The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Board appoints new registrar of voters: The Board appointed Deputy Registrar of Voters Andrew McDonald to 
take the role of Registrar of Voters, effective immediately with an annual salary of $175,240. McDonald joined Washoe County in 2024 and previously served as assistant registrars in Clark County and San Diego County. He has experience planning, directing, coordinating, and evaluating the activities of all divisions within an elections department and has administered local, state, and federal elections.
Washoe County Human Resources conducted a recruitment for the position from August 21 through October 2 and received 41 applicants. A screening committee reviewed the applicants and invited the top candidates to interview before a panel, which identified McDonald as the top candidate.
“I’d like to thank everyone in the process and also Mr. McDonald and the entire team who worked through some challenges,” Commissioner Clara Andriola said. “I think your professionalism rose to the top, and I’m going to proudly say thank you and second the motion.”
2. District Health Officer presents overview of public health priorities: Dr. Chad Kingsley, district health officer, presented the strategic priorities for Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH). These priorities focus on: healthy lives, healthy environment, local culture of health, impactful partnerships, organizational capacity, and financial stability.
“Public health is a two-sided coin, and the other side is public safety with our law enforcement and fire and how we work together,” Kingsley said. “Even with the flood district. If a flood were to occur, we have to issue safe drinking orders, so public health is always ingrained with these partners.”
NNPH operates under an interlocal agreement to serve across city and county jurisdictions. It is responsible for epidemiology of infection diseases, food and restaurant inspections, immunizations and sexual health, air quality monitoring and regulations, vital records, and response to emergencies such as ensuring water quality and disaster containment.
“People always think of first responders and public safety, and probably don’t think of your department but if you look at the work you do, you’re every bit as important as any other first-responder,” Commissioner Mike Clark said. “Not every department impacts every citizen of the county, but I think yours truly does.”
Funding comes from charges for services such as birth and death certificates and clinical services, as well as intergovernmental funds, Washoe County, and licenses and permits. Like many local government entities, NNPH is facing budget shortfalls in the coming year and is responding by not filling open positions, reducing operating costs and essential services before mandated services, among other cost-saving measures.
3. Board hears overview of Truckee River Flood Management Authority: Executive Director George Robison presented an overview of capital projects for the Truckee River Flood Management Authority (TRFMA). TRFMA is a joint effort among the cities of Reno and Sparks, Washoe County, and numerous other stakeholders to reduce the devastating impacts of flooding along the Truckee River. Its efforts include improving floodplain planning and management, helping first responders during flood events, and building flood mitigation infrastructure to decrease the impacts of flooding.
TRFMA funding comes from a 1/8 cent sales tax passed by the Washoe County Commission in 1998 after the region suffered significant flooding in 1997. The agency has approximately $10 million per year for capital projects, which currently include the Wadsworth Bridge replacement, several levee projects, and terracing at Vista Narrows.
4. Board votes to affirm suspension of the Golden Valley Recharge Program with pro-rated refund to ratepayers: In November 2023, the Board of County Commissioners voted to suspend fees charged to residents of Golden Valley for the artificial recharge of groundwater through the end of 2033. Today the Board affirmed that direction and recognizing the various concerns from many residents, voted to continue the suspension but issue refunds to participants to bring all rate-payers to a zero balance. In order to maintain the fund balance after the refunds, Washoe County will take measures to minimize the cost of staff time, while maintaining the basic framework for a limited program.
The Golden Valley Artificial Recharge Program was started in the 1990s to support domestic well users by recharging the aquifer that now supports 598 domestic wells. Washoe County adopted the permanent county-managed program in 2002, funded by a monthly fee for users. However, the artificial recharge paused in 2016 as the groundwater level sharply rose. Since then, natural recharge has resulted in continuous rising groundwater levels in certain areas of Golden Valley.
5. Board approves donations to county programs and departments: The Board voted unanimously to approve the following donations:
- Items valued around $7,200 and donations of approximately $24,000 to the Washoe County Human Services Agency (HSA) Child Protective Services Fund.
- Items valued around $12,600 and donations of $220 to the HSA Senior Service Fund.
- Items valued around $17,000 and donations of $1,000 to the HSA Homelessness Fund.
- $32,400 from the estate of Jackie D. Diggle to Washoe County Regional Animal Services to be used for the humane care and treatment of sick and/or injured, stray, abandoned, or at-risk animals.
6. Board approves District Special Fund allocations: The Board approved the allocation of District Special Funds to various nonprofit and governmental agencies:
- $10,325 to Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful to support continued partnership with HERO Environmental, which provided hazardous household waste removal at the Sun Valley Drop-Off event in November 2024.
- $1,000 to Proctor Hug High School to support its leadership class and efforts to get the youth involved in the community.
- $10,000 to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office for the North Valleys Cleanup Program and waste removal.
- $5,000 to Spanish Springs High School JROTC
- $5,000 to Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District to support the cleanup of Quartz Lane and other cleanup projects.
###
