County offers to build new health district facility

In an attempt to mend relations with the Southern Nevada Health District and end the potential for costly litigation, Clark County officials offered Thursday to build the public health agency a new headquarters, most likely on its Shadow Lane property.

In return, the district would drop two pending lawsuits over funding and whether it can own property.

Funding for the proposal would come from county money set aside for the pending litigation, but further details of the offer were not immediately available Thursday. The County Commission would still have to vote on the terms of the offer in a public meeting.

Commissioner Mary Beth Scow dropped the bombshell during a board meeting, catching health district officials off guard.

Health Board members appeared to be split on the proposal. It was unclear whether the board would support such an agreement.

In the meantime, the board approved plans to lease two nearby buildings for temporary quarters until its facility crisis can be resolved.

GOAL TO SOLVE BOTH PROBLEMS

County Manager Don Burnette said the idea is "definitely not a solid plan. It was to get reaction from the staff and board members."

"The whole purpose of this is to solve the building problem and set the lawsuits aside, that are silly and unnecessary and needlessly spending taxpayer dollars on something that could go to better use," Burnette said.

The health district was thrown into turmoil last month after closing the doors to its downtown headquarters because the building was deemed structurally unsafe. Since then, the city of Las Vegas decided to study the structure but has made no decision on whether to demolish the 50-year-old building.

The facility's closure forced the agency to cut back on services. Employees are doubled up in other health district offices valleywide. They were forced to leave behind equipment and files.

Engineers who studied the building said to repair, rebuild or replace the 60,000-square-foot building would require $16.2 million to $18.5 million in construction costs alone. That does not include temporary relocation or moving costs.

COUNTY'S MOTIVES QUESTIONED

The Health Board did not act on the county proposal at Thursday's meeting. While the offer is on the table, some board members appeared dismissive of the idea, questioning the county's motives to make peace.

Boulder City Councilman Rod Woodbury, a Health Board member, expressed concerns that the offer is a power grab by the county that could eliminate the authority of other jurisdictions. The county and all cities in the county have seats on the Health Board.

"There are control issues attached to that," Woodbury said. "How much control would the county have over at the health district as opposed to other jurisdictions if we did that plan? ... I'm not saying don't negotiate, but there are serious issues in terms of what rights we would lose."

But Scow said there are no strings attached and that state law mandates the makeup of the board, dispelling any worries over control of the district.

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani said the reaction of some board members, who appeared to gloss over the proposal, was "very frustrating and sad."

"Here we are local government agencies suing each other when we really don't need to," she said.

Henderson Councilman Sam Bateman, a county prosecutor, supported the proposal, saying, "It does not bode well for municipalities to be in litigation for years. It costs taxpayers a ton of money and puts employees in uncertainty when you're in the middle of this type of litigation."

HEALTH CRISIS FEARED

Dr. Lawrence Sands, chief health officer, and his staff painted a grim picture of a full-blown public health crisis since the main building closed.

They said because the closure has forced the department to cut back on services, there is a greater threat of the spread of disease and massive anticipated revenue loss.

And they pressured board members to make an immediate decision that would house employees in a centralized location.

At the meeting, officials approved two short-term leases for administrative and clinical space to try to get services fully running again.

Health district employees will temporarily move to the CenturyLink building near Valley View and Charleston boulevards and could remain there about three years. Operations could be up and running in that facility in the next 30 days, district officials said.

Clinical staff will work in a building at 400 Shadow Lane near Alta Drive.

Contact reporter Kristi Jourdan at
kjourdan@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.