Golden Hills community services building to feature a fire safe garden
Golden Hills community services building to feature a fire safe garden
By: Carin Enovijas
Topics:
Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
Viewed 1106 times
0 responses 20 comments The new Golden Hills community services building currently under construction at the intersection of Red Apple Road and Reeves Street is scheduled for a tentative completion date of Aug. 1.
According to Golden Hills Community Services District General Manager Bill Fisher, “It’s moving right along. The roof will be going on next week and all the dry wall is in place.”
He said funds previously allocated for recently paid-off water treatment equipment loans, combined with revenue due from leasing the existing space on Old Town Road, will cover the cost of the $2.5 million project.
“Residents will not see an increase in their water rates as a result of this construction,” assured Fisher.
He said that during his 18 years with the department, he has been through one remodel job on the existing building.
“We’ve just grown. We ran out of room. It was either do this, or go through another remodel. As communities grow, we need to expand our services and look ahead to the future,” he said.
Fisher said the site will be used as an emergency incident command post by the KCFD in addition to acting as the GHCSD’s main office for water services and architectural control.
The energy efficient design plan for the two-building complex consists of 5,000 square feet of office space and a 10,000 square foot shop, in addition to extensive parking for departmental vehicles.
The office space will offer a public lobby, conference and meeting space, as well as an after-hours, drive-up payment drop.
The Tehachapi substation of the Kern County Sheriffs Department will move out of the Old Town Road location when the new GHCSD building is completed.
GHCSD partners with Tehachapi Fire Safety Council
Since traditional curb planters and parking lot landscaping could pose a potential hazard to emergency vehicles and helicopters, the GHCSD design team is working with the Tehachapi Fire Safety Council to create a fire safe garden on the new building site.
According to Jeannine Giuffre, TFSC’s treasurer, a $5,000 grant received from State Farm Insurance was matched by the GHCSD to help build and landscape the garden. She said the council plans to utilize the space to provide residents with education on fire safety gardening methods that will help protect their homes from unnecessary fire hazards.
“Tehachapi Valley Fire Department’s Crew 81 has been invaluable. They’ve installed the fencing; they’ll be helping with the landscaping and maintenance of the garden. They’re the muscle,” Giuffre said.
According to Giuffre, maintenance and regular watering as well as utilizing different plants for different zones of a property can help to slow down and deprive a fire of fuel.
She also cautioned that there is no such thing as a fireproof plant and that she doesn’t want homeowners to adopt a false sense of security just because they buy some new plants.
“Keep tall plants away from windows and the sides of your house. Most plants are safe in zone one, closest to your home, as long as they are maintained and well watered,” Giuffre said.
Giuffre, who has a background in horticulture and forestry, recommends a book called “Fire Scaping,” available at the GHCSD office, for more useful information on fire safe landscaping.
“You can still have an attractive garden, you don’t have to go down to ugly bare soil or concrete,” Giuffre said.
The Tehachapi Fire Safe Council, is made up of community volunteers and interested professionals.
More information will be posted soon at: www.tehachapifiresafe.com.
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Sat Jun 10, 2006 13:53:10 PDT
Good job to Crew 81, way to step up and do good for our community. Thanks guys for all the hard work.
Sat Jun 10, 2006 20:29:51 PDT
Good Job! Kern County Fire Crew 81. Does the city have a Fire Crew?
Sun Jun 11, 2006 23:27:06 PDT
Why would the city have a fire crew, that would be silly to actually want to provide a better service for the citizens. A fire crew would cost to much money, but paying 500% more for less services that the county could provide is the smart way to go, lol!!!!
Sun Jun 11, 2006 23:45:36 PDT
One more thing, those Crew 81 guys bust their butts, I have seen them quite a few timew working on their lot, pouring concrete, putting up an awning and still ready to fight fire when needed. The city boys(or should I say kids) just sat back and watched in their comfortable little house, while inmates put up their circus tent. Not to mention inmates that work for the Fire Chief and Asst Chief at their other job at the prison(seems like a conflict of interest to me).
Mon Jun 12, 2006 12:25:35 PDT
Fightforwhatsright- Are you still being ignorant? Golden Hills is in the County, maybe if this project was in the City, the TCFD would be doing something similar, TFD does a lot of community projects with the schools, Christmas baskets, etc. Do you want a big pat on the back because crew 81 is helping out in the Golden Hills project, congrats, they are just helping out in the County as they should be, as TCFD would do in the City, so what exactly is your point?
Mon Jun 12, 2006 14:39:05 PDT
Allforcity- You're still showing your face? Yes, Golden Hills is in the county. So is Tehachapi City, Stallion Springs, Bear Valley, Alpine Forest, ect. Crew 81 is run by KCFD. My guess is they would be doing this if it was within the city limits too. The city would be stopping by for the photo ops ofcourse, as always. By the way Pub ED's are part of the job, everyone does them. Also, my family has been very involved with the Christmas basket drives for the last couple of years. I know all about the "invaluable" service TFD provides. lol Give me a break!
