Moore resigns from city council
Holyoke City Council accepted the resignation of council member Steve Moore at its Sept. 21 meeting. He is moving to the Western Slope.
“It’s been my pleasure,” Moore said of his time on the council, to which he was first elected in April 2010. His resignation letter was accepted shortly thereafter.
The council will now appoint someone to fill the vacancy within 30 days of the Sept. 21 meeting.
Resolution supporting Second Amendment adopted
Council members passed a resolution declaring the support of the city of Holyoke for the preservation of Second Amendment rights in a roll call vote. John Schneider cast the sole dissenting vote.
Tom Hethcote had provided the council with a proposal Friday, Sept. 17, for Holyoke to be a Second Amendment sanctuary city. He noted that while Phillips County is a Second Amendment sanctuary county, he doesn’t feel Holyoke’s being a Second Amendment sanctuary city is redundant.
“I just think our government is continually trying to infringe on our rights and liberties and freedoms,” he said, adding that more redundancy accentuates the point that people still expect their freedoms and guarantees under the Constitution.
The resolution declares the city’s support of the right to bear arms outlined in the Second Amendment, but it does not create any changes.
Additionally, it does not affect Colorado House Bill 1177, sometimes known as the red flag law, that creates the ability for a family or household member or a law enforcement officer to petition the court for a temporary extreme risk protection order.
If it is established by evidence that a person poses a significant risk to self or others by having a firearm in their custody or control or by possessing, purchasing or receiving a firearm, the court may issue a continuing ERPO, which prohibits the person in question from possessing, controlling, purchasing or receiving a firearm for 364 days.
Visitors speak to council
Phillips County Economic Development executive director Trisha Herman was present at the meeting to give a presentation of the Economic Development budget and request support.
She said in the past, $10,900 was requested from the city. In April, council members voted to increase the city’s contribution by $2,325 for the remainder of this year to total $13,225. Herman asked that the city’s contribution to Economic Development be increased to $14,000 for next year.
She outlined the many accomplishments achieved through Economic Development, including the Ogallala Commons internship program, helping businesses with startup questions, the completion of a six-month housing study in January 2020 and continued meetings to try to address the lack of housing, raising over $125,000 for Holyoke and Haxtun in long-term recovery from COVID-19 and the distribution of COVID-19 business relief funds through the county.
Herman noted that Economic Development membership has grown from 31 to 50 members since 2016. She has helped connect funders to programs through Rural Philanthropy Days and helped start Homegrown Talent Initiative in Holyoke, which provides students with work-based learning experiences aligned to the needs of the community.
She added that $1.7 million has been raised for the Holyoke Community Childcare Initiative. Economic Development is also currently working on a Roadmap to Recovery grant to bring funding to the community.
She was personally recognized as Startup Colorado champion of the year in 2020 and recently received a scholarship from the Boettcher Foundation for Doers & Difference Makers, where she was one of only six people chosen in the state.
Gary Herr was also present at the meeting. Noting that a five-year plan for the city’s infrastructure may not be in order since the work that needs to be done will not likely be completed in that time, he proposed the council create a master plan. He said this would provide the city something to work toward whether it takes five, 10 or 25 years to accomplish an infrastructure upgrade.
Council hears reports
City Clerk/Treasurer Kathy Olofson reported that the city has received $1,644.52 from the state in mineral lease distribution and $120.21 in severance tax for 2021.
She said the third-quarter Conservation Trust Fund lottery proceeds have been received in the amount of $6,142.32.
Olofson added that the city received $15,795 from Colorado Employer Benefit Trust, the city’s health insurance provider. The money was a dividend for participating employer groups funded from unrestricted surplus in excess of the trust’s needs.
She reported that the current year’s gross total assessed value has been received from Phillips County Assessor Doug Kamery in the amount of $18,275,520. When calculated with the city’s 21.8 mills, this comes to $398,406.34, which is an increase of $20,815 from last year. The final assessed value will be distributed Dec. 1.
Olofson noted that Connie Holtzman’s retirement reception was held Friday, Sept. 17, and that she will be missed and all wish her well.
City Superintendent Mark Brown reported that water and sewer personnel repaired a leak on the main line of the sprinkler system at Holyoke Cemetery. They have also been pouring manhole rings for new water services.
Members of the electric and water and sewer departments have been helping the street department with the concrete in the alley behind the post office.
Holyoke Police Chief Doug Bergstrom reported that HPD handled or generated 65 calls for service from Sept. 2-16, including one animal complaint and eight municipal code violations under code enforcement. He added that the first UTV license has been issued in town after the council passed an ordinance permitting their use.
In other business at the Sept. 21 meeting, council members held a 50-minute executive session for the purpose of receiving legal advice on specific legal questions and for discussion of a personnel matter involving an employee who requested the matter be held in executive session.