Highlights from Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting

Commissioners give the green light on construction for new Medical Examiner’s Office.

Reno, Nevada. March 10, 2015. The following report highlights several important agenda items from the Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Videos of County Commission meetings are replayed regularly on WCTV (Charter Ch. 193). You may also watch videos-on-demand online.

Resolution to begin construction of the new Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office: Item 7.B. The Board of Washoe County Commissioners gave the go ahead on construction of the new Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office at Tuesday’s meeting. The Medical Examiner’s Office will be built on County owned land between East Ninth Street and Interstate 80, one block east of Wells Avenue. The $12 million state of the art facility will be paid for through the Washoe County Capital Improvement Program.

The new office will replace the Medical Examiner’s Office on Kirman Avenue which was constructed in 1959 and last renovated in 2003. The current site has inadequate parking and is too small for current operations. The cost to maintain the building has increased and the building is no longer suitable for its current use.

The new facility will be more modern and equipped with the capabilities required to better serve citizens of Washoe County and the surrounding areas. The Washoe County Medical Examiner provides services to the citizens of Washoe County and is a regional provider to 14 counties in Nevada and 5 counties in northern California.

Grant for Administration for Children and Family Services for Dependency Mediation: Item 7.D. The Board approved a $50,000 grant for the Dependency Mediation program, which helps families resolve conflicts outside of the courtroom.

The program offers an alternative to litigation for parents and stakeholders in the child abuse and neglect court system. Rather than going through a heated court hearing, mediation provides an opportunity for private discussion where all parties voluntarily discuss the issues that brought a family into the child protection system and gives them a chance to consider different options for possible resolution.

On behalf of the Second Judicial District Court, the Board accepted a $50,000 grant from Nevada Administrative Office of the Courts, Court Improvement Program (CIP) from the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Family Services for Dependency Mediation.

The grant will allow 100 dependency mediations over the grant period from Feb. 2, 2015 through Jan. 15, 2016.

The Second Judicial District Court started the Dependency Mediation program in 2011.

Receipt of Distinguished Budget Presentation Award: Item 7.E.2. The Board acknowledged the receipt of the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for fiscal year 2014-2015 from the Government Finance Officers Association. In order to receive the budget award, Washoe County had to meet nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. Those guidelines are designed to assess how well Washoe County’s budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operating guide, and a communication device. This is the 13^th year the award has been received by Washoe County.

Appointment of Craig Betts: Item 7.E.1. The Board confirmed the appointment of Craig Betts as Chief Information Officer, Technology Services, effective March 3, 2015. Betts has more than 20 years of leadership experience in technology services including the private sector, most recently with Employers Insurance and NV Energy, based in Reno. He held various leadership positions in infrastructure and operations and application development and support where he learned his collaborative and participative management style.

Nevada Moves Day Proclamation: Item 6. The Board declared March 18, 2015, Nevada Moves Day in an effort to encourage citizens across Washoe County to walk, bike, or participate in an athletic event with their children while celebrating the benefits of increased safety and health.

Parents driving children to school can account for up to 25 percent of the morning rush hour traffic in the vicinity of schools. The goal of Nevada Move Day is to get more people to walk or bicycle to school in an effort to improve traffic congestion, air quality and the overall health of our population.

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