Wednesday, April 1, 1998 | 10:53 a.m.
Constables are remnants of the Old West, when they served as law enforcement officers.
More recently, they are elected officials who serve eviction notices, court orders and subpoenas.
But a rift between the county and constables in Reno and Sparks has prompted county commissioners to consider eliminating the offices and turning over those duties to private process servers beginning next year.
Board members will take a first look at a proposed ordinance abolishing the positions when they meet on Thursday.
Some constables say the change will mean increased costs.
"It's going to be a lot of money," Reno constable Ward Peterson told the Reno Gazette-Journal.
County officials disagree.
Commissioner Mike Mouliot estimated the county will save $380,000 it's spending annually to support constables and their offices. He added the county could even make money by contracting the jobs to private agencies.
Constables collect fees for serving papers.
Washoe County has six constables, one each in Reno, Sparks, Gerlach, Verdi, Wadsworth and Incline Village.
Under the proposal, Incline Village constable Scot Whittey would retain his job, but as a county employee rather than an elected official.
Commissioners mostly are at odds with Reno and Sparks constables, who collect most of the fees because they serve most of the court orders.
The county pays for constables, offices, clerks and supplies. In 1996, commissioners enacted a regulation requiring them to split 50-50 any fees collected annually in excess of $55,000 to help cover the cost of funding their operations.
Despite the requirement, constables have not shared any of their revenues with the county, according to county administrative analyst Brian Mirch.
Peterson countered that county officials have never specified whether fees include mileage and other expenses.
"Nobody has explained anything," he said.
archive
