RECAP BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ MEETING JANUARY 9TH, 2023

I am excited to start another year on the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). I sincerely hope I will do my best work for this community in 2023. I feel more comfortable knowing my duties and have a better understanding of the different segments of this community.

The BOCC welcomed a new member to the Commission, Sharla Hales. She replaced Commissioner Engle who decided not to run for re-election. Ms. Hales won the seat running unopposed.

On Monday, January 9^th, the BOCC held its first meeting of the year. The following are the main votes taken:

***The BOCC voted 3-2 to re-elect Mark Gardner as Chairman for the 2023 year. Commissioners Rice, Hales, along with Mr. Gardner, voted for his appointment. I voted against his appointment because on at least two occasions Chairman Gardner abused his authority by directing County staff not to place items on the Board’s agenda in direct violation of the Board’s Norms and Procedures.

Once was with respect to my proposal for Vacation Home Rentals. The other was an item Commissioner Engles requested. His item was initial approved by a 3-2 vote. After the initial vote, Chairman Gardner, who was in the dissent, directed County staff not to bring the item back on the agenda for a final vote until Commissioner Engle was off the Board.

***The BOCC voted 3-2 to re-elect Commissioner Rice to Vice-chair for the 2023 year. Commissioners Rice, Hales and Gardner voted for Rice’s appointment. I voted against this appointment after Chairman Gardner stated on the record that that before he determined what items to be placed on the agenda he consulted with the Vice-chair. Apparently, Commissioner Rice was involved in the abuse of power mentioned above.

***The BOCC appointed each Commissioner to a variety of outside Boards and Commissions. There was only one contested appointment. At a break in the meeting, Ellie Waller, who appears regularly at Board meetings, asked me to seek the appointment on the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. She said it would be good to have a fresh face and voice on the committee. At her request, I applied for the appointment. However, Commissioner Rice was re-appointed in a 3-2 vote with Gardner, Hales and Rice voting in the majority. I thank Ms. Waller for her vote of confidence.

There were a couple of important observations from the first BOCC meeting of 2023 which I will discuss in my newsletter on Saturday.

I am hosting my first Town Hall of 2023. It will be held at the Indian Hills GID (3394 James Lee Park, Rd, Carson City, 89075) on January 18^th at 5:00 pm. I am going to host more smaller Town Halls in different communities to make it easier for people in those communities to attend.