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Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Sun Coverage
Sun Archives
- Commission to review 215 Beltway bid again, minus two members (8-25-2009)
- 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)
Despite a contract that has been twice awarded and twice taken to court, the $100 million-plus widening of the Las Vegas Beltway now is at risk of being delayed by a year or more rather than just several more months.
Clark County commissioners will soon have to decide what’s more important — getting a major road project started this year and putting hundreds of people to work on it, or saving the money to shore up the county’s budget.
The situation stems from U.S. District Judge Robert Jones’ ruling that the commissioners had not given Fisher Sand & Gravel due process when they awarded the contract to widen the Beltway between Decatur Boulevard and Tenaya Way.
During a July meeting of the commissioners, they hit Fisher representatives with questions about pollution and federal tax fraud charges. It marked the second time commissioners had voted against Fisher, despite Fisher’s bid of $112.2 million being $4.6 million less than Las Vegas Paving’s price to do the work.
Fisher’s attorney, Stan Parry, alleged that the commission’s 5-2 vote had more to do with allegiances to unions than with Fisher’s legal history.
As a result, Clark County and Fisher are drafting an agreement that would prohibit commissioners Tom Collins and Steve Sisolak from voting the next time, which, for the time being, is expected to be in mid-September. Sisolak said their abstentions are voluntary.
But with Collins and Sisolak sitting out the next round, the commission still needs to give four votes to one company or the other. With only five commissioners voting, it looks unlikely that four of them will line up on either side because Commissioners Larry Brown and Susan Brager voted for Fisher last time.
By state law, the only way to get around the four-vote requirement is if two commissioners request and obtain a written legal opinion allowing for the lower majority vote, said Don Burnette, the county’s chief administrative officer. And either Collins or Sisolak would need to be the one to request the legal opinion.
If they don’t go that route, another option for the commissioners would be to put the project out to bid again, which would add several more months to the process.
But the commissioners also could just cancel the project, for the time being at least. As a result of the recession and state lawmakers’ $180 million raid on county coffers, budget pressures are building on the commissioners. Employee unions are up in arms and cutbacks in social services are hurting some of the most vulnerable county residents.
The county is desperate to find every additional dollar it can. Commissioners are still trying to decide whether to tap into a capital fund budget to cover some of the salaries and other costs related to needed county programs. And the fear is that because new tax revenue estimates by the state are lower than expected, even deeper budget cuts could be coming.
So a deadlock on the beltway contract could allow the county to simply put the project on hold in order to hang on to much-needed tax dollars and ride out the economic storm.
But there’s a negative flip side to that option. The biggest argument for moving the beltway project along quickly is that in addition to making that stretch of road safer for commuters, it will provide some 300 workers with long-term, well-paying jobs. And that can only work to boost the valley’s battered economy.
When the time comes to vote in a few weeks, some interesting questions about this commission’s priorities and cohesiveness will be answered.
You know that Las Vegas Paving will be spreading Union backed money around like leaves falling from trees in the Fall. And lo and behold, the project will proceed. And we'll end up with a crappy job, just like those tennis courts over on Sunset. The Mob may be gone from the Strip, but Sisolak and his ilk are still lurking in the background.
Business as usual...
I never got my $300,000 for submitting a bid...
bdover: what does your name stand for..does it mean bendover..what your Fisher buddies probably make you do to post such idiocy.
what $300,000 are you referring to, there wasn't a stipend on this job, that was NDOT.
and kvg2009 how much does Las Vegas paving pay you to post your idiocy?
Give the job to LV paving.. it's a local company with the money going into the local banks.
They have proven to go a great job on the 215 so far. The Aliante overpass project is done great and was done on time and UNDER budget.. Let's get some local workers back on the job.
The job would be manned with local workers. When the case has gone twice before a judge that has twice ruled against the commissioners does that not mean anything? And a federal court ruled that Sisolak & the idiot collins cant vote?! It was not voluntary as this story stated, do you honestly think they would "voluntarily" step aside??
not a dime..but thanks for asking
I just find it amusing that everybody thinks they know there was some payoff..but can't prove anything, which makes it hearsay and not truth.
what rock have you been living under?
apparently the same one as you
"The job would be manned with local workers"
Local workers who send most of their paycheck back to old Mexico on friday?
Who was the other bidders?Granite..SNP..Kiewit..what was there bid????
