By Pat Doody
City Council approves Smart 911
Tehachapi City Council Update
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Pat Doody
City Clerk Tory Marsh swears in new Police Lieutenant Timothy Liszka at the Jan. 16 City Council meeting. Liska is a Tehachapi resident and came to the Tehachapi Police Department following over 26 years with Kern County Sheriff. He was pinned by his wife Marlita.
Due to a scheduling conflict, the Jan. 16 City Council Meeting took place in the Community Room of the Tehachapi Police Department.
Police Chief Kent Kroeger presented the Council with a Memorandum of Understanding between TPD and Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services for the implementation of a 911 Special Needs Registry. The county launched the new service last week. Kroeger said that first-responders often have only information gathered at the time of a 911 call. For example, those experiencing a mental or other health emergency may not be able to fully articulate symptoms or other information when they call 911. The lack of information about mental and other health conditions and effective interventions can contribute to the decisions made by responders concerning arrest, hospitalization or use of force. The special needs registry can provide information regarding health symptoms, interventions and medications as well as who is in the household (including pets) as responders arrive.
The special needs registry would be voluntary and gives web-users the ability to create a password protected special needs registry free of charge. Kroeger said that first-responders will have access to the information for 45 minutes at the time of response and then it will disappear. The registry will be accessable through the website Smart911.com and be available on computer, tablet or smart phone. The City Council voted unanimously to approve the agreement with Mayor Ed Grimes stating that the new program should be actively promoted and publicized.
Pat Doody
City Clerk Tory Marsh adminsters the oath of office to Susan Showler who was appointed City Treasurer by the City Council during their Jan. 16 meeting. Showler was one of four applicants to fill the position following the resignation of Jenny Burt. Showler's term will be up in November of 2018.
City Clerk Tory Marsh swore in TPD's new Police Lieutenant Timothy Liszka (see photo).
Development Services Director Jay Schlosser presented a proposal to use Community Development Block Grant funds to complete curb and gutter projects on Robinson, Davis and Mojave on the north side of the railroad tracks. The City normally receives approximately $55,000 annually as their CDBG allocation. The City Council voted to devote the CDBG fund for 2018-2019, 2019-2020, and 2020-2021 to the sidewalk project. This would net the City approximately $166,000 to be used for the project.
In a three to two vote, the City Council chose Susan Showler as the interim City Treasurer. Showler's term will expire in November. Jenny Burt, the prior City Treasurer, had resigned last year and Showler will finish out her term. Showler is the current treasurer of the Tehachapi Tousism Commission and is employed by World Wind and Solar. The City had received four applications for the position.
