Prison of the future remains in limbo

Seven bids were submitted, and Sletten Construction of Nevada was the apparent low bidder at $97.2 million for the proposed Cold Creek prison south of Indian Springs.

Eric Raecke, manager of the state Public Works Board, is reviewing the numbers to see if a deal can be worked out with Sletten to allow the project to go forward on schedule.

Total cost of the project was estimated at about $90 million, but that included design and other costs. The bid estimate for actual construction was $82 million.

Raecke said rebidding the project could involve months of delay, adding, "I think it's better to take a good, hard look at it now."

If the contract is awarded to Sletten, construction should begin on the prison in August and take about 18 months.

The first phase of the project includes core facilities, such as cooking, heating and sewer requirements for 3,000 inmates.

The 1999 Legislature will likely seek another $60 million to start a second phase, adding another 1,500 beds to the prison.

New facilities built in phases of 1,500 beds would be added in future years as needed.

Ultimately, two square miles of land about 40 miles northwest of Las Vegas may accommodate three 3,000-bed medium-security prisons and one 1,000-bed maximum-security prison.

There's no question that Nevada will be building new prisons in the foreseeable future, even if the current project suffers a delay.

Department of Prisons Director Bob Bayer said the first 1,500 beds at the Cold Creek facility will give the state some breathing room, but more cells will be needed.

Nevada's prison inmate growth has been a given over the past 11 years, climbing by anywhere from 2.3 percent to 12.3 percent each year, according to a Department of Prisons report.

As of the end of May, Nevada's prison system held 9,145 men and women, up 6.4 percent already this year over 1997.

The state prison system, made up of 20 facilities, is projected this fiscal year to house 9,292 inmates. The total system capacity is 9,500.

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