Top 5 things you need to know about the Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting

Board approves purchase of a new absentee ballot counting system for the 2016 election cycle.

1. Board approves purchase of new scanning software and equipment for upcoming election. County Commissioners approved the purchase of an absentee ballot counting system for the Registrar of Voters Office. The Registrar of Voters needed the equipment in preparation for the 2016 election cycle. The decision to move forward with the new system came after the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office certified the system for use within Nevada and it was determined that replacing the existing system was more sensible than repairing and maintaining an older, out-of- date system. 

“The new technology is an upgrade to our existing voting and tally system and will provide for a more efficient process for the issuance and counting of ballots for our voters,” Washoe County Registrar of Voters Luanne Cutler said. “This is a long-term cost savings for our citizens and a more transparent absent ballot process for all.”

One of the new features allows ballot printing on demand and an open and transparent ballot adjudication feature. 

The cost of the new system is $224,523. It is anticipated the cost will be partially offset in the coming years due to savings in printing and labor costs to run the older system. The estimated savings per election cycle is $15,000-$20,000.

2. Grant awarded to the Second Judicial District Court to expand Mental Health and Adult Drug Courts. County Commissioners acknowledged a grant that was awarded to the Second Judicial District Court for expansion of Mental Health Court and existing Adult Drug Court. The grant will help pay for the influx of participants served by the Northern Nevada Regional Mental Health Court.

The Second Judicial District Court’s Specialty Courts are expanding. They have received grant funding through a State general fund appropriation for the creation of new Specialty Courts, to enhance existing Specialty Courts, and to increase the number of participants served. These projects include an enhancement to the existing Mental Health Court, a new Medication Assisted Treatment Court, and an expansion of the existing Adult Drug Court. 

This enhanced funding will allow the Second Judicial District Court’s Specialty Court to continue providing existing and new services. There will now be 10 Specialty Courts operating in the Second Judicial District Court, designed to create a safer, more secure and healthier community.

 “The Second Judicial District Court is grateful to the Nevada Legislature, the Administrative Office of the Courts, Washoe County, and the numerous stakeholders who participated in awarding these grant funds,” Chief Judge Patrick Flanagan said. “The Second Judicial District Court’s Specialty Courts provide much needed services to ensure our community is safer and healthier. I look forward to their continued success.”

3. Community Services Department discusses how they are keeping roads ready for inclement weather. Washoe County Community Services Director Dave Solaro gave County Commissioners an overview of the Community Services Department and how the County provides support to the citizens. The Community Services department comprises 227 staff bringing with them more than 3,100 hours of service at Washoe County.

“From building permitting/inspection, planning/development, engineering, parks, roads, sewer, equipment services, and facility management, nearly every Washoe County resident benefits on a daily basis from the services provided,” Solaro said.  

Solaro said currently the department’s main focus includes maintaining 1,077 centerline County roads and keeping them safe for drivers and pedestrians during the winter. Solaro said staff begins working in the pre-dawn hours preparing the County roadways for safe travel when the snow begins to stick. Plowing is done using pre-determined routes based on a priority rankings that take into account arterial and collector streets, fire station locations, and school and regional transportation bus routes.

Solaro also highlighted the facilities management group operators responsible for maintaining the building operation and appearance of County-owned buildings such as the courts and libraries. Without the Facilities Management employees, those buildings, with a total size equal to 46 college football fields, would not operate with energy efficiency, would not be cleaned, painted, or maintained as they currently are. For example, one of the oldest buildings maintained by the division is Bowers Mansion which was constructed in 1864.

“I love to hear about what the CSD staff does that impact citizens every day. We all woke up this morning and the building didn’t fall on us thanks to you guys keeping it up to code,” Chair Kitty Jung (Dist. 3) said. “We drove into work today on safe, clear and paved roads thanks to your roads team. We are not only a 24-hour town but a 24-hour County that depends on the Community Services Department to provide services around the clock.”

4.$400,000 grant to remodel the Bower’s Mansion Pool. County Commissioners approved a $400,000 grant from the William N. Pennington Foundation to make equipment improvements to the Bower’s Mansion Pool. The grant will go toward replacing the 50-year-old mechanical system. The system requires revamping of the pump, filtration and chemical systems. The pool will also receive piping and electrical upgrades. Staff said if the pool’s systems aren’t revamped soon, more than likely the pool would be closed this summer due to mechanical issues.

5. A grant for the Anti-Wandering Initiative Project to help people with dementia-related illnesses. County Commissioners approved a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office to support the Anti-Wandering Initiative Project and awarded a contract to Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office was provided funding to address the increasing number of people with Alzheimer’s or other cognitive disabilities who are wandering away from their homes. The funding will go toward staffing, purchasing transmitter units, GPS devices, wireless home alarms and other tracking devices and supplies.

Community partners for this initiative include:

• Alzheimer’s Association of Northern Nevada
• Catholic Charities/Kids to Seniors Korner
• Nevada Aging and Disability Services
• Reno Police Department
• Sparks Police Department
• Washoe County Department of Social Services/Washoe County Senior Services

For more information on the Wandering Prevention Program, go to www.washoesheriff.com.

Click here to see the Wandering Prevention Program Video

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