Don Napier will fill Stallion Springs CSD board vacancy
Don Napier was selected to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors of Stallion Springs Community Services District during the board’s monthly meeting on April 16.
He will replace Barry Leslie, who resigned because he moved out of the district. The board approved a resolution recognizing Leslie’s service.
Napier was one of five applicants for the position, but two withdrew before the board vote.
General Manager Laura Lynne Wyatt told directors that applicant Michael O’Brien withdrew his application because he was unable to attend the meeting. Another applicant, Rose Marie Tantillo Mankoff, was present and addressed the board but withdrew her application because she said she believed other applicants were more qualified.
In addition to Napier, other applicants included James Lundy and Joash Ropthermel.
A resident of Stallion Springs for more than 30 years, Napier said he has “seen the good and the bad” in the community.
“I don’t want to see us go backwards, but instead continue to be a community that welcomes change and growth,” he said in his letter of application.
Napier is retired from the Kern County Fire Department. He served 29 years with the agency, was a captain, and worked as the assistant fire marshal.
His other experience includes serving on the Board of Directors of Tehachapi Valley Healthcare District and the Kern County grand jury for three years. He’s also on the board of his church, Christian Life Assembly.
Wyatt said Napier will be seated at the next board meeting after taking the oath of office, which she will arrange with the Kern County Elections Office.
SETTLEMENT
Also during the meeting, directors approved minutes for a closed session held during a special board meeting on March 28.
According to those minutes, the board approved the execution of a settlement agreement between the CSD and the Resort Association of Stallion Springs and authorized the transfer of $125,000 from the district’s sewer capital improvement fund to the general fund to pay the settlement.
According to Kern County Superior Court records, The Resort Association of Stallion Springs, a California corporation, filed suit against the Stallion Springs Community Services District on Nov. 13, 2020. According to the complaint, the resort is a residential dwelling area for families in duplexes and triplexes that are deeded and recorded to separate homeowners. Stallion Springs Community Services District provides sewage disposal for the 10 buildings that comprise the compound.
The association claimed that the district incorrectly classified the units as commercial rather than residential and that “the sewer fees on the homeowners are disproportionately high and that the district has been overcharging for services.”
Court records show that a mandatory settlement conference was held March 19 and that the matter is set for dismissal on June 4.
OTHER BUSINESS
The board also approved purchase of a new firewall for the district’s computer system for just over $5,380 and heard reports from Police Chief Gary Crowell and Wyatt.
Crowell noted that during March a call for service investigation led to the arrest of a 39-year-old male for domestic battery. His department tallied 103 calls for service in the month and assisted other agencies 11 times including five calls each for Bear Valley Police Department and Kern County Fire Department and one assisting the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.
He noted that there has been an increase in calls related to juvenile delinquency.
Wyatt reported that the district is collecting bids to have the gym court lines restriped and has finished a new road assessment report with the consulting firm NBS.
She said she recently toured the facilities at Woodward West and met the new general manager, adding that the sports camp hopes to collaborate with the district on events.
Also, on the recreation front, she said she recently met with staff from the city of Tehachapi, which is conducting a recreational services study.