Workers to move out of Kinkead Building

The Board of Examiners on Thursday approved spending contingency funds to move 350 state workers out of the Kinkead Building.

The proposal, which would also shut down the old Children's Home cottages at Fifth and Stewart streets, will go before the Legislative Interim Finance Committee today for a final vote.

At Gov. Kenny Guinn's suggestion, the board cut the $3.6 million proposal by $2.2 million, eliminating demolition costs. Guinn pointed out spending the full $3.6 million would leave just $4.9 million of the committee's $12 million contingency fund for this two-year budget cycle. He said that money has to get Nevada through any other emergencies in the next year until the Legislature is again in session.

"I just don't feel comfortable taking another $2.2 million out of the contingency fund when we have no mechanism other than a special session," he said.

The cost of the Kinkead move will be $1.4 million.

That will relocate 350 Human Resources Department workers from Kinkead into two buildings formerly occupied by Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Those office buildings are located in northeast Carson City near the Eagle Valley golf courses.

Instead of demolition, Deputy Budget Director Andrew Clinger said, the budget includes about $100,000 to secure and mothball the controversial building and the Children's Home cottages.

The plan then would be to fund construction of a new home for Human Resources located next to the new Conservation and Natural Resources home, the Bryan Building, on south Stewart Street.

Kinkead has been considered the state's worst office building since shortly after it was built in the 1970s. Because of foundation problems, parts of the building settled, causing up to 6 inches of sag in floors throughout the structure. Pieces of concrete in the ceilings of the six-story structure have broken loose and fallen into offices. Windows leak. There are numerous electrical, plumbing and other problems.

A recent fire marshal's inspection found 400 code violations and safety problems.

And an engineering report done more than a year ago warned the building might collapse in an earthquake.

Lawmakers agreed at the IFC's meeting in September the building should be evacuated and demolished because it isn't safe for state workers.

IFC is expected to act on the proposal approved by the Board of Examiners at today's meeting.

n Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.