Tehachapi City Council and the demise of Fire Protection in the city - Tehachapi City Council - longtimeresident's Blog - Tehachapi News

Jun 19, 2007 at 07:06 AM : This is truly hard to...

This is truly hard to believe. After sitting through all of those meetings where the council persons stated that public safety was their number one priority. now all they can think about is how much money they can save. They spent close to 3 million dollars with their big experiment. What do they have to show for it now. One big white tent.

It will be very interesting to see what happens in the next two weeks. If they don't increase fire protection, then it will probably come down to a recall of all five council persons.

Jun 19, 2007 at 03:06 PM : They took their toys...

They took their toys and went home pouting. Did we expect anything different? Like responsible action.

Jun 19, 2007 at 04:06 PM : Woo-hoo good job you...

Woo-hoo good job you guys did with all the whining. Now look what it got you. NOTHING. Again, good job;)

Jun 19, 2007 at 07:06 PM : The sad thing is that...

The sad thing is that the City Council used tax dollars to pay for a professional fire study, then did not implement its recommendations. More money down the drain.

Jun 19, 2007 at 09:06 PM : How did Stan Beckham...

How did Stan Beckham vote? Also, did he make any comments? He was supposed to represent common sense and rational points of view on this issue. I am hoping he was on the minority side of the vote.

Jun 20, 2007 at 06:06 AM : It sounds like their a...

It sounds like their a bunch of four year old that didn't get their way.

Jun 21, 2007 at 07:06 PM : ...

Open questions for the City Council and City Manager. Why did the city pay for a fire study and not put in affect its recommendations? Why did the city send millions on fire protection just to walk away from it now? Where is the special "Public safety" tax going now? ($2,600 per new home) Every member of this City Council stated that fire protection was its number one goal. What happened?

Jun 22, 2007 at 12:06 AM : Shane do you really...

Shane do you really think you'll get an answer to that question? I can see all of them now- they just look to Caudle for an answer and he'll say we'll get back to you.

Jun 22, 2007 at 11:06 AM : I may not get an...

I may not get an answer to any of my questions, but it will make others think when the Council refuses to respond.

Jun 22, 2007 at 08:06 PM : The Tehachapi City...

The Tehachapi City Council does NOT care about us. If they did they would have did what the study said to do.

The Current Tehachapi City Council needs to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jun 22, 2007 at 08:06 PM : So they spent millions...

So they spent millions and millions for nothing?

Jun 23, 2007 at 01:06 AM : Yes, I agree that our...

Yes, I agree that our TOTAL governmental system needs to be changed. At the local, state and federal levels as well. They are all marching against us. We The People. And, since all politics are local, it has to begin here. It is We The People who are the Electorate and WE are the ultimate boss. WE tell the City Council what we want and THEY tell the City Manager what they want HIM to do. Something has gone haywire here. Now, having said that, there are two Council seats coming up for election next year. Hand and Grimes. Who will step forward to run against them? Is it you? If I wasn't too old, it would be ME! The time to start preparing to run for either or both of those seats is....NOW! It's time to stop moaning and griping and do something positive!

Jim Richards

Jun 23, 2007 at 04:06 PM : I am sorry to see so...

I am sorry to see so many of you are unhappy at our City Counsil. I don't believe that I have seen many of you at the meetings. If you were to attend the City Counsel meetings you would find a dedicated group of people who truly care about Tehachapi and the citizens input. Case in point the Petro Truck Stop was defeated by the local citizens. Your counsil was willing to put the brakes on incontrolled growth and hire a respected consulting firm to reseach how best to precede in developing our town. They also authorized a Fire Department Study ( I believe in the hopes of the report supporting our local Fire department) When the report showed that it would be a wast of money and duplicate services I think they were taken aback and are considering options. OUR CITY COUNSIL MEMBERS are OUR NEIGHBORS- their dedication and love of Tehachapi started BEFORE their Service to Her. I have taken many a troublesome issues before our city counsil's for the LAST 21 YRs. I have normally found them to be open minded for what is in the best interest of OUR Town. If the Citizens of Tehachapi want to pay for duplicate Services then Call our City Hall Attend OUR City Counsel meeting in large numbers. Remember we live in a democracy MAJORITY WINS. By the way I believe Stan Beckham was against the TFD maybe some one could ask him at the next meeting. He also seems to believe that Wind Turbines in Capital Hills would be attractive I personally dont want them any closer then they are. Liz Fox

Jun 23, 2007 at 09:06 PM : Diamond- Just wanted...

Diamond- Just wanted to clear up some things that you are misinformed about.

1.) Many of us HAVE attended meetings on this issue.

2.) If we weren't there attending those meetings the Fire Study never would have happened! WE demanded one because we KNEW what the results would be.

3.) Stan Beckham knew what the fire study would say because he was listening to the people. He was for the study and that is why he was against TFD. He knew it wasn't what was best for our city.

4.) They AREN'T considering other options. It is a done deal as of the 1st of July. They have gone against what the fire study recommended and have decided to NOT add another firefighter at station 12. Please note that they could do this and they'd still be spending less money than if they had gone with their own fire dept.

Majority of us on here have been fighting this fight for over a year! We went to meetings and asked questions over and over that were NEVER answered. The city council and manager have acted very shady over this whole issue. Majority of them were taken back by the study I'm sure and that to me is the most disappointing part. We were giving them the FACTS long before the study was done, but it took thousands of dollars for a study before they "believed" us. This is unacceptable to me. Some of us talked to council members personally and were assured that they would go along with whatever the study recommended and that public safety was number one. Well they have just gone against that, some might say they lied through their teeth. So yes, some of us are VERY unhappy with our current city leaders.

