Storey County Invites Residents to Parks Workshops, Approves Key Projects
The Storey County Board of Commissioners took action on a range of items during its March 2 and March 17 meetings, advancing infrastructure planning, community services, and economic development efforts across the county.
Among the highlights, the board awarded the lease for the Old Corner Bar at Piper’s Opera House to Ryan Brandon following a public bidding process. Commissioners also directed staff to coordinate with Tesla, the Nevada Department of Transportation, and regional partners to explore expedited improvements to the Patrick Interchange on Interstate 80, a key access point serving the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center.
Public Works Director Jason Wierzbicki reported that the installation of an electronic reader board at the Mark Twain Community Center is scheduled for March 30. The county is also preparing for several community events, including a fire evacuation drill at Mark Twain on March 28 from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Residents who want to participate are encouraged to sign up for Smart911 Alerts.
In addition, county staff will host a series of public workshops in April to gather input on parks and recreation services. Workshops are scheduled in Lockwood at the Lockwood Senior Community Center on April 15, Virginia City at Piper’s Opera House on April 16, and Mark Twain at the Mark Twain Community Center on April 23, each from 6 to 8 p.m. Residents are invited to provide feedback on park facilities, recreational programming, and a future planned park for Gold Hill.
Residents can also find up-to-date information on candidates, early voting, and mail-in ballots for the upcoming primary election on the county’s website.
The Lockwood Senior Community Center received regional recognition from the American Society of Civil Engineers as a significant Northern Nevada project.
The Health & Community Services Director Stacy York reports reflected continued growth in demand for county services. Senior Services provides an average of 100 hours of light housekeeping each month and delivers approximately 2,750 meals to 150 clients each month. Transportation services remain active, with about 300 one-way rides provided per month and roughly 40,000 miles driven annually for clients.
In emergency preparedness, the county secured about $7,000 in grant funding to equip every classroom with Stop the Bleed kits, along with additional funding for training materials. Emergency Management Director Adam Wilson will assist with a regional mass-casualty exercise at the University of Nevada, Reno, in April.
County representatives, including Commissioner Mitchell, Director of Business Development Lara Mather, and Grants Manager Sara Sturtz, traveled to Washington, D.C., to present federal funding requests for priority infrastructure projects, including waterline replacements and the “A” Street Road Rehabilitation and Slope Stabilization project.
Director of Tourism Todd Tuttle shared that tourism events continue to grow in popularity. Upcoming events include the Virginia City Grand Prix in April and the Chili Cook-Off in May.
The board also approved several planning and budget-related items, including a five-year capital improvement plan, the tentative fiscal year 2026–2027 budget, and multiple infrastructure and partnership agreements.
In business licensing, several new businesses were approved to operate in Storey County. Notably, US Ghost Adventures LLC received final approval following additional discussion with the board regarding compliance with county codes and operational requirements, as requested by the board at the first reading.
