Storey County BOCC Tackles Wildfire Prep, Infrastructure, and Community Growth in Recent Meetings

Storey County’s Board of County Commissioners announced that the June 17 meeting will be held at the Virginia City High School Training Room due to District Court scheduling. The meeting will not be live-streamed on YouTube, but the public may participate in person and submit comments in advance.

In the recent meetings on May 20 and June 3, the Board covered a wide range of community priorities, including wildfire preparedness, infrastructure upgrades, and public safety.

The upcoming Virginia City Highlands wildfire evacuation drill, scheduled for Saturday, June 14, from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., remains a major focus. The exercise aims to ensure that residents and first responders are ready for wildfire emergencies.

Public Works highlighted ongoing and upcoming infrastructure projects critical to Storey County’s growth and safety. These projects include the Mark Twain Community Center fire truck bay expansion, for which a public bid is currently in preparation, and progress on the Lockwood Community Center, which is now 70% complete and on schedule. Additionally, the Virginia City Senior Center recently made ADA-compliant restroom upgrades to improve accessibility.

The county awarded a $634,800 contract to Titan Electrical for a new traffic signal at Electric Avenue and Milan Drive in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center (TRI-Center), where increased traffic demands continue.

The Fire Protection District reported increased out-of-area wildfire responses this cycle, with 39 calls resulting in $1.5 million in billings, compared to $467,000 for eight calls last year. The district also continues plans to pursue a $2.6 million donation of a quint ladder truck from Switch and move forward with design services for a new fire station at TRI-Center.

Public safety saw noteworthy achievements, with the Sheriff’s Office celebrating the successful completion of its first Citizens Academy cohort, which received positive feedback and bolstered community engagement. The donated Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Unit was recently equipped with donated warm-weather gear.

Storey County’s commitment to community health continues with grant funding secured to support the staffing of two mental health community workers, who will collaborate with the Sheriff’s Office.

Upcoming community events supported by the Virginia City Tourism Commission include the July 4 parade and fireworks celebration.