Top headlines from the Board of County Commissioners meeting

Commissioners make proclamations and accept gift deed of land from Grace Church

Reno, Nev. Nov. 19, 2019. The following report highlights several important agenda items from the Washoe County Board of Commissioners meeting:

1. The Board of County Commissioners issue the following proclamations:

• Commissioners proclaim the week of December 14, 2019 as Veterans Guest House Day. The proclamation honors and celebrates the 25^th anniversary of the Veterans Guest House, which initially opened their doors with the mission of providing temporary lodging for veterans and their families while in Washoe County for medical care. Today, the Veterans Guest House, largely driven by community support and volunteers, has grown from 4 beds to 33 beds and has provided over 80,000 nights of lodging since their beginning.
• Commissioners issue a proclamation of gratitude to Washoe County Search and Rescue Volunteers. The proclamation highlights the critical nature of these volunteers. When people are in danger, lost or in distress in remote areas, they depend on Search and Rescue services. The volunteer Search and Rescue organizations have six highly-trained teams: Washoe County Air Squadron, Washoe County Hasty Team, Washoe County Specialized Vehicle Unit, Washoe County Search and Rescue, Incident Management Team, and WOOF Search Dog Team.
• Commissioners proclaim November 19, 2019 as Grace Church of Reno Day. In sincere thanks for their generous donations through the HopeFirst Campaign, Commissioners have proclaimed November 19 as Grace Church of Reno Day. Grace Church has played an integral role in the movement to fight drug and alcohol addiction over the past three years by donating over $1 million to Washoe County. This donation has helped to purchase and rehabilitate six recovery homes with 93 beds to support substance abuse and addiction recovery. In addition, 62 women and 32 children have received assistance and 162 reunification visits have taken place, 7 child removals were prevented and 11 women graduated from Washoe County’s Women’s Crossroads Program.

• Donations to Washoe County Regional Animal Services in the amount of $8,342 made on behalf of generous community members to be used for the humane care and treatment of sick and/or injured, stray, abandoned, or at risk animals received.
• Donation to Washoe County Senior Services of a 2013 Ford E-350 Econoline Van valued at a total of $12,232 from Keolis Transit America for Washoe County Senior Services in the Incline Village area.
• Donation to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $1,500 from the Reno Air Racing Association to the Citizen Corps Program.
• Donation to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $1,000 from Hot August Nights Inc. to the Citizen Corps Program. 

3. Grace Church donates property to support recovery efforts for substance abuse and addiction. Commissioners approved a gift deed from Grace Community Church of Reno to Washoe County to transfer a physical property located at 3908 Belmore Way in Reno for future use as a Recovery Home through Washoe County’s Crossroads Program. The donation of this property, with an estimated value of approximately $500,000, reflects the ongoing commitment by Grace Church to support the men and woman of our community in their recovery by providing resources and opportunities to overcome their challenges and move forward in a positive, healthy, and productive manner.

“Every time I turn around you are giving us something,” says Chair Vaughn Hartung. “Whether it is vans, or other things we need, this is just one in a long list of your generosity. You are all amazing and a blessing to this community.”

4. Commissioners approve $75 million in bond refinancing. The Board approved the issuance of the Washoe County Highway Revenue (Fuel Tax) Refunding Bonds, Series 2019 in the maximum principal amount of $75 million. The bonds will be issued to refinance the currently outstanding Washoe County Highway Revenue (Fuel Tax) Bonds Series 2010 B and Series 2010 C bonds at a lower interest rate.  The new bonds are expected to provide savings of approximately $23.6 million in gross debt service savings or $13.6 million in net present value (NPV) savings.   Washoe County has strong credit as recognized by the rating of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings.

“When you look at the fiscal impact and the savings of this refinance, this is just amazing,” says Chair Vaughn Hartung. “I am so thrilled that staff is on this, paying attention to the market, and responding to save taxpayer dollars.”

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