit was dismissed Nov. 3.

After rejecting the bids for the project on Tuesday, the commission discussed other potential projects on the beltway and directed the public works department to focus on completing the process of converting the northern portion of the road into a freeway rather than spending available funds to widen the heavily traveled portions of the road in the southern valley.

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By neiman1

Nov. 17, 2009

5:15 p.m.

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The unions would rather have no one working than someone that isn't a dues paying member. Unemployment continues and the county commissioners dither. What a joke Mr. Reid and company have become. Bought and paid for with union cash.
By nednougat

Nov. 17, 2009

5:28 p.m.

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I congratulate the judge and the council. Guess they weren't bought and paid for. However, now there are more concerns:

"Brown also asked public works officials to consider ways to make the project less expensive and to consider adding an interchange at North Fifth Street".

OK, but in my construction experience, it is very easy to change results by changing the plans, with alternate work bids. Quite often the inside bidders will low-ball alternates and the like, and this allows the council to "Cherry Pick" the bids, taking this, rejecting that, to customize the award of the bid to their favorite, quite obviously LVP, in this case. We taxpayers need to keep an eagle eye on the next round-there smelleth hanky panky here. And I'm very disappointed in you Chris G. Just when you seemed a breath of fresh air.. Maybe not, just another pol. Sad.
By Burrittobandit2

Nov. 17, 2009

6:11 p.m.

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I will bid $110 million and if I don't get it, just give me a check for $425,000 for my rejected bid.
By 70aarcuda

Nov. 17, 2009

7:08 p.m.

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I will bid $110 million and if I don't get it, just give me a check for $425,000 for my rejected bid.

sorry but that only happens on a design/built project...the beltway project is not a design/build project.
By littlehoss

Nov. 17, 2009

7:20 p.m.

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OK
I am a card carrying, dues paying union member and while I don't agree with the way the vote went down, I cant say that I am disappointed that Fisher Sand and Rat didn't get the contract in the first place.
They submitted the bid incorrectly in the first place and from what I heard, they were going to import workers from Arizona....way to go McCain!!
Also, I was at that meeting today and I didn't see you clowns get up and contest the decision.
Its real easy to slam union workers when they try and protect their members from unfair and unsafe conditions.
By Nick

Nov. 17, 2009

8:44 p.m.

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Why waste the money? The population is shrinking and they want to widen the roads?

Invest in trains not old roads while gas goes up.

LV is living in the past.
By rodtig

Nov. 17, 2009

9:47 p.m.

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One road development helps create and supply jobs Two if the Unions had an influence on the turn around vote shame on them.
Right now we have so many unemployed workers union or non-union that it is shamful to delay a project of any kind.But who said things in this town were not about greed that is all this town is greed and politics instead of get people back to work what a bunch of knucklehheads.
By lv1

Nov. 18, 2009

11:49 a.m.

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why would the union have influence on a vote that doesn't put guys to work..stupid comments.

Chris G. just wanted to put people work. This project could have been up and running by the holidays. Now no presents for alot of families.
By jeffdeancase (Jeff Case)

Nov. 18, 2009

11:52 a.m.

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Those of us who live in this area (we're stuck at the red lights every day) relied on Clark County's promise to complete the 215 upgrade in a timely manner.

It's ironic really, because the County can't upgrade 215 fast enough over in Summerlin, even building an overpass at Lake Mead that no one wanted, delaying its opening. Meanwhile, we can't even connect Hwy. 95 to the 215.

When it comes to the northern Las Vegas, it's one delay after another. Perhaps we need a new commissioner who better represents our interests...