Mon Jun 12, 2006 15:22:04 PDT
Irish1- do you know that for a fact? That TFD takes all the credit? And if so how? Or are you assuming like most of the people on these posts? Come on, no one says you KCFD advocates have to personally like the people who work for TFD, but you must admit a few facts, such as: this town is growing too fast for one station, we need more protection either from our own fire department or from Kern County, I just wish people could openly admit the guys who work there aren’t all that bad, and I still say they are ALL qualified. Has City Hall agreed to do a study yet? Does anyone know? Please tell me.
Mon Jun 12, 2006 15:28:56 PDT
http://www.tehachapicityhal... I urge everyone to visit this site and find out the facts for yourself. And then visit Tehachapi City hall and on left hand side click Fire Department and you can choose what you want to read.... see for yourself.
Mon Jun 12, 2006 22:44:36 PDT
All the "Facts" and "Numbers" posted on the tehachapicityhall web page are false. They have been called on it in a City Council meeting. The city would have plenty of protection if the city went back to a call group. More service, for less money. Not less service for more money as been proposed! allforcity you have lied about your id and you continue to lie.
Mon Jun 12, 2006 22:59:04 PDT
Allforcity- I can't speak for everyone, but I will for myself. I don't have a problem with the city guys. I'm sure they are all great guys, but I do have a problem with the positions they are in, and how they came into those positions. I have a problem with people not following thier own policies. I have a problem with people taking credit for things they haven't done. I have a problem with ignorence, disrespect, and lying. Much of this is also directed towards our city council and city manager. Because you have no understanding of the Fire Dept. I don't expect you to understand any of this. Again, I don't have a problem with the city guys some of them have just been thrown into this mess, but some think they deserve the positions they are in, and yea, I have a problem with that too! Now to answer your question about the study. They city council budgeted $100,000 dollars to do a study "soon" according to Grimes. However, they already have agreed to go full time. Also, you were told before. They city council TURNED DOWN a proposal that would have added MORE COVERAGE AT A LOWER COST with the county . GET IT NOW!
Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:16:01 PDT
Citylady- those numbers are from 2005 if you read it correctly. And again I am shane's ex-wife, sorry you cant tell me who u r.... see I dont care if people know who I am... Countygirl- your the only one on here who answer questions, the council turned down the County? I thought we are still waiting to see what the study says? Maybe I misinterputed what I read a few weeks ago.... so they are going full time, and the City said no to County? Please answer thank you Countygirl.
Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:25:59 PDT
Citylady- so are you saying that City Hall can post false information and get away with it? Because it seems that our city can't be that dumb to do something like that. Doesnt the City have a City Clerk and staff that is in charge of this kind of stuff, so if the City Hall ladies are making up numbers and posting numbers that are false maybe our whole City Hall Dept. shuold be fired as well as the council members than right? Why fire some why not all of them?
Tue Jun 13, 2006 11:33:44 PDT
Concered- that is good info. maybe we should ask the council for them to justify those numbers if they are a mispresentation. Also did the council turned down the county or what? I thought the city was waiting for the study to be done? I still think we need a County Station in Golden Hills, it would be really nice, do you agree?
Tue Jun 13, 2006 11:47:23 PDT
Allforcity- Everything concerned just wrote is true. The study has not been done yet but the city guys are going to be going full-time soon. They will begin working 24 hour shifts. The city is still under contract with the county for now and KCFD is still first responders. The council and city managers are trying to justify the city going to 24 hour shifts(fulltime)by saying it will cut down overtime costs. So instead of 8 hours of overtime we'll pay 24?
Tue Jun 13, 2006 11:51:45 PDT
Yes, a station in Golden Hill is needed and we would have had one if the city wasn't so dead set on TFD. That $100 parcel tax that they didn't approve would have added a station in Golden Hill and Stallion Springs actually boosting your coverage which would have ended up saving people money on your homeowners insurance. Yes, people whould have been paying $100, but they would probably be saving that if not more with their insurance. Also, The coucil was called on those numbers at a meeting. I was there. That is one of the many questions that we never got answered.
Tue Jun 13, 2006 13:15:22 PDT
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Tue Jun 13, 2006 16:21:49 PDT
So are you just going to keep deleting posts, why don't you do a story so we can actually discuss things without you deleting posts. Why don't you just do a story and get some facts out there to the public. So are you saying that we can't post on this article about fire related things even though this is a fire related article? Whats next?
Tue Jun 13, 2006 18:25:59 PDT
Why do you delete us for being off topic but not allforcity? If you look all post except the first 4 post are 'off topic'. allforcity is pretending to be someone she is not, and has not been deleted.
Tue Jun 13, 2006 20:49:29 PDT
Delete us for being off topic, but don't delete everyone, WHY? Why not do a story or a discussion for us to post on. Remember the 1st TFD vs KCFD blog? You where proud of if it, you printed parts of it in the paper. Then one little crybaby that is part of the problem calls crying and it all goes away. Call Bruce Jenner down at the Californian and pick up some tips. Make some people mad, tell the truth, do a real story, and sell some papers.
Wed Jun 14, 2006 20:49:36 PDT
The group has thought about that, but we feel it is better to get new people in city hall. The time and work needed to get that to a vote would be to little to late. We have found people to support this fall. Names soon to fallow! thepain has his kids and wont be online very much this week.
