Board adopts ordinance updating Churchill County fire department code

The Churchill County Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted Bill 2026-B (Ordinance 8), a second-reading ordinance that updates county code related to the fire board and fire protection.

A staff presenter summarized the ordinance's scope: gender-neutral terminology across sections, clarification of duties for the Fire Board and Fire Chief (including budget responsibilities), updates to hiring language about paid fire department members, and revised qualifications and responsibilities for the Fire Marshal. "One of the biggest changes is modernizing how the budget is done," the presenter said, noting the ordinance reorganizes some budgeting subsections and moves others to a later section to clarify oversight and responsibility.

Staff said the changes were coordinated with the City of Fallon and were made on behalf of the fire department; they stated there were no fiscal impacts from the code modernization. Commissioners thanked the district attorney's office and the fire department for the coordinated work. With no public comment, a commissioner moved to adopt the ordinance; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote.

Why it matters: the update aligns County fire-protection code with current practices and with the City of Fallon, clarifies lines of responsibility for budgeting and hiring inside the fire organization and modernizes terminology.

The ordinance takes effect as provided under county code; staff will incorporate the changes into the county code book and distribute updated job- and duty-language to relevant departments.