Commission approves temporary EMS contract for Gerlach; volunteers and state regulators raise questions about coverage and facilities

Washoe County commissioners voted June 17 to approve a contract with Royal Ambulance Inc. to provide emergency medical services to the Gerlach area effective July 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027, at an annual cost of $603,000.

County staff said the agreement is intended to prevent a July 1 service gap after a prior tribal partner withdrew its commitment. Assistant County Manager Dave Solaro told the board the county considered several options — including paid county personnel and other contractors — before recommending Royal, and said the contract was crafted to fit budget constraints while delivering the service the local community prioritized: around-the-clock paramedic coverage. "This is the best I could come up with in a short period of time to provide what the community has told me," Solaro said.

Gerlach residents and volunteer firefighters who spoke at the meeting supported an interim solution but urged the county to resolve multiple outstanding items before services begin. Lisa Nash, president of the current Gerlach Volunteer Fire Department, said the contract leaves the volunteers' relationship to the station and to apparatus unclear, and asked that the county not permit Royal to use the department's name or equipment without explicit agreements. "The contract gives Royal access to the Gerlach fire station, but Washoe County doesn't own the property," Nash said. She and other volunteers stressed the need for contracts or leases that clarify property rights, insurance, equipment access and who the volunteers will report to.

Russell Beyerly, who identified himself as Gerlach GID public works supervisor and treasurer of the volunteer fire department, said the Gerlach GID can call an emergency meeting to approve a lease to allow Royal to use the station, and urged county staff to involve local stakeholders in drafting any arrangements. Beyerly also said he had spoken with the Nevada EMS office, and that the state will not approve an operating plan that moves from paramedic+EMT coverage to a single paramedic for a four-month period. Beyerly said the state EMS representative had been expected in chambers to answer questions. "For 4 months, it's a paramedic only, which is not a level of care that's recognized by the state of Nevada EMS office. I spoke to them yesterday, and they will not they cannot approve this plan as written," Beyerly said.

Royal Ambulance's chief administrative officer, John Ray Hassan, told the board the company intends to work collaboratively with the community and with volunteers and that the company could expand coverage if the commission provides additional funding. "There's no desire to come in and take over and displace volunteers. Our goal is truly to work collaboratively," Hassan said.

County staff and volunteers also noted confusion about station ownership and previous informal arrangements. Solaro said Washoe County has been operating with informal use of the Gerlach fire station for years and that the county would need to work with the Gerlach General Improvement District (GID) and other stakeholders to finalize leases and insurance arrangements. He said Royal and the county are pursuing state EMS approval and that the board may later be asked to authorize contingency funding if the contract needs to be amended to provide EMT coverage in the four-month period state regulators flagged.

The board approved the contract in a unanimous vote. Vice Chair Jean Herman said the approval should be seen as an interim measure and urged continued work to restore and strengthen local volunteer capacity and station arrangements. Commissioners asked staff to return with details on the proposed lease, insurance coverage, apparatus ownership, dispatch transitions and any state EMS condition or approval required before the contract can be fully implemented.

The county budget included about $652,000 for Gerlach services in the coming fiscal year; Solaro said alternative staffing plans that used directly hired county personnel pushed estimated costs well above the available funds, prompting the search for a private contractor. Commissioners and community members discussed potential longer-term funding sources that could be targeted to Gerlach, including federal PILT payments tied to federal land, grants, or event-specific contributions.

The contract passed by the board allows Royal Ambulance to begin providing services contingent on the necessary administrative approvals and any state EMS requirements. County staff said they will return with lease details and with any necessary contingency requests if state requirements preclude the paramedic-only months contemplated in the contract.