City commits funds to new fire station

Holyoke City Council members went into executive session for just under 13 and a half minutes at their Oct. 20 meeting to discuss the purchase, acquisition, lease, transfer or sale of real, personal or other property interest.

Council members ultimately voted to commit $267,991 to the new fire station and to retain the old fire station building.

Holyoke Fire Protection District allocated $100,000 to the project, and the Heginbotham Trust promised $75,000.

Mayor Orville Tonsing said the Department of Local Affairs has asked if the city is going to move forward with the new fire station project even if the DOLA Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund grant is not received.

The council reviewed a bid for the project, which would cost $672,991, in the event they do not receive the grant.

Tonsing said the bid would not be a turnkey job but would cover the building, plumbing, electricity and concrete. It would not cover finishing the meeting room, which could be completed at a later time. The council accepted the bid as presented.

Potential COVID relief discussed

Council members heard from Trisha Herman, executive director of Phillips County Economic Development, who said she has been working on a plan to try to provide grants to businesses that have not yet received COVID-19 relief.

Herman told the council she has been working with the Phillips County commissioners, Phillips County Administrator/Planner Pam Jensen, Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Holly Ferguson and others to develop ideas about possible grant help.

She said she envisions putting together a committee to create a selection or application process, and that any eligible businesses will have to show that they experienced a financial loss due to COVID-19, provide supporting documentation and not have received any prior COVID-19 relief.

She also said she is seeking the council’s support moving into 2021 with a budget of $10,900 to support economic development.

Kathleen Lueth, acknowledging that the council tabled the subject indefinitely at their Oct. 6 meeting, spoke during visitor comments to voice her opposition to the livestock ordinance. She also provided the council with a petition of signatures from community members who also oppose the ordinance.

Holyoke Mobile Home Park sold

City Superintendent Mark Brown informed council members that closing on the sale of Holyoke Mobile Home Park was scheduled to occur the week of Oct. 26.

Brown told council members

he sent them new applications for travel trailer parks and mobile home parks. He said the old licensing procedure was from the 1980s and needed to be updated.

Brown went on to say the old applications never had an end date on them. He noted that having a start and end date will assist with making sure they maintain compliance in the park when it comes time for renewals.

The council adopted the forms for the applications, and Brown said he will send them off to be filled out and bring them back to the council for final approval.

Council hears reports

Brown reported no power outages since the last meeting.

He said water and sewer crews are working on the final quarter of testing water for the state and are also blowing out sprinkler systems in preparation for colder weather.

He reported that street crews finished mowing for the year.

Police Chief Doug Bergstrom reported that Holyoke Police Department handled or generated 91 calls for service from Oct. 1-15, including two animal complaints under code enforcement.

City Clerk/Treasurer Kathy Olofson asked the council members to be thinking about any budget item needs their committees have. She also said that road barricades have been purchased by Haxtun, Holyoke and Phillips County that can be used and shared as needed by all three entities.

City Attorney Al Wall reported that it will likely take more time to get the annexation ordinance regarding the property west of Holyoke at Walsh Avenue and Johnson Street. He said he and Brown determined more land will need to be conveyed to the city and that once the city gets the deed to all the property the annexation can proceed.

Recreation director Victoria Dunker reported that she is working on the recreation budget.

Council member Scott Murray, who is not seeking reelection to another term, said he appreciated his time serving on the council.

“I just want to thank everybody that I worked with,” Murray said, “and I sure appreciate the city of Holyoke, the things that we’ve done and that need to get done, and I’m going to leave it up to the good people of Holyoke, so carry on. Thank you for everything.”

Other business

In other business at the Oct. 20 meeting, council members:

­— Voted to have the firetruck purchased at the Sept. 21 special meeting freighted to Holyoke from Monte Vista at the cost of $1,500.

— Approved Olofson and Brown to use Coronavirus Relief Funds for purchases before Dec. 31.

— Accepted the recommendation of Holyoke Planning Commission for the final plat of Ferguson’s Subdivision Phase 2.

­­— Approved the liquor license renewal for American Legion Post No. 90 and VFW Post No. 6482.