County approves 2 conditional use permits
Last month, the Phillips County Board of Commissioners received applications for and approved conditional use permits for Helena Chemical and Sprague Brothers Land LLC, following public hearing and recommendations by the board of adjustments. Commissioners reported the conditions for each at its April 30 meeting.
From Helena Chemical, the application was for continued operation at its site 1 mile east of town. Conditions for the permit follow:
—Helena Chemical Company must comply with the Colorado Department of Agriculture rules and regulations for commercial fertilizers.
—All fertilizer storage must be placed in accordance with recommendations from Ramsey McDermid, P.E., with Consulting Civil and Water Resources Engineering LLC.
—Storage of crop production products in the existing building will be allowed, but all products must be on pallets to maximize flood protection.
—Annual testing of existing domestic wells will be required for five years as permitted by property owners, which includes 21st Century, Helena Chemical Co., Joe Schram and Rusty Triplette.
—Cone-bottom or tendering units shall not be used for storage.
—Anhydrous ammonia and dry bulk fertilizer will be prohibited.
The Sprague Brothers Land application was to operate a swine nursery housing up to 9,999 head of feeder pigs 4 miles north and 2 miles east of town. Conditions for the permit follow:
—Use of the premises shall be limited to a confinement swine production unit.
—The maximum allowable number of swine on this site shall be 9,999 nursery pigs weighing from 10 to 55 pounds.
—Dead animals will be disposed of by daily placement in a cooler, followed by weekly pickup and removal from the site.
—Insects and rodents shall be controlled by the operator so they are not a problem to adjoining landowners.
—Effluent will be maintained in enclosed 8-foot concrete pits. It will be pumped as needed into an injection implement and knifed 8-12 inches below the surface on farm ground held by the applicant. Best management practices for application should be employed (i.e. soil tests, etc.).
—These conditions will apply to any successor of Sprague Brothers Land in the operation of the facility.
—The board or its representatives shall be allowed to inspect the facility upon request as long as the inspectors meet any health standard requirements set forth by the operator for entry.
—Assuming the commercial well is located southwest of the two barns, the applicant shall take an annual water analysis to ensure no leakage is occurring from the enclosed concrete pits. If the commercial well is west of the barns, a monitoring well will need to be placed southwest of the barns to allow for the annual water analysis. Said analysis shall be made available to commissioners upon request.
Lease-purchase agreement signed for pavilion
Commissioners also reported that since the pavilion project will cost approximately $2 million, compared to the initial estimate of $1.6 million, the County was faced with finding interim construction financing and a lease-purchase agreement. Cash flow has also become a concern because the Energy Impact money from the state comes in the form of reimbursements, which have been very slow to come back.
After reviewing proposals from Points West Bank of Haxtun, First Pioneer National Bank and Bank of Colorado, commissioners decided on Bank of Colorado for a $500,000 lease purchase agreement to help complete the pavilion.
The board also met with Jeff Deselms from the City and approved a proposal to provide electricity to the pavilion. The total cost will be $20,191.77 to have an overhead line west of the pavilion, with underground to the transformer and pad at the northeast corner. The cost will also cover a 300 kVA transformer.
In other pavilion progress, commissioners advertised for the projects to be completed inside the building. Bid packets went out for plumbing, electrical, concrete and carpentry work. Bids are due back Wednesday, May 9.
In an effort to keep the project moving and to have it complete before the county fair, commissioners decided to retain contractors to provide the rough-in portion of the electrical and plumbing work. That work can proceed immediately, allowing the balance of the electrical and plumbing work to begin shortly after bids are received and contracts approved.
3 new hires approved
Last month, County commissioners approved hiring three new employees. Kirk Sittner will be a seasonal employee for the Weed and Pest District. Diane Rahe was hired as a part-time employee for the County Clerk and Recorder’s Office. Beau Waln was hired as a part-time employee for the landfill. He will be tasked with transporting processed wood.
Changes made to landfill fees
Large plastic grain bags have a new rate at the landfill, effective May 1. If bags are not cut to 100-foot lengths, the cost will be $32.38 per ton. If they’re taken to the landfill already cut into 100-foot lengths, the fee remains $20 per ton. Commissioners explained that longer portions cannot be put into the baler.
The board also voted to increase the fee for wood chips, hog waste and grain dust to $32.38 per ton, effective May 1.
Other business
In other business throughout the month of April, commissioners:
—Approved a five-year lease agreement with the Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners for the Jensen Gravel Pit.
—Approved a roadway occupancy agreement with PC Telcom for underground construction of a fiber-optic line that will cross County Road 14 approximately 5,400 feet east of County Road 41.
—Purchased an ice machine for use at the Event Center at a cost of $3,131.29.
—Approved citywide cleanup days at the landfill for May 16-18. Countywide cleanup days will be June 1-2.
—Gave access to the landfill grounds to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for locating and siting monitoring wells.