Tehachapi News

larger view

Age before beauty. That was the main thrust of an impassioned message delivered to the city council last week by Gene Dallachie, president of the Tehachapi Senior Center.

During public comments Dallachie noted that a public hearing is scheduled for the Nov. 17 council meeting to determine the potential use of as much as $70,000 in annual County of Kern Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.

Dallachie questioned why the city would consider earmarking those funds for more downtown beautification programs, “When the senior center is still hurting and we’ve been asking for two years that I know of. I’m asking the city to support our senior center and the 14,000 plus seniors we provide services to in the area,”

Dallachie’s figures indicated a sizeable increase from his estimate of just 720 area seniors who utilized the center when it was opened nearly 30 years ago.

“The Senior Center hasn’t asked anybody for anything in 26 years. Everything is paid for through fundraising,” he said noting revenues gained from weekly BINGO and several tenants, including his own senior tax assistance service and senior safe driving program.

For the past several months, the city had been working on what Dallachie noted as one of the center’s biggest concerns — some much-needed roof repairs. But last week’s rain literally put a damper on that progress when leaks developed for a second time.

“They ran a hose up there for four hours and it never leaked, said Dallachie, “But when God spits on you, it just doesn’t go where the hose goes.”

Garrett said that although the set-back was disappointing, “We’re still committed to fixing the roof. We thought we had that problem behind us. We’re still chasing the problem.”

He said the roof doesn’t need to be replaced entirely, although the city would do so should that be deemed necessary.

In a phone interview on Friday,  Garrett said that CDBG would be unlikely to consider providing $70,000 in grant monies for additional improvements at the Senior Center. According to Garrett, the Center has failed to comply with county oversight requirements for  previous improvements funded that   require the Center to sign an updated lease agreement with the city to specify the center’s non-profit status and limit their ability to sub-let space for profit.

“They refused to open their books.” said Garrett adding, “You cant use public funds for profit.”

Garrett said both the county and Federal government told the city they needed to change the center’s lease.

Another Center representative said the accounting practices mandated by the county would not be cost effective and would require professional preparation — and could equate to many thousands spent for professional fees.

Garrett said that the county could ask for a refund of any government/public funds used for Senior Center improvements, even if they had been made “many years ago.” Without the old figures readily available, he said the amount was a relatively small figure, but still an expense neither side would want to incur during the current economic climate.

Councilman Stan Beckham alluded to this issue in an open letter to city residents several weeks ago,  which elicited several responses and public corrections.

During the Nov. 3 council meeting, Beckham attempted to “read into the record” one of those responses written by Dallachie which was published in last week’s Tehachapi News.

“What it boils down to is that the City of Tehachapi owes you $29,000,” stated Beckham, to which Dallachie quickly replied, “I didn’t say that.”

“I took exception to a letter that said the city took away those funds,” said Dallachie. “We all agree this thing is being driven by the county, not the city.”

Dallachie said the Center’s attorney had met with Kern County Supervisor Don Maben’s office regarding the lease and some other funding issues related to the county nutrition program.

“They were unwilling to bend. They they told us, ‘That’s the way it’s going to stay,’” Dallachie claimed.

Dallachie went on to say he’s “not going to beg” for funding nor is he willing to open up the center’s books for government scrutiny. “I’m not going to all of a sudden account for every penny after 26 years. I’m not going to do that. The county nutrition program sucks as far as I’m concerned. The county did not bend a little bit.”

Dallachie’s term as president will be up this January, when Judith Kennedy, the current treasurer will take over.

“They read the ballots today and I am the president-elect,” said Kennedy.

Kennedy confirmed that the county is asking for an accounting system that a municipal expertise attorney figured, “would take almost all of our funds to have it generated. We can’t live with that and stay viable.”

Kennedy said, “The city has been wonderful” with respect to maintenance issues such as the roof. “Our relationship with the city has vastly improved with Greg Garrett coming on as city manager.”

Kennedy said that although there are some issues that need to be worked out, “It’s not insurmountable.”

“The center is just buzzing. It’s the place to go. For lunch, or a game of pinochle, or to meet and greet your fellow seniors. For some of our senior citizens it’s their only social outlet,” Kennedy said.