Commissioners to study bids for Beltway project again

A road-widening project that can be likened to a boomerang will be put before Clark County commissioners for the third time, and two commissioners won’t participate.

U.S. District Court Judge Robert Jones signed a writ Thursday that calls for commissioners to reconsider bids on a project to widen the Las Vegas Beltway between Decatur Boulevard and Tenaya Way. The writ formalizes the judge’s decision in August.

This is the second time the courts have ordered commissioners to revisit the contract dispute involving Fisher Sand and Gravel and Las Vegas Paving.

The writ states that commissioners Steve Sisolak and Tom Collins “by willing agreement” will abstain from discussing and voting on the bid award.

County leaders also must inform the bidders ahead of time of any allegations that will be made against them. The Commission twice awarded a lucrative road-improvement contract to Las Vegas Paving, even though Fisher bid $4.6 million less.

Fisher bid $112.2 million and Las Vegas Paving bid $116.8 million. Jones’s order is in response to complaints that Fisher’s attorney, Stan Parry, made about the commission.

Parry accused Collins and Sisolak of rejecting Fisher because it’s a nonunion shop. He also contends that his client was blindsided when Sisolak read a history of Fisher’s violations impromptu at a meeting.

Sisolak has said that the judge never found he and Collins to be biased. Sisolak insists he agreed to abstain to move a much-needed project forward.

Removing Sisolak and Collins leaves five commissioners. However, state law requires that four commissioners — the normal majority — approve the bid award. So far, only two commissioners have supported Fisher.

Contact reporter Scott Wyland at swyland@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.