In the county, what’s become of contracts, airport liquor store, expletives

By Joe Schoenmann

Sunday, May 6, 2012 | 2 a.m.

It’s time to update stories and other items mentioned in Answers.

In February, the Clark County Commission granted a hefty contract to Lionel Sawyer & Collins to do legal work related to changing University Medical Center operations in the future. The long-term goal is to stop losing money at the hospital.

After the firm won the contract — $15,000 per month for six months, then hourly rates ranging from $500 to $650 — the Sun looked at six other bidders to find at least one with arguably similar experience but at a lower bid. Others with more experience submitted higher bids.

After questions about the bid, LS&C negated the deal, not wanting to accept a contract with questions still in the air.

More than two months later, did some other firm get the contract?

Not yet. Sources say it appears LS&C will be recommended for a new contract but with a narrowed scope of work to lower the burden on taxpayers. A new contract may come before the commission this month.

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We need our booze. So how are plans proceeding at McCarran International Airport with the nation’s first in-airport liquor store that isn’t in a duty-free section?

We reported that the Liquor Library won the contract in February after Lee’s Runway Liquor, which initially won the contract, failed to meet a deadline by more than a year. Richard Worthington, president of Molasky Group of Companies and one of two principals behind the Liquor Library, said he hopes to gain county approval of plans this month and have the liquor store finished by the end of September.

“We’re going to build something first-class,” he said.

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In January, the Sun uncovered a profanity-laced video of Las Vegas constables on the job — video we were told might be fashioned into a teaser for a reality TV show. Embarrassed at the showing, commissioners then withheld action on a request to hire more constable office employees.

Instead, they have been waiting to see what comes of a meeting to discuss an audit report, originally scheduled for April 24. That meeting has been rescheduled to a day this month, and, to date, no decision has been made on those two positions.

Meanwhile, Lou Toomin, the constable’s public information officer, is running for a state Assembly seat. In the controversial video, Toomin is seen issuing a few expletives of his own as he sums up the office: “I don’t conform to the spit-and-polish (expletive), the Marine Corps crap. It’s way beyond me. It’s nitpicking (expletive).”

Toomin, who years ago was in the state Assembly, will try to become the Democratic candidate for Assembly District 15. He is running against incumbent Elliot Anderson in the primary election June 12.

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Last September, the Sun uncovered plans for a $2 billion UNLV stadium/retail/dormitory project on campus.

How are plans proceeding?

Sources say plans are moving along well.

But don’t the developers — headed by Craig Cavileer, president of the Silverton, and Ed Roski, chairman and CEO of Majestic Realty — have to work quickly? After all, the city of Henderson is working on a deal for a multistadium project with developer Chris Milam. We’re pretty certain the Las Vegas Valley isn’t big enough to support two professional-level stadium projects.

Milam, who has said he could begin construction this fall, needs to come up with a hefty wad of cash to get his project moving. By May 15, he has to deposit $1 million with the city. That shouldn’t be a problem if Milam’s announcement that he has secured a $650 million loan from a Chinese company comes to fruition. His spokeswoman said last week the loan still is being finalized and is in the “documentation stage.”