Jim Rhodes’ ties to Erin Kenny come back to bedevil developer

Las Vegas developer Jim Rhodes tasted a little Arizona trail dust recently when a jury ruled he violated his contract with former real estate partner Scott Dunton.

The outcome of the case was first reported in the Kingman Daily Miner newspaper. Dunton's victory could mean he'll eventually gain possession of approximately 1,897 acres in the Golden Valley area of Mohave County. Mohave County Judge Randolph Bartlett ordered Rhodes Design and Development and American Land to honor its contract with Walnut Creek Estates Development Co., McAlister Investments and Dunton and Dunton, LLC. The judge also awarded Dunton attorney's fees in a case in which, according to the newspaper, the jury took just 40 minutes to return a verdict against Rhodes.

Rhodes and Dunton began as competitors for a large parcel of real estate, but later negotiated a partnership agreement, which a jury determined Rhodes violated.

Earlier this week, Rhodes successfully sought a 90-day extension before submitting his utility service application for a master-planned community in northwest Arizona. The Arizona Corporation Commission, the elected body responsible for ensuring utility infrastructure suitability and compliance in the state, has expressed concern over Rhodes' controversial relationship with former Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny. The commission may reject a utility applicant if it deems he's not "fit and proper."

Apparently, members of the commission were shocked to learn that Kenny, who has since been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for her role in the largest public corruption case in recent Nevada history, was earning more than $200,000 a year as Rhodes' consultant despite her felon status.

In recent documents filed with the commission, Rhodes has sworn Kenny no longer works for him or is compensated by him.

GALARDI CABIN: While former strip club mogul Michael Galardi has moved to smaller quarters, his expansive Southern Utah mountain hideaway has been put up for sale.

Galardi is serving 30 months in federal prison for crimes he admitted committing in the FBI's G-Sting public corruption case, in which four former Clark County commissioners also ended up spending time behind bars.

Rather than allow the family's four-bedroom, three-bathroom, 3,388-square foot cabin at Swains Creek sit empty, it has been placed on the market with Cindy Allen of Coldwell Banker for $1.5 million. The dwelling sits on two acres and overlooks Swains Creek Pond.

For that price, a buyer gets not only all the Viking appliances in the kitchen, as well as a custom bar and recreation room with a big-screen TV, but a garage loaded with ATVs and snowmobiles as well.

Galardi had only recently planted hundreds of aspen trees on the place, but perhaps he realized he wouldn't be around to water them any time soon.

HAMMER JOB: The Bolick & Boyer law firm continues to take a hammering from Carpenters Local 1977 over its perceived insensitivity to the union's workers. The union has set up a banner near the law firm's new office at 10785 W. Twain Ave. The red-lettered banner reads, "Shame on Bolick & Boyer."

Trouble is, attorney Robert Bolick says he didn't know he was inviting a labor dispute with the union when the building's developer hired a nonunion contractor to build out the office spaces. Now Bolick's bunch is being accused of "Desecrating the American Way of Life."

That's tough talk against a lawyer who specializes in wills and estate planning. Whether the union's hyperbole works largely depends on whether passers-by these days still pay attention to people carrying banners.

"I was completely neutral," Bolick says. "I wasn't in favor of the union. I wasn't opposed. There's nothing we could have done even if we had known."

Surely there have to be more clear-cut exploiters of organized labor in the valley than this.

LAS VEGAS WATER: Here's a news item sure to attract the attention of parched Southern Nevadans: "The amount of ground water supplied to the Las Vegas water system could more than double, now that the city has a second water well.

"The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has finished drilling the well southwest of Las Vegas."

Alas, The Associated Press story was reporting the news from Las Vegas, N.M.

ON THE BOULEVARD: Las Vegas 51s General Manager Don Logan is in line to receive the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Chin's Humanitarian of the Year Award Sept. 26 at the Hard Rock. It's well-deserved. For more information, call 822-6920.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0295.