5 candidates running for 3 council positions
Voters will see five candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot for three open positions on Holyoke City Council.
At the Sept. 6 council meeting, City Clerk/Treasurer Kathy Olofson announced the five candidates: incumbents Brian Akey, Gene Bittner and Cathy Edge, and Gary Herr and Trae McCallum.
The three open seats are for four-year terms.
Council takes action on housing grant, communication center and opioid settlement funds
At the Sept. 6 meeting, the council approved contributing $7,500 and authorizing the mayor to sign a letter of support for a housing planning grant for Phillips County.
The city will be partnering with other area entities for a grant from the Department of Local Affairs Affordable Housing Strategies Planning Grant Program.
“It would be a big step in fixing our housing issues,” said Akey.
The council also approved a budget not to exceed $47,005 for funding for the Phillips County Communications Center.
After voting to opt in to receive funds from an opioid settlement earlier this year, the council revisited that decision on Sept. 6 and approved opting out of those funds.
The money will now go into a regional pool, and council members are hoping that it can be used to make a difference for the treatment and education about opioids.
Also at the Sept. 6 meeting, the council heard from Herr, who was a visitor, about a stray dog that he saw near his house. He asked the council to revisit its discussion about providing a kennel for such instances.
Later in the meeting, code enforcement officer Lance Talich said that the city was aware of this particular dog and had found a place to take it in Grant, Nebraska. However, the dog couldn’t be located again at that point.
Other business
In other business at the Sept. 6 meeting, the council:
— Approved Ordinance No. 2-2022, an ordinance of the City of Holyoke, Colorado, for the annexation of a parcel of land lying in the NW 1/4 of SW 1/4 Section 8 T7N, R44W of the 6th P.M., Phillips County, Colorado.
— Approved a new liquor license for Don Carlos Bar and Grill, LLC.
— Discussed the need to establish employee policies and procedures for Holyoke Swimming Pool.
— Heard from Superintendent Mark Brown that crews have been working on things like painting light poles in the park and on main street, installing the water tap for the new fire station and painting parking lanes.
— Heard from recreation director Victoria Dunker that there are 36 kids participating in flag football this year.
— Approved the salary for Roger Jenson and Eric Luedke to coach flag football at $500 each.
— Appointed council members Akey and Edge to serve as the Code Enforcement Committee.
— Appointed Lance Talich to sit on the Holyoke Planning Commission as an ex officio member.
— Approved a travel request for Commander J.R. Myers to attend a child sex assault conference.
— Approved a travel request for Officer Jordan Fleharty to attend a defense technology less lethal instructor school.
— Held a work session regarding the possibility of a multimunicipal director for the chamber of commerce.