Jun 29, 2007 at 06:06 PM : Fire Department...

Fire Department Issues.

The recent fire study resulted in the dissolution of Tehachapi's Fire Department. Many negative comments were made about some 3 million dollars spent by the City to develop the department. It was hardly, if ever, mentioned that the majority of the funds were received from grant monies and did not come directly from Tehachapi coffers. No one noted that the City Fire Department and County Fire Departments were housed together in the station at Curry and Valley until that arrangement became impossible and the City moved out to a house on Pinion. The house was purchased for under $30,000.00 and can be sold at a profit. The large white fabric building was a necessity to protect valuable fire equipment and was set up with inmate labor.

Much has been written about the need for another fireman. Unfortunately, budgeting for another firefighter on all three shifts involves more than just the pay and benefits for one or even three persons. The budget must provide for sick leave relief, vacation time, days off, etc. That mandates the hire of about 4 people.

Jun 29, 2007 at 07:06 PM : Um, sorry, No. First...

Um, sorry, No. First of all, the three mil you speak of came directly out of the city budget. Second, what made it impossible for the city to be housed in Station 12? I say it was purely a comfort issue. Third, the white fabric is ugly, and a bad example set by the city in a residential neighborhood. Fourth, yes, all things such as vacation, sick leave, etc., is figured into budgeting another firefighter. However, the KCFD quoted a cost of between 300 and 400 thousand dollars for that fourth man. Still, at that cost, the city would still save money in comparison to the previous 5 years of funding the city fire department.

Here is an example of what benefit a fourth firefighter would provide to the city residents. As most are aware, Station 12, was on the initial attack of the White fire. In that response, 2 firefighters responded in the patrol. Knowing that station 12 was now staffed with only 1 firefighter, the KCFD began calling back firefighters to work so that all stations could remain available for emergency response. However, it takes time to make the phone calls and to have a firefighter drive back to work. I'm not sure of exact length of time, but, hypothetically, had a structure fire, vehicle accident, another wildland fire, or any other emergency call occurred, and if the TFD was not available, as will be the case beginning next month, that one remaining firefighter could not safely or efficiently handle that incident. That means as a resident's home burns, or a family stares at their loved one trapped in a car, they will have to wait at least 15 minutes or more until help arrives. I know this is only hypothetical, but it is certainly all too real of a possibility. I don't feel comfortable with it, and neither should you. If station 12 did have a fourth firefighter though, Engine 12 would still be available for response while the patrol is gone. Just food for thought.

Jun 29, 2007 at 09:06 PM : bolennie- If you...

bolennie- If you believe that the majority of the city fire departments funding came from grants, you have been buffaloed like many residents in this town. The city only lets out information that they want you to hear- nothing more and nothing more. The city manager states that if the city were to provide for that fourth person then the city would be subsidizing the county everytime they leave the city limits. The county has been subsidizing the city for more than 60 years. It is time they start paying their fair share. They care less that the county will not be able to enter a burning structure in the city limits until the 2nd engine arrives from Keene, Mojave, or Bear Valley. They will be able to enter a home in golden hills faster than they will in the city as they will be closer to a 2nd engine.
I hope it's not your house that they have to wait for that 4th man. Maybe Caudle will show up and be that fourth man.

Jun 30, 2007 at 03:06 PM : I was just curious if...

I was just curious if there was anyway that we could find out what all the surrounding cities are paying for their fire protection from the county and cross reference it to what Tehachapi City is paying. I swear I saw something like this not to long ago and Tehachapi City was paying WAY less than everyone else. Maybe I dreamt that! lol

Jun 30, 2007 at 03:06 PM : I'm back to...

I'm back to thinking that the city manager has put a gag order on all of the city council. We haven't heard a peep out of them. They must be scared of something. I see he dedicated a clock tower to his mother in law today.How come all of the other councilmen that have been voted out didn't get one? Well maybe the rest of them will get one within the next couple of years as they get voted out for destroying public protection here in the city.

I was quite amazed hearing the mayor and police chief comment on the experience that the new police force has. Are they that stupid to realize that if they would have done this with the Fire department that they might have succeeded. They hired a very experienced police chief. they hired a firefighter from the prison with no managerial experience, the police chief hired two very experienced veterans as sergeants, The fire chief hired his son and two of his friends, the police chief interviewed and hired experienced police officers, the fire chief promoted his son and friends to captain (fellow citizens- there was a very bad trend going on with one of the departments).

So that brings us up to today- Now the city manager and council think that they don't have to worry about fire protection any more. They will just close their eyes (it doesn't matter that they had a very expensive study done that made recommendations to pay at least for another firefighter so that fires can be safely fought). They no longer care about your safety and mine. They think that by getting the cheapest contract that when the county doesn't meet all of the obligations that the county will look bad and that the council will look good. WRONG- It is the Council's responsibility for fire protection of it's citizens. If they want to save money and not provide for it, it will all fall back on them.

Jun 30, 2007 at 06:06 PM : I can't agree...

I can't agree with you more. The city needs to do what the study recommended. It is sad that Caudle is still using his "friend and family" plan for city management. How can they preach about how good the new police force is when they are letting us all hang when it comes to fire protection? Will we dedicate a clock to Caudle when he gets fired by a new Council in 2008?

On a side note, If a Caudle friend or family member gets a ticket or arrested by our new police department will they get off?

Caudle did this before with code enforcement, what will stop him for doing this now?