City gets clean opinion on 2021 audit

Scott Szabo of Lauer, Szabo & Associates, PC, provided an overview of the city of Holyoke 2021 audit at the May 17 meeting. Council members accepted it as presented.

Overall the audit itself went very well, and Holyoke got a clean opinion.

Szabo said, “I think you hear me say this every year: You’re very fortunate to have the staff you have. Your audit is one of the cleanest ones we do all year. It’s always in great shape.”

At the end of 2021, the city’s general fund had a balance of $3,073,614. That is an increase of $356,531 from the year before and represents about 14 months in reserve.

The total balance of the city’s eight special revenue funds and one permanent fund at the end of the year was $742,950, which is up $35,458 from 2020. Most of the activity in the funds is earnings on investments, which are then transferred to the general fund.

Holyoke’s utility fund’s net position at the end of 2021 was $11,636,932, up $443,955 from the year before.

Personnel decisions made

Several personnel decisions were made by the city council at last week’s meeting.

City Clerk/Treasurer Kathy Olofson informed council members that five people inquired about the full-time building permit technician/code enforcement position. Only one applied, but they accepted another position elsewhere. There was someone who was interested in being part-time in code enforcement. Olofson asked council members whether looking for two part-time employees to fill the roles would be an option, and they encouraged her to do so.

In the police department, Officer Clara Sowa was hired at $42,500 and on-call pay of $100 per month while doing field training. Police Chief Doug Bergstrom reported that her first week went well.

Hired as summer help, John Zilla will work in the parks department at $15.25 per hour. Monse Conde IV will work in the electric department, and Diego Jimenez will work at the cemetery, each at $13.50 per hour. Any new summer hires will be paid $13.50 per hour.

Summer coaching wages set include soccer coach Diana McCormick at $500, head baseball coach Kody Timm at $2,000 and assistant baseball coach Ashley Clayton at $500. Softball coaches Kendra Schlachter, Shianne Willmon, Alyssa Metzger and Chandler Gerk will be paid $800 each. T-ball coaches will be Victoria Dunker at $500 and Brett Gerk, who is donating his time. Jade Goldenstein and Clayton will coach machine-pitch for $500 each.  

Officials report

City Superintendent Mark Brown reported that the electric department has been working on the electric service for the new Dollar General. Along with the street crew, they also planted trees and laid sod at the cemetery. The street crew also worked on dragging roads.

The water department is working on getting documentation in place for a state audit on the water system.

In the parks department, Ferguson Trucking has delivered the last load of dirt for the little baseball field, and Ron Marshall Earthmoving will laser level the field as soon as possible. At the airport, things have been very busy, and the city did recently need to purchase a load of Jet A fuel.

In regard to the new CDL testing and training regulations, Brown said that he will be meeting with Matt Meusborn to discuss options.

Viaero Fiber Network has applied for an excavation permit to install a new fiber line from County Road 41 to go west to Evans Avenue. He will be getting together with Jeff Deselms and Jeremy Thompson to go over that.

Brown noted that Lou Harmon is working on engineering for Sherman Avenue, but he does not have a finish date yet. Brown also reported that Gary Huss is still out on workers’ comp with no return date yet, and Duane Werner has returned to work with limitations.

Bergstrom reported that in the period of April 29-May 12, Holyoke Police Department handled or generated 173 calls for service. Under code enforcement, there were six animal complaints and one dog at large. He also noted that the department’s new vehicle is back and in service.

City Attorney Al Wall informed council members that he would provide them with a court of appeals case update.

Recreation director Dunker reported that soccer is over and summer ball has begun. There are 153 kids participating.

“I think that’s a testament to our program and our coaches and just our community being involved in sports again,” Dunker said.

After having interviews with Ogallala Commons interns, the recreation department selected Adison Goldenstein as its summer intern. Dunker intends to have her attend a future meeting so that council members have the chance to meet her.

Dunker also noted that the new tentative date for the Great Outdoors Colorado representative visit is June 8.

Community members comment

Gary Herr visited last week’s meeting to ask questions of the council. In answer to the question of whether there has been a date set for citywide cleanup, Brown told him that he did not think it is feasible with the current staff shortages. It may not happen at all.

Herr also wondered if the council had considered changing its recycling to coordinate with the county. Brown told him that the city has not pursued that.

Council member Cathy Edge said that she has had several community members ask about whether the reverse 911 notifications can be made in Spanish. She pointed out that the school offers automated calls in Spanish. Bergstrom said that the reverse 911 notifications are done through the county and the comm center, but he will talk to them to see if that is an option.

Other business

In other business at the May 17 meeting, council members:

— Voted to retain Mayor Orville Tonsing, who has missed three consecutive meetings due to illness.

— Opted to get bids for finishing the unpaved sections of South Belford Avenue and West Kunkel Street.

— Renewed the Medical Air Service Association membership and allowed council members to enroll if they pay for themselves.

— Appointed Jerry Beavers to serve another three-year term on the board of variance adjustment.

— Appointed Jerry Banaka to serve another six-year term on the Holyoke planning commission.

— Approved manager’s registration of Holly Sutherland for Holyoke Hotel LLC pending positive background check.