Non-Union Contractor Wins Huge Fight with Rory Reid’s County Commission

(NN&V Staff) – A Federal District Court Judge on Tuesday awarded a $112 million contract to Fisher Sand & Gravel Co., the low bidder for work on the northern 215 Beltway project, ending months of legal battles and saving the tax payers $4.6 million.

Since April, Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. has been in court seeking to overturn an April 21 decision by the Clark County Commissioners to award the contract to Las Vegas Paving Corp. even though it’s $116.8 million bid was not the lowest.

“This case shows that the federal courts are the ultimate protectors of citizens rights and due process of law,” said Stan Parry, of Ballard Spahr LLP, which represented Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. in the case. “The result of this case will be the completion of a much-needed project and a $4.6 million savings to the taxpayer during a tough economic climate.”

Federal Court Judge Clive Jones handed down his decision Tuesday afternoon, sending the case back to the commissioners with instructions to award the bid to Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. Mr. Parry argued that the commissioners had already heard the case and had chosen to award the contract to the higher bidder. Judge Jones agreed and awarded the bid directly to Fisher Sand & Gravel Co.

“This is a good day for the employees, future employees and the families of Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. and we are very appreciative of the ruling in Judge Jones court this afternoon,” said Tommy Fisher, president of Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. “Our main focus right now is getting our employees back to work. We look forward to working hard and providing a quality project to the residents of Clark County.”

The decision will allow the company to begin immediate construction on the Tenaya to Decatur portion of the 215 Bruce Woodbury Beltway. Fisher Sand and Gravel will employ more than 150 local construction workers on the project.

However, county officials aren’t necessarily throwing in the towel just yet. According to Jon Ralston, County Counsel Mary-Anne Miller sent the following memo out to “key county officials” shortly after the decision was announced.

“I have received word that the Federal Court ordered the Board to reconsider the award of the Tenaya Decatur Contract (Northern Beltway) and give it to Fisher Sand and Gravel. The Court had a wide variety of options that it could follow, but taking the decision completely out of the Board’s hands is not probably not one of them. When we get the court’s formal order, we will set a closed door session to determine if the Board wants to appeal or alternatively, let the decision stand and award the contract to Fisher.”

Some people just don’t know when to quit.