No issues found in city’s audit
Scott Szabo of Lauer, Szabo & Associates, PC attended the May 18 Holyoke City Council meeting to provide an overview of the city’s 2020 audit, which was accepted as presented.
“It’s just a joy to come do your audit,” Szabo said, praising the work of City Clerk/Treasurer Kathy Olofson, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Tillie Fisbeck and city office staff members.
At the end of 2020, the city’s general fund had a balance of $2,717,083, which is about 15 months of reserves. Szabo noted that this is a very healthy reserve. The fund is up $666,747 from the previous year.
The total balance of the city’s eight special revenue funds and one permanent fund was $707,492, up $16,362 from 2019. A total of $9,517 was transferred from these funds to the general fund.
The city’s utility fund’s net position at the end of the year was $11,192,977, up $376,783 from 2019. From that fund, $800,000 was transferred to the general fund.
Szabo said the city’s spending and revenue streams are very consistent from year to year.
“From an auditor’s perspective,” he added, “everything is in great shape. All the funds have ample reserves — no concerns there whatsoever. And again, the audit itself, we could not be more pleased with how it went.”
Possible fifth police officer discussed
After tabling the decision of hiring a fifth police officer at their May 4 meeting, city council members discussed the situation again and took no further action.
Council member Steve Moore said his biggest concern is that sending two people to the police academy means there would be several uncertain expenses since they don’t yet know if the city is getting financial assistance to offset the cost.
He added that time is a factor as well, since after graduating from the academy it could take nearly a year until the new officer is fully ready for duty.
“You know, we had the five at one time and then we went down to four and that’s kind of been my number, anyway, four,” council member John Schneider said.
Moore added that if there’s a chance of hiring a fifth officer who’s already Peace Officers Standards and Training certified and it’s a great fit, then there’s the possibility of looking at that at the time.
Council revisits 501(c)(3) assistance request
Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Holly Ferguson was at the meeting to discuss the formation of a Holyoke community foundation, a topic she last brought before council members April 6.
Phillips County Economic Development Executive Director Trisha Herman was also at the meeting in support of the creation of the foundation.
In discussing the issue, council members felt more information was needed and did not take further action.
City Attorney Al Wall pointed out that he has set up a 501(c)(3) a number of times, and it is not simple.
“They’ve gotten really strict on you specifying what you want to do, then they’ll check it and verify it,” Wall said, adding that there can’t be multiple boards running it.
Council member Brian Akey said he would like more information about who would qualify for what, and council member Kevin Scott added that he would like to see the request also be made to the county and not have the city foot the whole bill.
Ferguson said the initial request was for $2,500 for engaging a company to complete all the necessary documents and file the paperwork to create a 501(c)(3), but the amount was lowered to $2,000 since Russell Haynes has completed Form 1023 paperwork before and is willing to help complete that portion.
Herman said she feels creating a Holyoke foundation is imperative for the community and will open up doors for both economic development and the chamber since they both have a 501(c)(6) designation.
Ferguson added that the chamber missed out on a lot of grant opportunities during the pandemic since it is a 501(c)(6), and more funding chances are available to a 501(c)(3).
Moore questioned why the city was being asked to fund the full $2,000 startup cost, and Schneider asked if Ferguson had checked with the county or other entities regarding funding.
Ferguson said she had only checked with the city so far and had initially done so to see if any COVID-19 relief funds could be used, which is not a possibility.
Summer baseball and softball programs field 120 kids
Noting that she’s excited for this summer’s baseball, softball, T-ball and machine pitch programs since kids weren’t able to play last year, recreation director Victoria Dunker was happy to tell council members that 120 kids are participating in these programs this year.
Almost half of them are between 5 and 8 years old, representing a good foundation for the future.
This comes on the heels of a successful youth soccer season in which 130 kids participated.
She said summer softball practice started Monday, May 17. Sherman Kage and Kendra Schlachter are coaching the two teams. Kody Timm and Dylan Miles are coaching summer baseball, and Jade Goldenstein and Ashley Clayton are coaching T-ball and machine pitch.
She said she is thankful to the coaches, all of whom have coached before. She told council members she will have their salary recommendations next month.
Dunker said HHS student Tayla Martin will be the recreation department intern this summer for 100 hours in June.
She added that she has not heard anything back yet from Ripley Design regarding potential new designs for the park master plan after community members provided feedback, but she will keep the council informed on the progress.
Soil in new fire station lot to be tested
Council members approved the soil in the new fire station lot to be tested at the cost of at least $9,000.
City Superintendent Mark Brown said attendees of a fire shed pre-construction meeting were adamant about testing the soil for quality and compaction.
To this end, Brown contacted Earth Engineering Consultants in Windsor, which also has a representative based in Fort Morgan.
Brown said the plan is to bore 15 holes in the lot in a grid pattern. Eight will be 10 feet deep and the rest will be 20.
He said the cost will start at $9,000, but it could go up from there depending on what’s found. The firm will schedule the project as soon as possible but couldn’t yet provide an exact time frame.
Citizen shares concerns
Joe Kinnie approached council members to discuss the condition of some of the Holyoke streets that have potholes, specifically mentioning Sheridan and Wynona avenues and Johnson street.
He said another concern is Highway 6 on the east end of town where the speed limit is 45 mph. He said speeding happens there frequently and he would like the speed limit reduced and to not increase going east until County Road 41.
He noted that he had spoken to the Colorado Department of Transportation about the issue in the past, since they control the speed limit.
Brown said CDOT did a traffic study in that area and found that the traffic didn’t warrant a change in the speed limit.
Kinnie pointed out that the traffic increases in the summer and during harvest, and the speeding is a danger to the community.
He talked to the council about what it would take to create a right turn lane in front of Scheunemann’s on Interocean Avenue.
Brown said that this is also up to the state, and it would mean taking out six to eight parking spots in front of not only Scheunemann’s, but also in front of Holyoke Community Federal Credit Union and Brewed Awakening Coffee & Bake Shop under state regulations.
Kinnie also expressed his support for licensing Gator utility vehicles since golf carts can be licensed.
Council hears reports
Brown reported that electric crews have finished burying a power line on the west side of the Bank of Colorado Pavilion.
Water and sewer crews have kept busy upgrading well-control systems and cleaning well houses after city wells were converted from chlorine gas disinfection to a liquid chlorine disinfectant solution in late March. They have also been doing quarterly testing for the state.
Street crews have been filling the cracks in the streets in preparation for seal coating work. They have also been filling potholes, mowing grass and getting the cemetery ready for Memorial Day.
Police Chief Doug Bergstrom said that Holyoke Police Department handled or generated 64 calls for service from April 30-May 12, including one animal complaint under code enforcement.
Olofson informed council members that Connie Holtzman is retiring from the city office after 32 years and she will be missed.
Wall requested a meeting with the police committee to be held after the city council meeting adjourned.
Other business
In other business at the May 18 meeting, council members:
— Approved a payment of $1,600 to Inland Potable Services for the inspection and cleaning of potable water tanks, which must be completed every five years.
— Joined the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska at the associate class level of participation, providing the city voting rights and the opportunity to sit on the board of Nebraska Municipal Power Pool if desired.
— Renewed the city’s Medical Air Service Association membership.
— Appointed Jason Redman to serve another three-year term on the Board of Variance Adjustment.
— Approved the liquor license for Sara’s Cuisine LLC.