Several hundred alleged subcontractor wage discrepancies tied to the Scheels All-Sports store construction at the Sparks Marina are under investigation.

The Sparks City Council on Monday extended a contract to ensure fair and livable wages are paid to construction workers on the site of the billion-dollar Legends at Sparks Marina shopping, restaurant and entertainment complex.

State law requires that all projects using public financing ensure workers are paid the "prevailing wage" — or the wage determined to be fair for skilled tradesmen, taking into account the area's cost of living.

The latest in a series of additions to the ongoing prevailing wage report by Poggemeyer Design Group, Inc. provides $27,300 more to investigate a number of subcontractor claims on the Scheels All-Sports job site, among other services.

Scheels contractor Sampson Construction had about 200 full-time workers on the Scheels construction site during a February site tour, said Kevin Felton, owner's representative for RED Development.

In a letter dated March 28, Poggemeyer representatives cited 312 discrepancies in workers' prevailing wage reports for some of the subcontractors hired by Sampson Construction.

The report alleges that three subcontractors were following the 2006 prevailing wage code, instead of the 2007 prevailing wage rates, as Sampson required of all of its subcontractors.

Poggemeyer is requesting between 40 and 45 revised prevailing wage reports each from subcontractors JD2 and GJH/Harris Salinas on the Scheels project.

In addition, Poggemeyer is requesting 20 revised prevailing wage reports from subcontractor Western Single Ply, which according to a March report is "still maintaining that 2006 prevailing wage determination requirements apply, which do not comply with the 2007 prevailing wage rate Sampson Construction stipulates for this project."

"Our job is to verify and require compliance for prevailing wage reporting, provide concise review and feedback to the reporting contractors," the March 28 Poggemeyer report stated. "This has been a more arduous task on this project.

Poggemeyer is spending an additional 25 hours per month, costing an additional $2,100 per month, adding $27,300 to a contract of $43,680, totaling an amended contract amount with the city of $70,980.

"The work is more challenging than anticipated," said Neil Krutz, Sparks Community Development Director at Monday's city council meeting.

"Sampson Construction plans on complying with the request and submitting revised reports, and expects their subcontractors to follow suit," the Poggemeyer report concluded.

Comment by the subcontractors was not available as of press time.