Commissioners reorganize; Hofmeister remains chairman

After Garold Roberts and Tom Timm were sworn in as Phillips County commissioners Jan. 12, the reorganized board elected Terry Hofmeister chairman for 2021. Roberts and Timm will rotate duty as temporary chairman in the case of Hofmeister’s absence.

Hofmeister will also fulfill the duties of interim emergency manager for Phillips County until a permanent replacement is found.

While commissioners hope to fill the role as soon as possible, the process could take several weeks. Commissioners are determining whether to leave the position as a contractor or add the emergency manager as a county employee. Letters of interest in the position are due by Feb. 5.

Also at their Jan. 12 reorganization meeting, commissioners noted that department heads must get approval from the board on purchases over $1,000 and that a majority of the board must agree on purchases or repairs of $5,000 or more.

Commissioners approved temporary and seasonal part-time employee pay to be at least minimum wage at $12.32 per hour up to $18 per hour based on experience.

They also approved 2021 fees for facilities and usage of county equipment with no changes from last year. Fees for the Bank of Colorado Pavilion and Phillips County Event Center will be reviewed further.

Commissioners noted that the county auditor will be rfarmer, llc of Lamar for the yearly audit fee of $19,500.

Families First Coronavirus Response Act discussed

With the Families First federal COVID-19 leave plan being extended until March 31, commissioners approved 40 hours of administrative time off per county employee for COVID-19 isolation or quarantine if the plan is not extended beyond that date.

The commissioners noted that this policy can be reviewed at any time.

Contract approved for 2021 races

Commissioners reviewed and signed the 2021 raceway contract with Joe Bellm’s B&B Investments Co. LLC dba Phillips County Raceway.

Fair Board president Kayla Kafka reported to the commissioners that due to vendor problems, a midway carnival will not be available for Phillips County Fair this year.

Because of this, the Fair Board proposed scheduling a race July 23. Kafka was directed to contact Bellm to see if he is interested. In the event the details are mutually agreed upon, then the race will be added as an amendment to the existing 2021 raceway contract.

Other business

In other business last month, commissioners:

— Noted that as of Jan. 28, $148,971 had been distributed for small business grants through coronavirus relief funds.

­­— Appointed Jeanette Kingman to the Planning Commission and the Board of Adjustment to fill the unexpired terms of LeRoy Michael. Her terms will expire December 2023 and December 2021 respectively, at which time she will be eligible for reappointment.

­— Appointed Matt Kleve to the Board of Adjustment to fill the unexpired term of Mark Lutze. His term will end December 2021, at which time he will be eligible for reappointment.

­— Approved the Fair Board’s request that Austin Tharp, Doug Larson and Teonna McCabe be reappointed to three-year terms ending Aug. 31, 2023.

— Appointed Chris Fuesz to a three-year term on the Board of Adjustment.

— Appointed McKenzie Fleharty to a four-year term on the E911 Board.

­— Appointed Ron Carpenter to a two-year term on the Comm Board.

— Submitted a request through Northeast Colorado Health Department to lower the restriction level of Phillips County on the state’s COVID-19 dial.