Board recommends $136 million for state building construction, renovations

By Cy Ryan

Friday, Sept. 19, 2014 | 4:48 p.m.

CARSON CITY — Plans for a new Department of Motor Vehicles office in Las Vegas and an execution chamber at the state prison in Ely are being recommended in the state’s building plans for the next two years.

UNLV again sought money to start construction of a building for the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration that would be financed through a combination of state funds and private donations. But the project didn’t make the final list.

The Nevada Public Works Board has recommended to Gov. Brian Sandoval that $136.8 million be spent over the next biennium, mostly to renovate decaying prison and mental health facilities.

The projects would be financed by state general funds, bonds and other sources.

The governor will make the final decision on what projects to include in his budget.

Replacing the DMV building on Sahara Avenue would cost $22.9 million, the most expensive of the proposed projects. It would be financed by fees and permits paid to the agency.

The Public Works Board also recommended spending $811,364 for design and construction of a death chamber at the state prison in Ely. Nevada hasn’t had an execution since April 2006, when the death chamber was at the now-closed Nevada State Prison.

Other recommendations:

• $2.9 million for rehabilitation work at the Nevada Youth Training Center in Elko.

• $7.7 million for improvements at the old Metro Police building used by numerous state agencies in Clark County.

• $2.2 million to replace roofs, air conditioning units and 330 electric door locks at the Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center in North Las Vegas.