Ok, you all sound like 2yr olds.... Seriously. And I just have to ask, PTvegas, who do you think Fisher will hire to do this job? LOCALS! This is Davis Bacon job. You have to pay union or higher wages, you have to weekly show every employee and how much they make per hour, and summit that to the state, (WEEKLY). Bottom line is Fisher was prequalified, and lowest bid. This not Fishers first job in this town, so to bring up these issues now is making the commisioners look stupid, and it looks like that doesnt take much. Las Vegas Paving doesnt want them here because we maybe amazed on how a road should be buildt, and not causing traffic problems with bad traffic control, and not closing down exits, and have to use tax payer money for law suits. And just one more point again, DONT QUALIFY SOMEONE YOU DONT THINK IS QUALIFIED! Once again we are wasting tax payers money to fight this stupidity. Thanks LVP
Oh and one more thing. I have to ask but, KVG2009 are you in the union?
Take a stand:
First, No I am not in a union.
Second, this job was NOT prequalified for. So you can scream it with the big letters, but it isn't so.
Third, their issues were brought to light after this other job was done, which I believe wasn't done by the County but a private entity.
Fourth, the taxpayers money is being wasted by Fisher, Not LVP. Fisher initiated these lawsuits not LVP.
And lastly, I don't think LVP needs any guidance on how to build a road. They've been in business for 50 years because of the work they do. If their work was shoddy, I doubt NDOT and others would allow them to bid on jobs.
All contractors have traffic problems on their jobs. You kind of need to shut down exits etc. so idiot drivers don't drive where they shouldn't. Case in point..I drive down Decatur from 95 to Charleston where SO NV Paving is doing work. It took me 20 min. to go a couple miles because the lights are out of synch and they can't figure that out. And I saw more than 5 cars ignore cones and drive through the work site. So problems are caused by the public just as much as maybe the contractor.
KVG2009:
In order to bid on a state, federal or public works job, you have to be prequalified. Look here...... .http://www.accessclarkcounty.com/depts/public_works/Pages/home.aspx#general
Or you can go here to see public works quification requirements http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRs/NRS-338.h...
Do you want to see the state and federal qualifications also?
When LVP waits until after the 5 day period to dispute Fishers bid in the first place, It was LVP that lost its battle with the judge the first time around. They waited too long. I would have disputed too, LVP knew it messed up and had to have the commisioners help back it up.
Just because your in business a long time doesnt mean you know what your doing, especially when your a hometown boy and everyone wants some love(money). Being in business a long time means your smart not good. And its very plain to see how smart or shall I say sly....LVP is.
So sorry for not detailing it out for you, I should of said closed a street not "exit". Is that little issue coming to light now, Law suits complaints for residents, on the news. By the way that picticular job was a design build, lowest bidder didnt win that one either LVP did!
Bottom line a Judge said its Fishers Job, and the commissioner think they are above the law.
The initial protest was filed 3 days after bid opening... LVP may have lost the battle first time around, but Fisher didn't win either. Oh wait, then it went to another judge who is an acquaintance with Fisher's attorney, and they didn't win then either. Hmmmm..LVP must have paid them off too.
I hope to goodness someone in business 50 years would know what they're doing..if I went to a restaurant and they continued to make the worst food I ever tasted, I sure as h*ll wouldn't continue to go there..so in that respect if someone didn't know how to pave a road after 50 years, they wouldn't get hired to pave anymore roads, you think!
Well, you should have detailed it enough for people to know what it is you are referring to.
Which I assume means "F" street.
LVP doesn't "close" streets without some kind of approval. And NDOT would have made that ultimate decision. So now what, you going to blame LVP for segragation.
People will argue about the 4 million of taxpayer money involved with this job..well what about the $20 million they expect us all to foot just to redo that.
All of that is here nor there anyways. I could care less who gets it..it just needs to be done. That road is dangerous and I avoid it as much as possible even though it is the main road in our area.
kvg2009-
If you dont care who gets it, then why all the bashing????? You have been going on since Tuesday. Just on this article.
Lets see if third place will do it for 112 even???? They are doing a section of beltway right now and hear through the grape vine that the county and construction management company are very pleased with the quality of work.Get rid of LVP and Fischer's battle and stop wasting the county's money on legal fees. Soon the fees will be more than the 4 million between the two bids.