Carson City Fire Chief Sean Slamon, left, recognizes Robert Berger, center, and Lucas O’Brien, right, on April 17, 2025 for their help saving passengers in a Jan. 1 vehicle fire on College Parkway.
Photo by Scott Neuffer.
The Carson City Board of Supervisors on Thursday recognized civilians and employees who went above and beyond in emergency situations, potentially saving lives.
Robert Berger and Lucas O’Brien were honored with the Chief’s Medal of Commendation for helping victims of a vehicle fire off College Parkway on Jan. 1, occurring after the vehicle rolled over in a crash.
Carson City Fire Chief Sean Slamon described the incident and how the two occupants were trapped inside as the engine compartment burst into flames.
“Mr. O’Brien and Mr. Berger immediately exited their vehicle and ran to the two trapped victims. Without the aid of tools or protective equipment, they were able to force open the doors of the vehicle and rapidly extricate both victims before the fire spread into the passenger compartment,” he said.
Robert Russell also received the Citizen’s Medal of Honor for his acts March 1 when a gas explosion caused a fire in a neighboring apartment at 20 College Parkway.
Carson City Fire Chief Sean Slamon recognizes Robert Russell on Thursday for his efforts rescuing a neighbor in an apartment fire March 1 at 20 College Parkway. (Scott Neuffer photo)
“He broke the glass with his fist to get the extinguisher,” Slamon noted, “and then made his way into the apartment unit and began to attack the fire.”
The victim was on fire, Slamon said, and Russell and another yet-identified civilian got the victim to safety.
“Mr. Russell acted beyond the normal call of duty. He placed himself in harm’s way, risked his life to save another and to prevent the fire from spreading, certainly saving countless units as well as potential lives,” Slamon said.
Applause erupted in the community center boardroom after each medal was awarded. Also recognized Thursday was Guy Bovard, investigator with the Carson City Public Defender’s Office. He was named employee of the quarter and presented with a $200 check.
“On March 13, 2025, Guy Bovard… was at the Virginia Township Justice Court in Storey County, assisting Public Defender Charles H. Odgers,” reads the award nomination form. “Guy was meeting with a defendant when the defendant experienced a grand mal seizure. Guy immediately identified that the defendant was experiencing a serious medical episode. He assisted the defendant to the ground to prevent him from falling of his chair.”
Mayor Lori Bagwell, left, recognizes Guy Bovard as employee of the quarter on Thursday. Bovard is credited with helping a client who was experiencing a grand mal seizure.(Scott Neuffer photo)
Bovard stayed with the defendant while law enforcement arrived on scene, the nomination form said. Colleagues thought he deserved recognition for “his quick thinking and wherewithal.”
Not civilians, many Carson City dispatchers were likewise lauded as part of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, which runs April 13-19. They joined supervisors at the front of the boardroom.
Mayor Lori Bagwell read a proclamation saying, “Public safety dispatchers are the first and most critical contact our citizens have with emergency services.”
Sheriff Ken Furlong, who started as a dispatcher, said, “Without question, thank you all for everything you do. These are the faces of the voices that we never get to see.”
Additionally, supervisors presented lengths of service certificates to the following: Joseph Booth, senior street technician, for 25 years of service; Matthew Cooper, fire captain, for 10 years; and Cassandra Cossel, public safety communications supervisor, Dennis Rew, sewer technician, Paul Robbins, deputy sheriff, and Billie Shadron, judicial assistant, for five years of service.
In other action:
• Supervisors approved the consent agenda 4-0, with Supervisor Stacey Giomi absent. In doing so, they dropped Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield as the health insurance provider for city employees and approved a new plan with Prominence Health, which will see a 3.3 rate increase over current rates. The contract is for one year.
A staff report states Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield had offered a 13 percent rate increase for renewal, which prompted the city to look elsewhere.
Also approved Thursday were a one-year renewal with Renaissance Dental for dental insurance (a 5.99 percent rate increase) and a two-year renewal with Kansas City Life for vision coverage (2.51 percent rate increase).
• As part of the consent agenda, supervisors unanimously approved a grant submittal from the Carson City Sheriff’s Office asking the Nevada Division of Child and Family Services for $125,000 with no local match.
The grant, if awarded, would run July 1 through June 30, 2026, and would fund the family service unit in the Carson City jail including a grant-funded family service case worker position.
Supervisors first approved the DCFS grant for a pilot program in 2023, according to a staff report. The program offers parenting education classes and other training to help those incarcerated become successful upon reentry and “strengthen their relationships with their children.”
CCSO maintains “these critical connections” reduce recidivism rates.
• As part of the regular action agenda, supervisors unanimously approved relocation of easements to realign Railroad Drive that will eventually connect to East 5th Street for a housing project.
The motion entailed reserving 30,494 square feet for a public access and utility easement and 9,375 square feet for a trail connection and public utility easement on city-owned land known as Linear Park, as well as quitclaim deed to the city regarding an existing 30,542-square-foot private access easement.
The development property, zoned single family 6,000, is located east of the end of Railroad Drive within the Blackstone Ranch Specific Plan Area. The tentative subdivision map was approved by supervisors in 2019 and included 103 residential lots. The city’s property lies north of the existing segment of Railroad Drive and south of East 5th Street.
Parks and Recreation Director Jen Budge said the land was part of an acquisition using Land and Water Conservation Fund money. LWCF is a federal program administered by the state.
“LWCF brings significant restrictions to public parklands in perpetuity,” Budge said, adding the Nevada Division of State Parks approved of the measure. “There is no net loss of parkland with the relocation, and a new path will be constructed in conjunction with the public utility easement improving recreational opportunities for the public at no cost to the city.”
Resident Deni French, speaking during public comment, noted there could be future maintenance costs associated with the road and path improvements.