Commissioners allow Homesteaders Park to open during daylight hours
When Phillips County emergency manager Bob Heldenbrand deactivated the emergency operations center on June 19 after 99 days of activation for COVID-19, it was just one of many things that signaled the return to a more normal way of life.
Along those same lines, the Phillips County Board of Commissioners extended the hours that Homesteaders Park is open. Now folks are permitted to enjoy the facility during daylight hours.
Some things, however, remain modified due to COVID-19. The county continues to process event requests in accordance with its variance from the State guidelines.
The County also approved extra janitorial staff for COVID-19 cleaning, which will be funded under the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Through the Department of Local Affairs, the fund reimburses costs to counties, municipalities and special districts for COVID-19 expenditures.
County helps with storm cleanup
Severe storms June 6 and June 8 caused extensive damage in Haxtun, and commissioners adopted an emergency declaration. The Phillips County road and bridge department immediately assisted the Town of Haxtun with a multiday cleanup.
Heldenbrand worked with Haxtun Police Department to assess the damages.
Sen. Cory Gardner contacted commissioners June 9 to offer assistance after the storms and visited the county June 13. The office of Sen. Michael Bennet also contacted the county.
Extension agents meet with board
Also during last month’s meetings, county commissioners met with Colorado State University Extension agents Deeona Johnston, family and consumer science, and Jessie Stewart, 4-H.
Johnston presented her department’s activity report for March through June. She also discussed the paid virtual Zumba classes she held, which included participants from the extended United States and Canada locations.
She also discussed holding Cottage Food Training for individuals who want to make food and sell it themselves. The training encompasses food safety.
CSU approved the Extension office to follow county COVID-19 guidelines regarding group activities, but Johnston reported that CSU still recommends meeting virtually whenever possible.
Stewart presented her department’s activity report for May through June. She reported that her office has created numerous educational YouTube videos.
Due to rabbit hemorrhagic disease, stuffed rabbits will be used for the Phillips County Fair’s livestock sale, Stewart reported. She also noted that her office is collaborating with the Colorado State Fair regarding logistics.
Ideas for identifying and implementing improvements in gun safety and riding events were also shared with the commissioners.
Dairy applies for conditional use permit
Phillips County planning office received an application from Aurora Organic Dairy for a conditional use permit for a commercial feedlot, 7,000-head dairy heifer facility, 3 miles southwest of Holyoke.
The permit will be considered at a public hearing Monday, July 27, at 7 p.m. in the Phillips County Event Center.
Other business
In other business during the month of June, commissioners:
— Received a report from landfill manager Bill Andrews that during the June 5-6 countywide clean-up days, more than 57 loads were delivered.
— Approved a donation to High Plains Radio for the wheat harvest snack sack project.
— Accepted the resignation of Bank of Colorado Pavilion reservationist Deana Webster, with Carrie Anderson now being the lead for both the event center and pavilion reservations.
— Met with Kristie Ham of the Northeast Colorado Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Partnership to discuss the BOCES Career Fair to be held in the event center Jan. 20, 2021.
— Accepted the intergovernmental agreement regarding the use of the AIS logger and recorder between the City of Sterling and Phillips County, with the same terms as the present one , with an expiration date of June 30, 2021.