HPD struggles to hire 5th officer

    Though the go-ahead to pursue a fifth officer was given in November 2017, Holyoke Police Department hasn’t had much luck finding one. Police Chief Doug Bergstrom and council member Steve Moore, who serves on the police committee, brought the Holyoke City Council up to speed at their March 6 meeting.
    The committee sees three options, Moore said.
    1. Continue as they have been, advertising for the position and waiting for applicants.
    2. Seek someone currently enrolled in police academy who doesn’t have a job lined up already and compensate them during their time at the academy as part of a contract to work for HPD.
    3. Sponsor a “home-grown” police officer to start at a police academy this summer.
    Since posting the job opening, HPD has received just two applications. Neither panned out, making option 1 unappealing to the committee.
    Moore pointed out that the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office currently has a student they’re paying at academy. Bergstrom added that such a process is becoming the norm in small, rural departments such as HPD.
    Mayor Orville Tonsing asked what the committee thought about compensation for a student, and Moore suggested a half salary. Bergstrom explained that some of the necessary purchases — uniform, vest, etc. — are things that the department would buy for a new officer anyway. Ammo is the only additional expense that isn’t already accounted for.
    City Attorney Al Wall pointed out that contracts for such scenarios are typically two years with a sliding scale for payback, should the officer leave early.
    Moore said that his first choice is option 2, but he thinks option 3 is more realistic. Either way, he thinks it’s important to find someone who has lived in a small town and knows what small-town living is like.
    While advertisement for the open position is still up, council members encouraged Bergstrom to reach out to police academies to see if there are any prospective graduates who might fit the bill.
    
City offers financial support to Holyoke Chamber of Commerce
    Following up on a Feb. 20 request for support, Holyoke Chamber of Commerce board members had a specific proposal for the city council at the March 6 meeting. As a result, council members agreed to provide $500 per month for the chamber budget.
    Board members Tiffany Watson and Sheila Robinson outlined the perks the City could expect, including chamber membership without dues and being a listed sponsor for all chamber events. They also indicated that the chamber is willing to assist the City with its website maintenance.
    It was also brought to council members’ attention that the chamber director position in Haxtun is partially funded by the town’s $400 per month contribution. Likening their own organization to Phillips County Economic Development and the Phillips County Victims’ Assistance Program — who currently receive City funding — the chamber requested $500 per month. Mayor Orville Tonsing said, “I would be more than happy to go for a sponsorship.” In apparent agreement, council members approved the City’s monthly support of the chamber.
    
Election judges appointed
    Election judges appointed for the April 3 election are Linda Williamson, Carol Krumm, Laurie Brown, Kayla Kafka and Laura Krogmeier. Krogmeier will be the head judge.
    City Clerk/Treasurer Kathy Olofson reported that she worked out shifts for the judges. There will be three present at all times, and all but the head judge, who will stay the entire time, will work about eight hours.
    Council members set the wages at $15 per hour for the head judge and $12 per hour for all others. There will be a Monday afternoon training preceding the election, and Donna Lutze and Larry Stein are the alternates who will serve in case of illness or emergency.
    
Officials, rec director report
    City Superintendent Mark Brown reported that the electric department has been working out at the fairgrounds, and the water and sewer department is rodding sewers. The new crack-filling machine came in, and street crews are working on the sealcoat list, picking up tree branches, repairing alleys and servicing equipment.
    Brown also received a signed memorandum of understanding from Crop Production Services. Council members gave their approval for Tonsing to sign as well. The MOU says that the City will tear down the old building at the airport, and CPS’s new building will include space for the new pilots’ lounge. The City will run utilities to the building and set up separate water and electric meters for the City and CPS.
    Bergstrom reported that HPD, including code enforcement, handled or generated 260 calls for service from Feb. 15-28. They made one arrest, wrote seven reports and one citation, and gave out 22 warnings. Code enforcement handled one dog at large and six ordinance violations.
    Council member Kevin Scott relayed a resident’s request for a “No Parking” sign on West Denver Street between Ampride and Taqueria Hernandez, as there’s concern that trucks parked there make it difficult to see oncoming traffic. Bergstrom suspected that the request would have to go through the State since it’s on Highway 6, but he said he will check into it.
    Recreation director Victoria Timm reported a successful annual meeting Feb. 28 with the recreation advisory committee. She is continuing soccer signup and is working on arrangements for a junior golf clinic. Timm also noted that she is taking on the role of Border League president, and she hopes that will help the City’s summer baseball program as well.
    
Other business
    In other business at the March 6 meeting, the city council:
    —Changed the date of their first April meeting from April 3 to Wednesday, April 4.
    —Renewed the liquor license and received new manager registration for Holyoke Hotel LLC, Cobblestone Inn and Suites.
    —Renewed the liquor license for The Skillet.
    —Purchased parts for Hydra-Stop for the water department, totaling $11,280.
    —Approved travel requests for officer Joe Marcum to attend an open records class in Brush and Sgt. Mark Werts to attend a highway drug investigation class in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
    —Allowed a special events permit for Thrashers Softball Club on March 17.
    —Decided to run an eighth-page advertisement in Explore magazine.
    —Accepted the renewal quote for Colorado Employer Benefit Trust for City employee insurance and allowed Tonsing to sign CEBT participating employer certification and HIPPA confidentiality agreement.