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Commissioners award Tonopah janitorial contract amid public pushback over nonprofit office cleaning
Summary
The board awarded a countywide janitorial services contract that includes cleaning county-controlled nonprofit-occupied spaces; public commenters said nonprofit tenants should pay their share of janitorial costs and questioned a 53% price increase from the prior contract.
Nye County commissioners on April 8 awarded a janitorial services contract for county facilities that covers Tonopah locations and multiple county-owned buildings. The board approved the contract and directed staff to pursue reimbursement from nonprofit tenants occupying county space where appropriate.
What the board approved: Staff recommended awarding bid number 2025-02 (Tonopah janitorial services) to High Desert Custodial Company (contract summary and motion recorded in the meeting packet). Commissioners approved the recommendation and also directed staff to pursue reimbursement from nonprofits occupying county-leased space for janitorial services that contractually fall to tenants. The motion carried 5-0.
Public concerns: Several public commenters pressed the board to exclude two nonprofits (Nye Communities Coalition and NO to Abuse) from county-paid cleaning in their leased/occupied spaces, arguing those organizations already receive grant funding and should pay overhead themselves. Commenters also flagged a roughly 50–53% increase in the contract price compared with recent years and asked the county to justify the difference and confirm whether contracted square footage or services changed.
County response and next steps: County facilities staff and the manager said janitorial coverage is necessary to maintain county-owned buildings and protect county assets. Staff acknowledged legacy leases with some nonprofits that may not currently charge tenants for janitorial service; the manager said staff will review the leases and return with options. Assistant county staff noted the county already had means to charge back janitorial costs under current leases and planned to present lease and reimbursement recommendations to the board. Commissioners asked that staff renegotiate leases and consider charging janitorial and utility costs back to occupants when appropriate.
Why it matters: The contract includes cleaning of county-owned spaces occupied by third-party nonprofits in Tonopah and Pahrump; commissioners, staff and commenters all said the county should resolve whether tenant organizations reimburse the county for janitorial overhead.
Ending: With the award approved, the county will implement the contract for janitorial services and simultaneously pursue a review of leases and reimbursement practices to limit county subsidy of occupied spaces, returning to the board with recommendations.
