Tehachapi News

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The ballots are out and the time has come for Stallion Springs residents to decide on the proposed new Police Station and administration building. To address questions from the community, the Stallion Springs Community Service District (SSCSD) held a Town Hall meeting on May 30.
“We are growing and we are changing. We have some significant issues we have to work on now,” said Stallion Springs Police Chief Brad Burris.
Burris and SSCSD General Manager, David Aranda, went on to explain that the first thought was to build a stand-alone police station but that after looking into it just wasn't feasible. The Police Department (SSPD) relies upon the SSCSD's administrative staff for support and separate buildings would require duplication of staff as well as having two buildings to support with staff and for maintenance.
Burris noted, “ We're all part of the SSCSD family. We're just a different department.”
Members of the audience questioned the need for a new building asking why the existing building couldn't be refurbished saying that “the train station in Tehachapi is being renovated and it's about as old.”
A member of the audience that is a Kern County Building Inspector pointed out that if a permit were pulled to refurbish the old building the entire building would have to be brought up to current building codes and that would be expensive.
Burris also reported that, in 2006, the Grand Jury had recommended that the SSPD needed more money for increased staffing and a more modern facility in an inspection of the SSPD.
Burris explained that “currently the SSPD is operating in approximately 280 square feet that is on six different levels and has no handicap access; that is illegal.”
Several audience members questioned the possibility of using a house as a police station.
SSPD Sergeant Mike Grant responded, “ Would you like us to bring drug suspects in at 3 a.m. yelling and screaming. Would you mind if we stored 6,000 rounds of ammunition inside that house, firearms, methamphetamine, heroin, and other narcotics. We could be doing investigations 24-hours a day. If I was a property owner, I'm not going to want that house next to mine.”
Aranda noted, “Using a house would require re-zoning and if a neighbor filed a complaint it could be blocked.”
The possible building of a joint facility with the Kern County Fire Department (KCFD) was also brought up.
Burris said, “That had been looked in to but that KCFD has decided they do not want to tie fire and police facilities together.”
One member of the audience felt that “It would really add value to the area and if it's not done now the cost will only go up. If you do it now, it's really a bargain. Prices will only go up.”
Several residents felt that if they voted “yes” they were giving the SSCSD a “blank check.” Aranda explained to the group that he had approached three construction companies for estimates and received only one response back. Based on a square footage similar to that of the Golden Hills CSD building (about 5000 sq. ft.) the estimate came in at $1.5 million.
He said, “We are looking into ways to do it for less and any money not spent on the building will be returned to the taxpayers by dropping the assessment early. The money can only be used for the building”
Grant said that, “If we can get the building there are grants we can get for the equipment we need.”
The ballots have been mailed, one for each parcel in the community. They will be opened and the decision announced on July 15 at the SSCSD board meeting.  Approval will require 50 percent, plus one vote of the votes received. The assessment is set at $50 per parcel per year for 10 years. Owners with multiple parcels will have to pay the assessment for each parcel but those at the meeting that favored the new building seemed to be prepared for that.
Aranda said, “If the ballots come back with a majority of no's then we have to go back to the drawing board and say, What are we going to do now?”