WASHOE COUNTY NEWS RELEASE
Here are some highlights from the County Commission’s Jan. 10 meeting:
Resolutions and Proclamations. The County Commission extended a formal resolution of appreciation to the dozens of participating agencies which worked diligently to combat the Caughlin Fire, which started on Nov. 18 due to high winds and dry conditions. The commission extended thanks to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, California Division of Fire (Cal Fire), Cameron Park Fire Department, Carson City Fire Department, Central Lyon County Fire Department, City of Reno Fire Department, City of Reno Police Department, City of Reno, East Fork Fire Protection District, Eldorado County Fire Department, Eldorado Hills Fire Department, Fallon Naval Air Station Fire Department, George Towne Fire Department, Incline Hand Crew, Lake Valley Fire Department, Mason Valley Fire Department, Meeks Bay Fire Department, Nevada Air National Guard, Nevada Division of Forestry, Nevada Highway Patrol, North Lake Tahoe Fire Department, North Lyon County Fire Department, Northstar Fire, REMSA, Rescue Fire Department, Rocklin Fire Department, Roseville Fire Department, Sierra Fire Protection District, Sierra Fire Protection District Volunteer Fire Departments, Sierra Front Incident Management Team, Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center, Slide Mountain Hand Crew, Sparks Fire Department, Squaw Valley Fire Department, Storey County Fire Department, Tahoe Douglas Fire Department, Truckee Fire Protection District, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Volunteer Fire Departments, USDA – Forest Service, Washoe County Fire Suppression Volunteer Fire Departments, Washoe County School District, Washoe County Sheriff’s Department, Washoe County and Pyramid Lake Volunteer Fire/Rescue.
Also during its meeting, the commission recognized the contributions of three Washoe County citizens who had completed two three-year terms of service on the county’s Organizational Effectiveness Committee. Greg Peek, Tim Ruffin and Rand Tanner were each appointed to the committee in 2006. The OEC serves as an advisory committee of corporate executives and business leaders to provide management counsel and advice to county management and the commission.
During its meeting, the commission recognized the importance of the United States Postal Service processing center in Reno and adopted a resolution in support of keeping the center in Reno instead of moving it to Sacramento. In addition to the loss of jobs, Commissioner Kitty Jung also noted the environmental impact of having to transport local mail to Sacramento for processing before then transporting it back to Washoe County. Commissioner Bonnie Weber requested that the Postal Service attend a future County Commission meeting to explain the decision process and the impacts.
Donations. The commission accepted and recognized several donations during its meeting, including nearly $50,000 from various businesses, organizations and individuals in support of Regional Parks and Open Space programs and facilities, $324.45 to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office for search and rescue programs and $4,000 from the Truckee River Yacht Club to protect trees along the Truckee River from non-native beaver species.
RAVEN fire services. Commissioners approved an interlocal agreement among the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, the Sierra Fire Protection District, the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District for training and support of RAVEN’s aerial fire protection services. The $75,000 in combined moneys will fund the continued operation of a program which allows the Sheriff’s Office’s HH-1H “Huey” helicopter, which is fitted with a belly-mounted water tank, to be used as an initial attack asset on wildfires in Washoe County.
Regional job creation/sustainment. Commissioners approved three items on their Jan. 10 agenda in support of a roadway construction project for roads currently maintained by the Spanish Springs Valley Ranches Property Owners Association. Between testing, inspection, engineering and construction, the $10.3 million project is estimated to create and/or sustain 91 local jobs and is being paid for by the property owners through a special assessment district.
Incline area property tax refunds. Washoe County Treasurer Tammi Davis gave an update on the process of refunding tax amounts to property owners in the Incline Village/Crystal Bay Area. As of the end of December, 475 parcels, representing 5.42 percent of total affected parcels, had been processed, with refunds totaling $7,318,636 in tax dollars and $830,835 in interest.
