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Then and Now............
Thought I'd give everyone a little refresher! Are you sick of me yet! lol THEN: Posted by editor Fri Apr 28, 2006 -City explores options of fire and other service coverage According to Tehachapi City Manager Jason Caudle, the city has two choices: to contract with Kern County Fire department or to do it themselves. According to Caudle, the Tehachapi Fire Department consists of one fire chief, one assistant fire chief, three full-time fire captains and nine volunteer fire fighters NOW - Tehachapi City fire went full-time and still lost all three of their firefighters to larger depts. Tehachapi City paid for two of those firefighters to attend Bakersfield City's professional training academy. Kern County is still providing Tehachapi unlimited resources at no cost to the city. KCFD has already stated they are willing to work with the city , and in fact have already added more coverage to the area with Station 18 (Stallion Springs) opening up full time, eliminating the need for "local control" . Question: If Caudle stated that Tehachapi Fire Dept. consisted of 3 full-time captains and 9 firefighters, and now he's saying that 3 firefighters are left, does that mean that they've actually lost 9 firefighters in less than a year? Wow, that is some turnover. So if having a full-time fire dept isn't keeping your guys around, and "local control" is out the window, Why are we paying for a study to be done and involving other cities? What that you say? Padding?? Oh, yes padding.........of a resume. 18 comments from 8 users
posted by
oldtehachapinative
on Jan 17, 2007 at 08:28 PM
I was at the City Council meeting last night. I took Stan Beckhams advice and took a look at John Smith's story. If we cant do a Police Department 100% then why are we working on a Fire Department? After reading what County girl just posted above I can't believe the amount of flip- flopping Caudle has done to get this City Fire Department started. He is really working every angle. After Teel was voted out and Vernon was almost voted out by a write in of all things, I thought the Council would have learned the error of their ways. Why do you think Tehachapi leaders went to other Cities to talk them out of fire protection with the County? How does this help Tehachapi City? I think you anti- Tehachapi City Fire guys started a war with Caudle and Grimes, when you helped get Teel voted out. I think Grimes and Caudle would rather shoot themselves in the foot before they will let the right thing happen. I cant believe Smith, Hand and Vernon haven't caught on to all the flip-flopping done on this subject. Doesn't Hand want to be reelected? After reading John Smiths story I found myself wondering why not spend the money the City has on a top-notch Police Department, then work on a Fire Department later down the road.
posted by
anonymous
on Jan 17, 2007 at 09:01 PM
Is there any way we can get Caudle removed from his post? His actions now and involvement outside of Tehachapi truly shows his immature attitude. Grow up!
posted by
anonymous
on Jan 17, 2007 at 09:07 PM
This is not a full list by far but it is a list of guys that did work for Tehachapi City Fire and now work other places. I am sure I missed some others. I didn't put down their full names but you get the idea. KCFD= Kern County Fire Department BFD= Bakersfield Fire Department. N.L.-KCFD 2006 A.D.-KCFD 2006 M.S.-BFD 2007 D.R.-BFD 2007 R.K.-BFD2000 B.K.-KCFD 2002 T.K.-KCFD 2001 M.V.-KCFD 2001 S.R.-KCFD 2000 A.F.-KCFD 2002 N.S.-KCFD 2002 K.S.-KCFD 2005 B.W.-KCFD 2006 Next to go ................ G.P.-BFD 2007 R.B.-BFD 2007 This list does not have the two guys that got fired. One for not passing a drug test that was given to him by KCFD when he tryed to go to work for them and the guy for fighting with the cops.
posted by
ruralvoice
on Jan 17, 2007 at 10:05 PM
I agree with OldTehachapiNative, Grimes and Caudle are so desperate to maintain their course, despite any factual information, they will commit political suicide before they will ever change. I believe the arrogance demonstrated by Mr. Caudle to be almost incomprehensible--Mr. Grimes and Mr. Smith run a close seconds in that regard. The only way Mr. Caudle can maintain his job is to brown nose to the perceived power base on the council. His level of immaturity is the only trait that exceeds his arrogance. Until he is removed as City Manager, none of the antics will stop. To me, it appears he has orchestrated these issues. He needs to find another playground. However, the only thing that will turn him out is a replacement of the council majority. So, unless everyone just wants to let things "cook", a recall is about the only solution (since they won't listen). That's my narrow view. By the way, if his contract has not changed in a couple of years, he has an "evergreen" clause that keeps renewing it (to make it difficult, or expensive to remove him).....or, did that end at some point (does anyone know)? I use to have a copy of his contract somewhere.
posted by
jewels
on Jan 18, 2007 at 09:14 AM
How did Caudle get that position in the first place?? What was his experience as a City Manager before he was here?
