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Apr. 11, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Harrah's audit finds 34 projects

Remodeling review turned over to county

By JOAN WHITELY
REVIEW-JOURNAL
More Info
VIOLATION NOTICES
 
 Clark County on March 21 issued notices of violation that document the following projects, which are part of the remodeling audit that Harrah's Entertainment recently shared with the county:

• At Bally's, the only project without permits entailed construction of office space for its convention services.

• At Bill's, undocumented projects included moving walls and doorways in the office of the human resources director and renovating basement offices.

• Caesars failed to get permits for work at a sushi bar.

• The Flamingo renovated a casino poker room and installed new electrical systems for surveillance cameras without permits. Considered part of the Flamingo though located next door, O'Shea's underwent electrical work for time clocks and security cameras on four floors without permits.

• At Harrah's, undocumented work included renovation of a casino poker room, a valet entrance, guest registration and bell desk areas, and retail space. Also, sliding glass doors, which need to function as an emergency exit, were installed without safety oversight at the northwest entrance of Harrah's.

• The Imperial Palace failed to get permits for work on its high-limit poker area, its fourth-floor business center and what inspection documents called an "electrical slot room for the Total Rewards Program."

• Work at the Paris affected six high roller suites and spaces for restaurants, payroll and employee training. A series of several violation notices pertained to plumbing and electrical work on steam boilers and heating equipment.

• Newly documented examples of renovation without permits at the Rio -- which already has received extensive coverage of noncompliant remodeling of guest suites -- affected an area for high-limit slot play and space used by store tenants, front-desk staff, personnel who do VIP registration, housekeeping and custodial staff.

REVIEW-JOURNAL

Harrah's Entertainment looked within its ledgers for evidence of remodeling projects that have taken place at its local hotels without the safety net created by pulling permits and passing inspections and found 34 projects at eight hotels in Clark County since 2000.

The gaming company gave a copy of its internal audit to officials in the Clark County Development Services Department in March but declined Thursday to share the document with the Review-Journal.

The audit compared a tally of construction permits pulled in the past eight years with a tally of capital expenditures for remodeling in the same period, according to a March 21 letter written by Greg Franklin, assistant director of Development Services.

The eight hotels involved are the same ones that fire and building inspectors examined on March 21 and March 26.

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    • In Franklin's March 21 letter, the county relayed information on the 34 projects that lacked permits to the Nevada State Contractors Board.

    Accompanying the letter was a copy of Harrah's audit document, which lists the eight hotels, the scope of each project and the contractors involved on each. But as of Thursday, the county had not determined whether it would release the Harrah's audit to the newspaper.

    Meanwhile, George Lyford, director of investigations for the contractors board, replied to the county in a March 31 letter that half of the 34 projects fall outside the four-year time frame for which the board can take disciplinary action.

    Also, Harrah's leadership has said, some of the 34 projects took place under previous owners before the gaming giant acquired the properties.

    "Board counsel recommends no action should be taken on those incidents which occurred prior to 2004, unless additional information is provided," Lyford wrote, referring to the possibility of new information that "brings the act or omission within the 4 year statute of limitations."

    The state board regulates the licensing of contractors and has the power to penalize contractors for wrongdoing in various ways, including charging them fines and canceling their licenses.

    "Prosecution of unlicensed contracting cases is pursued through the court system," according to a description posted on the Nevada State Contractors Board's Web site.

    The Review-Journal also requested on Thursday a copy of the audit from Marybel Batjer, a Harrah's Entertainment spokeswoman.

    She declined to comment Thursday on audit specifics. But when county inspectors did a sweep of the eight hotels for undocumented remodeling in late March, Batjer said the remodeling projects under scrutiny were "very dated and minor in nature, both in terms of ... cost and what was done."

    The county released copies of the March 21 and March 31 correspondence between the county and contractors board when the newspaper asked for them as well as a batch of 68 violation notices dated March 21 for remodeling without permits at Bally's, Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon, Caesars Palace, the Flamingo Las Vegas, Harrah's Las Vegas, Imperial Palace, Paris Las Vegas and the Rio.

    Contact reporter Joan Whitely at jwhitely@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0268.

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    Fred Frazzetta wrote on April 14, 2008 09:14 AM: Licensed Contractor:

    Yet again, you are protecting & condoning the illegal work that Harrah's did on their various Casinos. Please do us all a favor and reveal your company's name so that people are able to steer clear of using you as a contractor. Anyone that thinks it is okay that Harrah's left all the rooms that they touched unsafe for the public to stay in either works for Harrah's or in some way was involved in the illegal remodel projects themselves. Being the fine upstanding citizen that you claim to be, why don't you share with us the other Casinos that have also remodeled their properties illegally. I am sure that the Clark County Building & Fire Departments would be more than willing to open investigations up on the other properties as well to ensure the safety of both the visitors & residents of Las Vegas.

