Storey County commissioners approve roads, reconveyance, fire capital plan, cannabis fee change and marketing contract
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Summary
At the Feb. 3 meeting the board adopted several road-identification resolutions and a reconveyance, directed adoption of the SCFPD 2026–31 capital and staffing plan, approved a first reading to reduce the cannabis gross-revenue fee to 0%, and authorized a $100,000 marketing contract with Sam Shadd Productions.
The Story County Board of County Commissioners took a slate of routine and substantive actions Feb. 3, adopting resolutions to identify several county roads, approving a reconveyance to allow a safety fence along Peru Drive, adopting the Story County Fire Protection District’s 2026–2031 Capital & Staffing Improvement Plan, and moving forward on cannabis code changes and county marketing.
Votes at a glance
- Roads: The board adopted Resolution 26‑812 (identifying Story County Road No. 910170, Homestead/Tunnel Road), Resolution 26‑813 (Story County Road No. 910190, unnamed road) and Resolution 26‑816 (Story County Road No. 910390, 7 Mile Canyon Road). Each resolution identifies the county’s public segments and excludes private-property portions; motions passed unanimously.
- Reconveyance (Peru Drive): The board adopted Resolution 25‑810 to reconvey approximately 427 linear feet by 3 feet of Peru Drive right-of-way (exact length to be determined by survey) so a property owner can install a safety fence at the top of a retaining wall; staff consulted NV Energy, AT&T and TriGID and required a final legal description by survey; motion passed unanimously.
- Fire District plan: The board directed the Story County Fire Protection District to adopt and implement its 2026–2031 Capital & Staffing Improvement Plan. Chief Bob Raso outlined priorities including replacement and equipping of engines, two wildland engines, ambulance replacement cycles, adding a training captain and firefighter-medic positions, refurbishing a water tender and dozer tender, station upgrades, and a calmer station alerting/paging system to reduce health impacts on firefighters. The board approved the plan unanimously.
- Cannabis fee rollback: By motion the board moved forward with the business impact statement and approved the first reading of ordinance/bill 148 (ordinance 26‑336) to reduce Story County Code 5.10.050.C requiring cannabis licensees to remit 3% of gross revenue to 0%. Staff said actual receipts have been about $80,000—far less than earlier $500,000 estimates.
- Marketing contract: The board authorized the county manager to sign a one-year contract with Sam Shadd Productions (Nevada Newsmakers) to produce TV and digital outreach for Story County for a total cost of $100,000 for 2026; motion passed unanimously.
- Appointments and licenses: Donna Stafford was appointed to the motel operator seat on the Virginia City Tourism Commission (two-year term). Greg Baum Hess was appointed at-large to the Board of Equalization (2026–2030). The board approved second readings of business licenses listed under item 30 (A–F).
Sheriff’s annual briefing: Sheriff Cullen summarized 2025 activity, noting increased proactive patrols, improved priority response times (8:29 average on priority 1 calls in 2025), a newly launched K‑9 program (May 2025) tied to an increase in documented drug-related cases and arrests, and rising overtime hours as activity grows.
What this means: The board’s actions advance several infrastructure and public-safety priorities and reduce a business fee for cannabis establishments while directing staff to develop further policy reports on long-term items (Piper’s Opera House planning, short-term rentals). Several motions passed unanimously.
Ending: Staff will update schedules and publish new bid materials for the Piper’s corner-bar lease after adjusting terms; staff will bring back details for budget and ordinance drafting as directed.