Contract awarded for new police training facility for Henderson, Boulder City officers

Construction is expected to start soon on a new training facility for Henderson and Boulder City police officers.

The Henderson City Council awarded an $898,000 contract Tuesday to Target Construction Inc. of Henderson to start work on the first phase of construction for the Eldorado Valley Regional Public Safety Training Facility. Boulder City contributed 240 acres of land for the project.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., attended a groundbreaking at the site in April 2010 after helping secure $1.5 million in federal money for what was to be a $13.7 million facility. But Henderson City Manager Jacob Snow said construction never got started, and the project has been scaled back since then for financial reasons.

"We're just glad that we can get a facility," Snow said Tuesday.

The first phase of the project includes infrastructure and three shooting ranges. Snow said the total cost, including construction and equipment, will be about $3.2 million.

He said the two cities have been awarded a total of $2 million in federal grants for the project.

"We're trying to make sure that we don't lose a single dollar," he said.

Snow said Henderson police have been using the American Shooters' range on Boulder Highway, but their contract to use the facility is expiring in September 2014 with no option to renew.

Henderson police could use the Metropolitan Police Department's shooting range in northeast Las Vegas, but availability at that facility is limited.

Snow said Henderson's officers would need to adjust their shifts to use the facility, resulting in about $607,000 in increased overtime and travel expenses each year.

The Henderson City Council approved a governance agreement with Boulder City in October 2009. The agreement was for the construction, operation and maintenance of the training facility.

Henderson has set aside about $1.2 million for the project. Development began in 2002.

Officials hope the facility, south of the U.S. Highway 93/U.S. Highway 95 interchange, will provide training for public safety agencies throughout Southern Nevada.

Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0264.