County officials raise questions about cost of juvenile residential facility

The cost to build a 5,000-square-foot juvenile residential facility in Clark County has raised concerns and questions among county officials.

The building was initially supposed to be only 4,000 square feet with an estimated cost of $2.3 million. Based on that estimate, county officials applied for a federal grant, which was approved, according to Erik Pappa, Clark County spokesman.

However, Clark County's Real Property Management has since come up with a new estimate of $2.9 million, leaving the county short $600,000.

Clark County Commissioner Susan Brager, who has a background in real estate, said she didn't understand why the facility would even cost $2.3 million.

"That doesn't even make sense to me," she said during a recent Policy and Fiscal Affairs meeting for juvenile justice and child welfare. "I thought you were going to say it was a 26,000-square-foot building. Why would it even be more than $800,000? That's just stupid."

Clark County Assistant Manager Jeff Wells didn't have answers to these questions raised at the recent meeting about the high price of the building and what exactly it will entail. Wells referred questions raised by the Review-Journal after the meeting to the head of the county's real property management.

But the Review-Journal got a call back from Pappa, instead. That was followed by a response via email, which still didn't answer the questions.

"The estimate for this federally funded project is designed to cover the potential costs," he said in the email. "Hopefully the bids will come in lower than what we have budgeted."

Clark County commissioner Lawrence Weekly also expressed frustration at the recent meeting by saying Wells should have been prepared to answer questions about the building.

"Those are anticipated questions," he said.

Pappa later said the county's real property management came up with the $2.9 million estimate after changing the square footage for the building to 5,000 and including other improvements not part of the original estimate.

The changes were based on a drawing submitted by a nonprofit organization.

Pappa was repeatedly asked if the cost for the facility was in line with that of other buildings of a similar size and structure, but he failed to answer the question.

"(Real property management) is working with (Juvenile justice services) to determine the exact needs for the facility and whether or not these needs can be met within the current budget," Pappa said in an email. "(Real property management) believes the needs probably can be met with the current budget (of $2.3 million), but it's a little premature to say for sure."

Brager said she's not usually one to jump to conclusions; she would just like to see an overview of the project.

"There may be some total justification," she said.

John "Jack" Martin, director for the Clark County Juvenile Justice Services Department, said Monday that the $2.3 million federal grant will cover everything from planning to pre-design to trenching to construction and landscaping at the county-owned property. In addition, it will also cover the cost of furniture, such as beds and computers.

The facility will be built in the back of the existing Spring Mountain Residential Center in Clark County. Officials don't disclose the location of the center due to safety of the juveniles housed there.

The residential center is at least 30 years old, Martin said during a tour of the facility Monday.

Officials have struggled to maintain the facility up to code in its deteriorating stages. The 12-bed facility, which serves boys ages 13-18, looked outdated and had only one shower.

Officials had been talking about building a new facility since at least 2006, Martin said.

"We are excited about it," he said of the new facility.

The current residential center is run by two full-time juvenile probation officers and one supervisor, said Heath Barnes, a juvenile probation officer.

"This program is very unique," he said.

The residential center is a step below the Spring Mountain Youth Camp.

"It's for a kid that doesn't need to go to Spring Mountain Youth Camp, but can't go back home," Clark County Family Court Judge William Voy said earlier this month.

It also serves as a place where juveniles, who are placed at the camp, can come down for the weekend and see family.

Martin, who applied for the federal grant in October 2014, said the new facility will be 1,500 square feet bigger than the existing center and will have four more beds, bringing the total to 16 beds.

He recently found out that the $2.3 million grant was awarded by a program in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Once the new facility is completed, the plan will be to rehabilitate the existing building to provide placements for girls, Martin said. There is not enough placement for girls in the area.

"The number of girls increased over the years enough to need one for girls," Voy added.

Contact Yesenia Amaro at yamaro@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3843. Find her on Twitter: @YeseniaAmaro