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Mammoth cops make play for new facility

  • by Jack Lunch
  • in News
  • — 17 May, 2013

When times get tough and the money is tight, people get creative.

In the case of Police Chief Dan Watson, very creative.

Creative to the point where Mammoth Lakes Tourism Executive Director John Urdi might feel a wee bit threatened.

In a memo to Council, Watson suggested that it would make fiscal sense if the Town moved his department into MLT’s building next to the USFS Welcome Center along Hwy 203.

Under Watson’s proposal, Urdi’s organization could be moved to the former Finance Department offices (now vacant) on the second floor of the Minaret Mall.

Watson points out that the MLPD is paying about $60,000 annually for the privilege of operating out of its current rabbit warren on Old Mammoth Road.

The current department building “has been a short-term solution [for housing the department] for 27 years,” deadpanned Watson.

Meanwhile, the MLT building is paid for and MLT pays rent of just $1/year to the Inyo National Forest.

According to Watson, local Forest Supervisor Jon Regelbrugge said the building is required to be used for Town business according to the terms of the lease, and that a police station would be consistent with those terms.

“I fully expect John [Urdi] to object,” said Watson, “and two Councilmembers I’ve heard from so far don’t like the idea … but my responsibility is to make recommendations to Council … that are efficient, effective and save money.”

The Chief says the MLT’s building could accommodate a department of up to 30 personnel. “It’s large enough to house at least what we were before,” he said. And though not designed as a police building, Watson believes it could be converted relatively inexpensively.

When reached for comment, Urdi responded by saying “I’m opposed to it slightly … with every fiber of my being.”

Urdi said the funding that built his headquarters came from tourism dollars or grant dollars via tourism.

Mayor Matthew Lehman, who is opposed to the idea, believes moving MLT would constitute “an improper use of Measure A [tourism] dollars.”

“I respect the Chief [Watson] for coming forward,” added Lehman, “but I don’t think it’s an appropriate place [for the Police Dept.].Financially, he said, it also doesn’t make sense in the near term because the MLPD has four years left on its lease – so if you play musical chairs, you’re still left with space that’s still sitting fallow.

Councilmember Michael Raimondo, also against the idea, commented, “Having a police station as the first thing you see upon guest arrival doesn’t send the most welcoming message.”

He would rather see the Town sublease the former Finance Dept. space.

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Topics: Mammoth Lakes Tourism

— Jack Lunch

Jack is the publisher and editor of The Sheet. He writes a lot of page two's.

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7 Comments

  1. Gistine says:
    May 17, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    Here’s an idea: Watson wants to move, then how about he take a pay cut from his bloated, offensive salary?

    Heaven forbid.

  2. John Starts says:
    May 17, 2013 at 3:28 pm

    Amen, this guy has got to go, $300k plus a year ,this guy is slick! Hello council, and MMM what are you waiting for, more shortfall while Dan keeps cashing his checks?

  3. PoPo NoNo says:
    May 17, 2013 at 11:57 pm

    Temporary for 27 years…
    Now they have half the staff, what is the need to move now?
    Sounds like you have plenty of room Chief.
    300k? Are you kidding?
    That’s more more than the Governor of California.
    This is a resort, we have less crime than anywhere.
    How did he get this Sweetheart deal?
    Bloated offensive salary is a good description for this seriously offensive Bureaucrat.
    I’ve got an easy way to save 300k and it doesn’t require a move.
    Pay attention MMM.

  4. Nathan full of Fillions says:
    May 20, 2013 at 4:07 pm

    Not to offend those who like to offend— but I read this article twice and it never mentions how much Watson is paid. So why is every comment about that? Why do you all have such obessive one-track minds? There is absolutely no mention of salary.
    Perhaps if you weren’t so bitter, you’d see the good this man brings to a community your flashy unreasonable angry implies your invested in. Really, the only constructive comment you can add are: “fire Dan Watson! Save 300k!” ???
    Wow.

  5. Gistine says:
    May 22, 2013 at 3:16 pm

    @Nathan, truth hurts, doesn’t it?

    I don’t remember ever saying he needs to be fired, but now that you bring it up, good idea.

    PS: greed is never good for any community, especially when a paid official exemplifies it. How many pensions does he already have again? I lost count at two…

  6. Bemused says:
    May 22, 2013 at 7:01 pm

    It has been reported that Chief Watson makes much less than that. His original annual compensation package (inclusive of pension contribution and benefits) approached $300K, but I believe that the actual salary was more like $180K. He then took a substantial salary-cut (like $40K-$50K) in connection with the relatively recent MLPD budget/staff reduction.

  7. tm says:
    May 23, 2013 at 7:44 am

    I like the chief. I like the way he (usually) responds to these blogs. I think the crosswalks on 203 are a public safety issue, and he is dealing with that. He found a new job for one of the problem officers, Dan Casabian, which was good for the town. Don’t let them grind you down chief!

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