Storey County commissioners elect officers, approve tax-roll publication, adopt dog ordinance and several appointments

The Storey County Board of County Commissioners unanimously elected its chair and vice chair and approved a string of routine and substantive actions at a Jan. 6 meeting in Virginia City.

Commissioner Mitchell formally nominated Commissioner Carmona to continue as chairman for a one-year term; the motion was seconded and passed with ayes from all members present. "I, Commissioner Mitchell, move to approve County Resolution 25-811 to allow the County assessor to publish the 2026–27 tax roll on the county website instead of publishing in the paper or mailing to all county residents," Mitchell said during consideration of the tax-roll resolution. The board approved Resolution 25-811 unanimously.

The board adopted the second reading of Bill 147 (Ordinance 25-335) to amend Storey County Code, Ordinance 6.04 (dogs), to reduce licensing fees, update policies and procedures to reflect current standards and more humane practices, and encourage increased public compliance. Commissioner Mitchell moved to adopt the ordinance on its second reading; the motion passed unanimously.

On personnel and legal matters, the commission voted to approve a settlement agreement in an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission matter involving former sheriff's office employee Eric Kern. County counsel Brian Hardy described the settlement as the result of mediation and subsequent negotiation; the board approved the settlement per staff recommendation.

The board also confirmed several appointments to boards and commissions. Lauren Jaslow was appointed to a merchant commercial seat on the Virginia City Tourism Commission to complete a term ending Dec. 31, 2026; Erica Perry was appointed to the hotel operator seat on the VCTC for a two-year term; and Lee Starett was appointed to represent Precinct 2 on the Story County Planning Commission. The board approved a continuation of recruitment for a vacant motel-operator seat on the VCTC.

Other routine items approved unanimously included the consent agenda, second readings of business licenses (items 25 a–c), and the 2026 list of county appointments to state, county and regional boards with a few noted updates.

The meeting closed after final public-comment opportunities and the board adjourned to its next scheduled meeting in two weeks.

Ending The meeting produced unanimous votes on the listed motions; no recorded nay or abstentions were noted in the transcript.