Galt City Council members present former Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli, center right, with the Key to the City. Photo courtesy of Gale Webber

GALT, CA (MPG) - The Galt City Council on Oct. 15 presented former Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli with the Key to the City.

Galt Vice-Mayor Rich Lozano said City Council wanted to recognize Nottoli’s decades of public service, including 28 years on the county board of supervisors. Nottoli retired from public office in 2022.

Nottoli has acted in alignment with the city’s commitment “to being a provider of exceptional public services that are responsive to the needs of the community,” Lozano said, noting that Nottoli has always been willing to meet when Lozano wanted to discuss something.

“So he was very responsive to me and I hear from many community members in our city and our community about his responsiveness to a stop sign that may have been needed in a place and helping get our community what we need, when we need it,” Lozano said.

Lozano praised Nottoli for supporting Sunshine Food Pantry and the Galt Teen Center with “total distinguished service as well as an unselfish way about him.”

Nottoli, a Galt native, recalled hearing from Lozano about the Key to the City plans.

“I kind of thought to myself, ‘That’s very kind and I’m humbled by it.’ But certainly, there are many, many deserving people, some here in the audience this evening, who have contributed in many ways to this community,” Nottoli said.

The former supervisor said the Galt community is “very blessed” with many opportunities and thanked City Council for the recognition.

Councilmember Kevin Papineau said Nottoli is an example of an elected official “serving the community in this political world.”

Councilmember Jay Vandenburg commended Nottoli’s “fair and balanced commitment to everybody you represent.”

Councilmember Shawn Farmer agreed on the former supervisor’s balanced approach.

“You pretty much are an example of for anybody that wants to be in public office, what you could aspire to. I know for me, you were definitely a role model,” Farmer said.

During public comment, Galt resident Gracie Malson urged City Council to recognize September as Suicide Awareness Month.

“On Sept. 10, I came home to my daughter almost unconscious due to bullying over a month and a half at her high school,” Malson said, later adding, “I don’t have enough fingers or toes to count how many teenagers I know that either have had suicidal thoughts, attempted or even succeeded.”

Malson said the 911 call after she discovered her daughter took eight minutes; afterward, it took Cosumnes Fire Department less than that to respond.

“I feel that how we honor breast cancer, our veterans and so on, we should also educate the public about suicide. In the month of September, we should wear teal and pink to acknowledge suicide awareness and prevention,” Malson said. She also supported having Galt Police officers wear special patches in September, similar to the pink patches they wear in October for breast cancer awareness.

Councilmembers asked city staff and Police Chief Brian Kalinowski to discuss possible actions the city can take on the subject.

If you or someone you know might be considering suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.