posted by
medicone
on Jan 18, 2007 at 10:11 AM
Caudle worked as an aid for Steve Perez when he was on the County Board of Supervisors. He was never an assistant city manager or anything like that. He got his job by being a home town boy. His mother-in-law WAS on the City Council. I wish they would let us vote on this fire department thing. It has already caused new taxes and will continue to do so. We should get to vote on something that causes new taxes, don't you think?
posted by
jewels
on Jan 18, 2007 at 10:51 AM
OHHHH....so he was a "good ol' boy", how convenient!
posted by
ChristineFroehlich
on Jan 18, 2007 at 01:18 PM
I think we need allot more coverage and opportunity to speak on this issue. I want my two cents in on this one. KCFD is renowned for their expertise in fighting fires. This whole thing is about State and Government money subsidies, no doubt. I want KCFD protecting me. not some start-up small city fire department, when the fire blows through my neighborhood, and you all know it's just a matter of time until that happens. KCFD is known to be one of the best Fire Departments in the State. I think we have a right to say who helps us when we are ultimately paying for it. Where will the public meetings for this be ? When? Finally, why would any of these guys get involved in what other cities are doing with KCFD? Is this true? PS. Nothing is for free, we pay for KCFD services one way or another through taxes, etc., and we rightfully should. At least lets get what we pay for! posted by
editor
on Jan 18, 2007 at 02:38 PM
Editor's Note: To read the original, unedited version of the item posted above, see:
http://www.tehachapinews.co... posted by
anonymous
on Jan 18, 2007 at 07:17 PM
This quote was from the link above “It would be easy to get rid of our fire station, but if the council’s goal is about saving money, then the contract is the option,” Caudle said. “If the council's goal is to increase the level of service, then the city’s fire department may be the better option.” Ok how is going from 9 trained and tested firefighters with tens of thousands of calls under their belt, to 6 guys with no real academy training, no competitive testing and no experience an increase in service? How is going from 500+ firefighters with 46 maned fire engines, 3 ladder trucks, a haz-mat team, arson investigators, helicopters and many other services to one fire truck with two guys on it an increase in service? I don't know about you but the last thing I want "Local Control" of is our safety! Now the City Police is pinching pennies to get started and we are still talking about spending more money on this unneeded and expensive service. WHY? posted by
anonymous
on Jan 20, 2007 at 03:29 PM
The Fire study is a joke. It will show what Grimes and Timmy want it to show. It will be used as a tool to tell the less than knowledgeable people of town why the City needs a fire department. Ronny Coleman has been quoted from his own monthly column in Fire Chief magazine as saying a City with less then 10,000 residents doesn't really need it's own fire department. How can he say different here and have us believe it? I know Caudle and Grimes danced the jig when the opposition agreed to a study. Why? Because they knew the study would be made to say what they wanted it to say.
posted by
anonymous
on Jan 20, 2007 at 06:55 PM
Just a quick note. The average years of experience for the 9 County Firefighters at the Curry Street station is 21.5 years. The average years experience for the 3 remaining City Fire Fighters is 4.3 years. All the County Firefighters have taken a real test to get their job. All have been in a professional academy. All have been on 1000's of emergency calls. Some where at the pentagon during 9/11. Some were in Texas during the space shuttle recovery. Many were in the gulf coast area during Katrina with their rescue dogs. There has been a Kern County Fire Fighter on most every major incident in California for the last 10 years. Hell local Fire Fighters were just this week on a strike team to help save the nuclear power plant in SLO from fire. How can you say going from that to this is a better idea?
posted by
medicone
on Jan 20, 2007 at 10:10 PM
Hey bloggers go check out what is being blogged on the fire study story at the top of the home page. Don't forget to blog here also.
posted by
anonymous
on Jan 21, 2007 at 03:18 PM
I was told that a draft of the study will be giving to Caudle this next week. I have been told that the City Leaders used the call volume numbers we all disputed at a City Council meeting. I was also told that they told Mr. Coleman that the City will be over 30,000 residents in the next 5 years. We all know that there is not 1,400 calls for service in the City. We all know that we will not be at 30,000 residents from the 6,000 we have now. How can this guy do a good study with bad info?
We all know going from everything we get from the County @ $0 to One Firestation @ $1.5 million is not the right thing to do even if those false number were true. posted by
oldtehachapinative
on Jan 21, 2007 at 03:35 PM
The funny thing is we ditched the Sheriff's Department because they cost to much and gave us less officers then the City could give us for less. NOW the City is asking us to pay more for a City Fire Department that will give us less firefighters. Didn't Mrs. Teel say one week that she believed in property owners rights, then the next week vote to take some guys house for a new housing tract. What happened to Mrs. Teel? Come on Grimes the residents of Tehachapi may be dumb, but not that dumb.
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