Washoe County and the City of Reno held a press conference Wednesday to announce that they’ve reached a settlement over the region’s so-called fire divorce to deconsolidate fire services. Bob Conrad from ThisisReno was there and has the latest update on this story.
Washoe County will pay the city nearly $450,000, and both say they’re ready to put the matter behind them. They also stress that this settlement will save taxpayers from the costly litigation.
“Both jurisdictions had a responsibility to the taxpayers," says City Councilman David Bobzien, "and to those public resources to make sure they were being expended in the most productive and accountable way possible. Because of that, it made resolution so difficult.”
County Commissioner Kitty Jung echoes how arduous this process has been.
"Deconsolidation was, like any divorce, very emotional and really a break in this community and a deep wedge."
The settlement amount includes worker compensation claims plus interest. The money will come out of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District's workers' compensation fund.