Updates from the Feb. 6 meeting

The first order of business at the Feb. 6 City Council Meeting was the swearing in of Councilman Keith Sackawitz, who will be replacing Christina Scrivner as the District 2 representative. Scrivner resigned after being elected to a county office in November. Sackawitz (center) is shown with his wife, Lana, and Mayor Michael Davies along with other family members. Sackawitz, who has lived in Tehachapi since the 1960s, will serve as District 2 Councilman until the November 2024 election.

Mayor Michael Davies proclaimed February as Safe Surrender Baby Awareness Month at the Feb. 6 City Council meeting. Davies recognized the Kern County Health Department for their efforts. Assistant Director Benjamin Gutierrez from the Mojave office accepted the proclamation surrounded by members of the Kern County Fire Department.

Paul Kaminski, representing the Tehachapi Rotary Club, proposed a partnership with the City of Tehachapi in placing a Peace Pole somewhere in the city. The Peace Pole program, which is sponsored by Rotary International, has placed poles throughout the world. The four or more sided poles are six to eight feet in height with peace sentiments inscribed in various languages on each side. Valley Oaks Charter School has installed one of their own. The Council agreed that this would be a worthy project and a four-sided pole was proposed. Possible locations for the pole were discussed - Centennial Plaza, the Visitor Center and the Depot Museum. City Manager Greg Garrett suggested the inscribed languages should be English, Spanish, Kawaiisu and Braille. Kaminski is hoping to include input from the Chamber of Commerce, Greater Tehachapi Economic Development Council, Tehachapi High School and other organizations in the planning for the Peace Pole. The City Council encouraged the proposed partnership.

City Manager Greg Garrett introduced Lt. Jason Dunham of the Tehachapi Police Department at the Feb. 6 City Council meeting. Dunham, who has 15 years of police experience, will be the interim Chief of the Tehachapi Police Department following the recent resignation of Chief Kent Kroeger. Garrett issued a big thank you to Chief Kroeger who had been Chief of Police since 2014. Dunham will head the department until a successor is named.