- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Lakeport City Council meets new police officer, approves Public Works purchases
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday night welcomed the city’s newest police officer, remembered a fallen deputy and approved purchases and change orders for the city’s Public Works Department.
At the start of the meeting, Mayor Stacey Mattina called for a moment of silence for Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Rob Rumfelt, who died on Aug. 22 in the line of duty after backing up the Lakeport Police Department on a domestic violence call.
Rumfelt and another deputy fought with a suspect at the scene, and a short time later as Rumfelt was leaving the area in his patrol vehicle he crashed into a tree. He died a short time later.
Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen on Tuesday also introduced his newest officer, Kaylene Strugnell, whose first day on the job was Thursday.
Strugnell, who grew up in Kelseyville, also is an emergency medical technician who previously worked for the Lakeport Fire Protection District.
After her introduction, Strugnell and Sgt. Joe Eastham left the meeting to get back to work.
During the meeting, the council gave unanimous approval to several requests from Public Works Director Doug Grider.
Grider presented a bid award for the replacement of an 8-inch well pump to Valley Pump & Motor Works in the amount of $40,685.
The new pump will replace one that was installed in 1978 and kept running well past its prime by now-retired Public Works staffer Bill Gradek, Grider said.
Grider also received the council’s support to begin an informal bidding process to replace the failing HVAC system at the corporation yard office, where the air conditioning has been out for three weeks. As part of that item, the council approved a budget adjustment of not more than $20,000 for the unit.
The council also authorized the purchase of a new 45-horsepower Flygt submersible pump for the Larrecou Lift Station at a cost of $30,955, and change orders with Green Right O’Way Constructors Inc. for the additional work on the Giselman Waterline Replacement Project, with a total fiscal impact of $39,836.92.
City Manager Margaret Silveira also asked for – and received – the council’s support for two proposed resolutions to be presented at the upcoming League of California Cities conference regarding public safety, emergency service levels and direct emergency medical response.
In other business, Silveira announced that the first candidate approved for the new assistant city manager training assignment is Community Development Director Kevin Ingram.
The assistant city manager position was approved by the council in July as a way of assisting with the city’s leadership succession planning. It allows selected staffers to work outside of their areas of expertise for six months to a year, with a $500-per-month stipend.
Silveira said she is excited about starting the program.
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090517 Lakeport City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd