Top three things to know from the Board of County Commissioners meeting

Commissioners approve grant to improve training and response for terror attacks on the anniversary of 9/11

Reno, Nev. Sept. 11, 2018. The following report highlights several important agenda items from the Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting:

1. United We Stand grant approved for emergency response.  Commissioners accepted a 2018 Nevada State Emergency Response Commission, United We Stand grant.

“We find it very fitting that Commissioners approved this grant that fights Acts of Terrorism on the seventeenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks,” says John Slaughter, Washoe County Manager. “While you can never fully anticipate these attacks, Washoe County is always working to ensure our preparedness and we will forever remember 9/11.”

The source of this funding comes from fees collected from the sale and annual renewal of the United We Stand specialty license plates. The grant provides funding to the Washoe County Local Emergency Planning Committee for Planning, Training and Equipment purchases. The grant funding is allocated to improve state and local government planning, training and response capabilities to react to Acts of Terrorism.

The total funding of over $25,000 will be distributed, based on the Sub-Grant Agreements between Washoe County and local partners, to the Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority, Reno Police Department, and the Washoe County School District.

2. Washoe County Commissioners recognize Medical Examiner’s Office during Donate Life Month. Commissioners heard a presentation on the impact of the Washoe County Tissue Donation Program with partner, Nevada Donor Network (NDN).

NDN presented the entire Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office team and Washoe County with an award on behalf of the US Health Resources and Services Administration. NDN also presented Washoe County Medical Examiner and Coroner, Dr. Laura Knight, with a prestigious Platinum Award from the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations as Forensic Leader of the Month. Both awards were bestowed for the efforts in support of Donate Life Month, a campaign to promote awareness and enrollment for tissue and cornea donation.

3. Commissioners approve the business license for Lantern Fest event in October. The Board of County Commissioners approved the business license application for the Lantern Fest event to take place October 13 and 14 at the Wild West Motorsports Park in Sparks. The Lantern Fest is a family-friendly outdoor entertainment event and concert that culminates with the release of several thousand paper sky lanterns, lifted by a small open flame source. The approval was made with conditions, including that the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (TMFPD), Fire Chief Charles Moore would be the final decision maker if the event will continue based on fire weather conditions.

“We cannot forecast conditions for when this event will take place, due to this, we should give the TMFPD Fire Chief overriding ability to cancel the event due to fire conditions,” says Commissioner Vaughn Hartung, who proposed the motion. “The Fire Chief or his designee needs to be the ultimate decision maker on approval for the Lantern Fest being held in October.”

Commissioners directed the Planning and Building Division to issue the license when all pre-event conditions, including Chief Moore’s recommendations, have been completed and all required business license fees have been paid.

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