Top headlines from the Board of County Commissioners meeting

Commissioners approve grant for closed basin flooding

Reno, Nev. August 28, 2018. The following report highlights several important agenda items from the Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting:

1. Emergency grant for closed basin flooding received. The Board of County Commissioners approved the receipt of a 2017 Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grant to Washoe County Emergency Management from the State of Nevada, Division of Emergency Management in the amount of $225,000.

“This will give us some additional work and ability to study closed basin flooding,” said Chair Marsha Berkbigler. “We are all concerned about the flooding in our closed basins and this will help us to address this issue.”

The Washoe County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program will use the funds to hire a consultant to lead the region though the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Update process. This update will allow the jurisdictions to remain in compliance with FEMA, while sustaining and improving regional flood prevention actions. This process will validate ongoing actions, examine and confirm successful mitigation projects, determine what actions will encourage the completion of remaining projects, and focus the region on newly-identified prevention planning gaps such as closed basin flooding.

2. Commissioners accept grants to help children and homeless populations. The Board of County Commissioners approved an $81,324 Continuum of Care Permanent Supportive Housing Program Grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. In addition to the federal funding, Washoe County Human Services Agency (HSA) will contribute more than $20,000. Funding will help stabilize chronically homeless families and reduce their dependency on emergency community resources. Services include case management and support to help families with rental assistance.

“Rising home prices have impacted several of Washoe County’s families. Thanks to this grant and the Washoe County’s funding, HSA will help alleviate an ever-growing issue in our community by helping those who are homeless or in jeopardy of ending up on the street,” said HSA Director Amber Howell.

Commissioners also accepted a $663,807 Human Services Block Grant from the State of Nevada, Department of Health and Human Services to help children being cared for by the HSA Children’s Services Division. Funding from the grant will be used to protect children and adults from neglect, abuse and exploitation. Funding will also support children who can’t care for themselves and don’t have anybody to care for them. There are currently more than 800 children in the care of Washoe County’s Human Services Agency.

3. Commissioners accept multiple donations from generous community members.

• Donations to Washoe County Regional Animal Services in the amount of $9,267.17 on behalf of generous community members to be used for the humane care and treatment of sick, injured, stray, abandoned or at risk animals.
• Donations to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $7,000 for 113 controlled energy weapon batteries from the Sparks Police Department, various military surplus equipment in the amount of $471,129.28 and the donation of a HH-1H Huey Helicopter estimated value at $922,704, both  from the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO) 1033 program.

“On behalf of the Commission, I thank everybody who is generous enough to provide us donations and we certainly use them to their fullest capacity,” says Vice-Chair Kitty Jung.

4. Washoe County Purchasing Division receives Excellence in Procurement. Commissioners acknowledged the receipt of the Purchasing Division’s 23rd consecutive Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award.

The Achievement in Excellence in Procurement Award Program is designed to measure and recognize organizational excellence in procurement based upon innovation, professionalism, e-procurement, productivity, and leadership attributes of the Washoe County Purchasing Division. Washoe County is one of only six agencies in Nevada and one of only 45 counties in the United States and Canada to receive the award.

“I am truly honored we received this prestigious award for our 23^rd year in a row. My hard-working team ensures we provide excellence to our community every day” says Cathy Hill, Washoe County Comptroller.

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