Paving company deserves a fair shake

To the editor:

In response to your Aug. 30 editorial, "Paving the way for conflicts": I would like to clarify and address the subject matter.

1. County Commissioners Tom Collins and Steve Sisolak were removed from the decision-making process on a bid for a Las Vegas Beltway project from Tenaya Way to Decatur Boulevard by U.S. District Judge Robert Jones. They did not recuse themselves. The county stood silent on the motion to remove the parties from the reconsideration as part of the agreement to send the case back to the County Commission.

2. Fisher Sand and Gravel took Clark County to court earlier in the year based on the fact they believed the protest filed against them by Las Vegas Paving was invalid. District Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez agreed that the protest was not filed in a timely manner and sent the case back to the County Commission for a second hearing, resulting in the ambush at the July 21 County Commission meeting.

3. As for being a responsive and responsible bidder, Fisher Sand and Gravel has been working on the largest Nevada Department of Transportation contract, $393 million, and is on track to deliver the project on budget and 100 days early. Our Interstate 580 freeway extension project is the completion of a past contract that another company could not complete, plus the remainder of the necessities to build the entire freeway. We have accolades from all stakeholders involved in the project as well as a letter of recommendation from the Department of Transportation for our work.

This in addition to the successful completion of our $250 million, six-year development of a 640-acre residential project in Henderson that was completed this month, should give credence to our stature as a responsible contractor.

After watching the July 21 County Commission meeting in the course of the court hearing, Judge Jones called counsel for all parties into his chambers. The result of the court proceedings is a new public hearing on the bid with two commissioners removed because of alleged actions by Fisher Sand and Gravel.

We believe the County Commission has an obligation to the residents of Clark County to award the bid to the lowest responsible, responsive bidder with the best bid. We also believe the county has an obligation to the business community which ensures due process, a fair and impartial hearing and a level playing field with the same rules for all participants. If we are going to be judged on allegations, accusations and air quality violations in another state, we believe our competitors need to be held to the same standards.

The county's rejection of our bid on a trumped up pretext is not only unfair to Fisher Sand and Gravel, it is unfair to the taxpayers of Clark County, who will be expected to pay an additional $4,600,000 over favoritism.

Joe Miller

HENDERSON

The writer is Nevada area manager for Fisher Sand and Gravel.