Council waives city fees for child care initiative
Holyoke City Council members voted to waive all city fees and the cost of labor for the Holyoke Community Childcare Initiative at their Nov. 16 meeting. HCCI will pay for parts.
Trisha Herman, project coordinator/executive director of HCCI, was at the meeting and reminded council members of the upcoming hearing in Golden on Wednesday, Dec. 8, where she and Mayor Orville Tonsing will present their case for the Department of Local Affairs Energy Impact Grant for $600,000. She said they will know if they receive the grant by the end of December.
Earlier this month, council members discussed creating a purchasing policy and procedure to be put in place for the child care facility. At last week’s meeting, council members Kevin Scott and Gene Bittner volunteered to be on the purchasing policies and procedures committee.
Conditional hiring of police officer candidate approved
Council members approved the conditional employment of a candidate for police officer in Holyoke Police Department.
Police Chief Doug Bergstrom said the candidate had a psychological evaluation scheduled for Monday, Nov. 22, which needed to be passed. Employment at minimum wage was approved on the condition that she successfully passes the evaluation.
Bergstrom said the candidate still needs to go to the academy, and a state grant from Peace Officer Standards and Training will pay the cost of the academy tuition.
Small baseball/softball field to get new infield
The infield of the small baseball/softball field will be upgraded to a red clay mix. Council members approved a quote from All American Sports Material for the red infield mix, estimated at 150 tons at the cost of $40 per ton.
Nick Ferguson will haul the material for $500 per load at an estimated six loads. Ron Marshall will cut the field down, put the clay in and laser-level it to the correct height.
Council hears reports
City Superintendent Mark Brown reported that the airport lighting project has gone as far as it can for the moment as they await the arrival of the precision approach path indicator lights.
Council members voted to allow Brown to sign the FAA nonfederal reimbursable agreement, which is a Colorado Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics grant for the flight check of the new PAPI lights once they’re installed.
Brown said the airport opened again Monday morning, Nov. 15, and that the new fuel farm card reader from QTPetroleum on Demand has been installed.
Water and sewer crews have been blowing out sprinkler systems, and street personnel have been busy removing leaves.
Recreation director Victoria Dunker said that the Showdown on the Plains cattle show is scheduled for Friday-Sunday, Jan. 28-30, and she wants to coordinate a 3-on-3 basketball tournament in February.
Dunker reported on the daddy/daughter dance that occurred Oct. 28, thanking Trisha Herman for helping with tickets, punch and cupcakes, Kristi Krueger for decorating, and Jason Kimble and Night Sounds for being the DJ. She said she will now be planning a mother/son event.
Bergstrom reported that HPD handled or generated 63 calls for service from Oct. 29-Nov. 11, including five animal complaints under code enforcement.
Other business
In other business at the Nov. 16 meeting, council members:
— Approved two-year appointments for city officials as follows: Brown, city superintendent; Kathy Olofson, city clerk/treasurer; Bergstrom, chief of police; Al Wall, city attorney; and Tammy Kelley, municipal judge.
— Allowed Tonsing to sign the FAA ARPA funding agreement for COVID-19 pandemic relief.
— Approved a special events permit for Melissa Memorial Hospital for Saturday, Dec. 4.
— Approved a special events permit for Golden Plains Recreation Center/Peerless Theatre for Saturday, Dec. 11.
— Heard from Leonardo Ortiz, who said leaves have been piling up at the east end of East Emerson Street and that parts of the street itself are in need of repair.
— Renewed boiler insurance with CIRSA for 2022 at $1,563.44.
— Renewed the liquor licenses for Hometown Liquor LLC and Holyoke Veterans Club Inc.
— Held a 17-minute executive session for the purpose of receiving legal advice.
— Held a one-hour-and-10-minute budget work session after the meeting.