    We know by now that you are a "good little sheep"...you won't break ranks and protect your fellow man. You are one of the reasons that these situations happen...you are just as guilty as those responsible. If you are so confident in your position why not reveal who you are? I think we all know the reason that you are content hiding balless wonder. You are part of the problem...do us all a favor and move.

    The facts show that Harrah's Entertainment Inc. (soon to be Caesar's Entertainment Inc.) performed illegal remodel work breaking the law multiple times, and that they left behind documented public fire safety hazards in every room that they touched...meaning Mr. Licensed Contractor that their work did not even meet the minimum construction standards.

    Thankfully, the RJ has had the gumption to stay with the story...just maybe the RJ has helped make Las Vegas safer in the process...


    what the heck wrote on April 11, 2008 04:25 PM: as to the comment below, i am all for freedom of speech, but am horrendously regretful that these forums are open to ignorant and harmful persons who have nothing to do but make the world worse than in its current state and epitomize the worst of their own prejudices. I am ashamed be of your species and would hope you do not return.


    Won't Be Back wrote on April 11, 2008 02:34 PM: I won't be back to Vegas. Too many N l G G E R S harrassing tourists on the street and in the casinoes. Begging for money and getting uppity if you don't buy their stolen merchandise. I even had a N l G G E R try to scam me for money while i was playing slots!!!

    N l G G E R S ruin it for everyone!

    w w w . N l G G E R M A N I A . c o m


    Resident wrote on April 11, 2008 12:10 PM: Hey, concerned Caesar's guest...schmucko, here is a flash for you...they dont give a fXXk about you ! They got your credit card at the front desk right? So if the crane falls on your pointed little head, they can still charge you for your room stay and any of those overpriced drinks your sucking on poolside my friend! These Casinos are all about exploitation and greed Bucko! Wake up and realize your in Vegas Baby! What Happens here Stays Here! You know the solgan! Now do you get it brother?


    2zero wrote on April 11, 2008 08:54 AM: It is funny how the Reid's get all the credit for government corruption. The guy with the longest tenure and the most influence is teflon Bruce "Woodbury". Funny how the Rogich puppet has a highway named after him and the king of corruption has a middle school named after him....very sad, but it is Vegas baby!!!


    concerned caesars guest wrote on April 11, 2008 08:49 AM: omg ,, i just stayed at Caesars palace 4 a few days and i have been reading your articles and
    i have no idea how they could have a permit 4 the huge crane that swings over the top of the pool area ???

    they are putting up a new tower and they have this big yellow crane that the base of the crane is like
    10 feet from the pool area and it swings over the pool area and
    the pool area is not even shut down,, it is open ... this can't be right as i was out at the pool
    and this situation is a disaster waiting to happen ??????

    please do not share my email with them or anybody else as i dont need being harassed by them ...

    please reply though as i would not want anybody getting hurt out there and from what i saw,,
    that will be just a matter of time ....


    Rodman wrote on April 11, 2008 08:42 AM: To littlebird; yes the entire scope of all work done at Harrah's needs to be very thoroughly inspected, BUT NOT by the current county inspectors who couldn't get it right the first time. The county manager needs to go (she has no control of her job and doesn't understand what is going on) and the former county manager(s) need to be reviewed for performance and if found to be negligent should have this information attached to their personnel files so it follows them throughout life. As far as any country building agencies, inspectors, and or supervisors all should be removed and replaced including any fire dept personnel involved. As for the county commissioners they should all be ousted on the next election and possibly before by impeachment. One only has to look at how they have administered the county and their performance on past situation's such as UMC, airport land deals and of course the currant Harrah's situation along with I am sure many other yet to be uncovered discretion's.


    Licensed Contractor wrote on April 11, 2008 07:27 AM: I do not condone anyone doing work without the proper licensing, bonding, insurance, and permits. If any of you BONERHEADS were in the loop at all, you would know that ALL of the hotels and casinos are guilty of this practice, and have been doing their own remodeling for DECADES !! The RJ has issues with Harrahs due to political differences, and they have the power of the press behind them. Come on RJ..... get OVER this BS... It's getting very old !!


    enjoyingit wrote on April 11, 2008 07:26 AM: Greed, With the commish and the inspectors but hey so what i got my retirement. You see, i still get perks even after all this. Rory and I love reading these posts and we do it at taxpayer expense. You can not touch us we are #1, with Harry in D.C. and Rory in L.V. this town belongs to the reids. No one will be able to defeat Rory and Harry and i will still get my check for life. HA HA HA


    LittleBird wrote on April 11, 2008 06:27 AM: Looks as if Harrah's is more interested in thumbing their noises and what they supposedly got away with, because of a time frame.I hope they have to go back through all the 34 work areas with County inspections.These should be paid for by Harrah's, and any work that is not found to be in complience,should be brought into complience with the latest
    code.Are any of the 34 projects that were preformed,leaving life safety issues that should be addressed ? Forget the time frame and get it right this time. Public safety should be first and foremost.


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