Museum costs run over

CARSON CITY -- Grumbling legislators authorized change orders Thursday to allow completion of the new state museum at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve -- but there might be no exhibits for visitors to view when it is finished next March.

Members of the Legislature's Interim Finance Committee were told by state Public Works Board staff that escalating construction costs and changes in the design have added $6 million to the previously allocated $11.5 million cost of the second phase of the 69,000-square-foot museum, which had included the costs of building exhibits.

The cost of building the exhibits for the museum happens to be about the same as the escalating design and construction costs. State Cultural Affairs Director Michael Fischer recommended and won committee approval to use the $11.5 million to finish the building while he tries to secure $6 million from a potential donor to cover exhibit costs.

Fischer, who administers state museums, added that he would not open the new facility unless exhibits are completed.

Items from the current state museum in Lorenzi Park will not be moved to the new museum until then.

"We'd get the museum ready, but not open it to the public," Fischer said.

With much fanfare, museum officials announced last year that the new Las Vegas museum would have a major dinosaur exhibit including dinosaur bones found in Nevada.

Many previously undisplayed historical state artifacts also would be on view in the new facility, they also promised.

Although he hopes the state will secure the donation "very shortly," Fischer would not take up Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio's request to set odds on whether that would happen.

What riled legislators is that the Las Vegas Valley Water District, and not the state, has been responsible for the architect, contractor and other work at the state museum.

"We have no jurisdiction over land not owned by the state of Nevada," said Gus Nunez, state Public Works Board manager. The water district owns the 180-acre preserve at 333 S. Valley View Boulevard.

Even the contract with Tiberti Construction Co. for the first phase of building the museum was executed by the water district. The second phase of the construction project will be signed by the water district and Tiberti in about two weeks.

Nunez, Fischer and others discovered in February that the museum designs did not include a $510,000 security system and a lot of needed duct and electrical work.

"Shouldn't someone have recognized these were omissions?" asked Raggio, R-Reno.

Raggio tried unsuccessfully to pin Fischer and water district officials down as to who was responsible for omissions.

Fischer said the water district has agreed to return $100,000 of its $560,000 project management fee. He added that the water district also is negotiating with architects over costs of the design deficiencies.

"It would have been nice to have one person as the overseer (of the project)," he added.

Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said the water district should share the exhibit costs if Fischer cannot secure a $6 million donation.

"They are our partner, and partners share the good times and the bad times," she said.

Buckley said the state cannot open a museum with nothing in it.

"If it turns out we have to bite the financial bullet, I would like to see more participation (by the water district)," she added.

Committee members agreed that the state should request the water district pay part of the exhibit costs if other funds cannot be secured.

But Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, defended the water district, mentioning that it "never has built a museum."

He added that the estimated $36 million total cost of the museum, set in 2001, might have been set too low.

Much of the money for the museum comes from a $200 million state bond approved by voters in 2002. For example, the $11.5 million second-phase cost includes $8.3 million in bond revenue.