Wasco proposed to become vaccination site

City Manager Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez told the City Council that the city has been proposed to be a vaccination site.

The site would be at the Veteran's Hall at Barker Park. More information will be coming soon, Ortiz-Hernandez said.

Ortiz-Hernandez said the reopening of the city depends on the availability of vaccinations.

"It's been challenging following and adjusting to the changes the state makes or the fluctuation of availability of vaccines," he said.

Tina Newman, who serves disabled adults at Community Support Options, addressed the council and asked when the city was planning on reopening Dial-A-Ride because seniors and disabled residents are in need of transportation.

Mayor Alex Garcia told Newman he would call her to discuss why there has been a closure of the program due to covid-19 restrictions.

Sgt. Peter Martinez, from the Wasco Substation, reported some statistics comparing 2020 with the two months of 2021.

In December 2020 there were 793 calls for service and in January, there were 801. In December there were 44 misdemeanors and January there were 47 misdemeanors. In December there were 3 driving under the influences and in January there were 3 DUI's. In addition, in December 2020 there were a total of 22 assaults while in January there was a total of 28 assaults and for December there was a total of 31 grand theft auto while in January there was a total of 37 grand theft auto.

"As of today, Feb. 16, 2021, 26 residents and businesses have registered their surveillance cameras with the Kern County Sheriff's Office," Martinez said.

Martinez also brought up an incident that occurred Dec. 7, 2020 when someone in a vehicle on Palm and Poso fired a shot out of a window. It took the deputies over two months to capture all four persons in the vehicle and currently, all four are in police custody.