Top headlines from the Board of County Commissioners meeting

Commissioners receive quarterly update on Regional Detention Facility

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

1. Board of County Commissioners received a quarterly update on Washoe County Regional Detention Facility. The Board of County Commissioners received the scheduled quarterly presentation on the operations of the Washoe County Regional Detention Facility.

Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Captain Jeff Clark, shared an update on the welfare of inmates including a newly-established partnership with Northern Nevada HOPES. Through this partnership, 350 inmates have received referrals to HOPES, a mental health treatment center in our region. In addition, 31 inmates were transferred to the Northern Nevada HOPES Release Program, and 251 inmates received active Medicaid and EBT services upon release.

Along with healthcare provider NaphCare, the WCSO has developed a medicated assisted treatment program, or MAT program. This program establishes protocols for treating inmates with opioid, alcohol, and other withdrawal symptoms.

The WCSO continues to see arrestees with mental illness, homelessness and drug addiction. The Washoe County Regional Detention Facility has been working with local programs and agencies to establish hand-offs from the Detention Facility to beneficial services in the community.

“Improving the Detention Facility has been something that we have worked on continuously,” said Commissioner Bob Lucey. “We look forward to collaborating closely with the Sheriff-Elect after the first of the year and are hopeful we will continue to improve recidivism rates and work in alignment with our county departments, such as Alternative Sentencing and Courts. We are all dedicated to making sure these individuals get access to programs and opportunities for reform.”

2. County Commission accepts generous donations and a grant from the Pennington Foundation. Commissioners were pleased to accept a donation to Washoe County Humans Services Agency, Senior Services division, of a donation in the amount of $106.15  and a donation in the amount of $3,161.51 from two generous community members.

“With regard to our donations today, we have an angel donor who doesn’t want to be recognized, but who has donated over $5,000 this year to our seniors,” noted County Manager, John Slaughter. “In addition, the other donor is an individual who was a part of a M.O.S.T. team ride-along, that reaches out to our homeless community, and saw a homeless man in need of socks. This individual has since donated $250 in socks for the homeless,” continued Slaughter.

In addition, Commissioners accepted a generous grant in the amount of $447,715 from the William N. Pennington Foundation, for the construction and infrastructure of the Bowers Mansion pool deck and concessions. With these additions and improvements, the Bowers Mansion Pool will generate for its operations, to fund any future repairs or improvements.

“Our thanks to everyone who has donated to Washoe County, we couldn’t do it without your support,” said Commissioner Vaughn Hartung.   

3. Commissioners declare illegal dumping in Sun Valley a public nuisance. Commissioners executed a resolution after hearing complaints of a nuisance, specifically illegal dumping, on a private parcel of land on Quartz Avenue in Sun Valley. The illegal dumping includes junk vehicles, debris and other property. The public nuisance was determined to exist on the property and a funding source was identified so further action could be taken by County staff to clean up the area, options may include: pursuing administrative enforcement to include abatement, commencement of a civil action for abatement in the courts, or utilizing a non-judicial abatement of the nuisance.

4. Commissioners receive Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Commissioners acknowledged receipt of the Washoe County Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, presented by the Washoe County Comptroller, Cathy Hill, which per Nevada Revised Statute requires Washoe County to issue an annual report on its financial position and operations for the fiscal year.

• Commissioners also approved the re-appropriation of over $26 million re-appropriation for the fiscal year 2019 budget.
• Of the $26 million, over $11 million was for purchase order encumbrances for fiscal year 2018. These encumbrances are budgeted funds set aside to complete transactions from the prior fiscal year that had not been finalized as of June 30.
• In addition, of the $26 million, over $15 million for spending of restricted contributions and fees.

“Washoe County continues to provide strong financial leadership, fiscal responsibility and transparency in all aspects of our financial reporting. Our staff works tirelessly to ensure excellence for our community,” said Washoe County Comptroller, Cathy Hill.

Washoe County has received prestigious awards for the high standards of excellence displayed in the Washoe County CAFR for the last 35 years.

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