County emergency manager role filled

Phillips County has a new emergency manager after the Board of Phillips County Commissioners approved a contractual agreement with Broc Pelle. The effective date was May 1, and the term of the agreement runs through Dec. 31.

Agreement reached on courthouse sidewalk project

In other April business, commissioners adopted a resolution authorizing an agreement between Phillips County and the Colorado Department of Transportation for the replacement of the sidewalks at Phillips County Court House.

CDOT funds in the amount of $104,693 have been made available for the project to replace existing sidewalks and curbing where deemed necessary, and the county authorized the expenditure of $26,173 as necessary to meet the terms and obligations of the project agreement and application.

Lou Harmon was approved as the county engineer for the project. He will be paid out of county funds and not with part of the grant. The project is in early stages of the engineering, surveying and design phase.

CVRF grant reviewed

Commissioners reviewed the $299,525 coronavirus relief fund RF063 grant, which designates an amount to entities in Phillips County. Holyoke received $89,861.99, Haxtun received $44,924.26 and Phillips County received $164,738.75.

Commissioners approved disbursing some of the funds from the grant to be used for a contribution of $4,500 for the town of Ovid’s request to renovate their kitchen facilities used for the Meals on Wheels program.

Other business

In other business last month, commissioners:

— Reviewed an award letter regarding the USDA Community Facilities Grant notifying the county that the request for $24,237 (55%) of the total cost of $44,067 to purchase a vehicle for

Phillips County Sheriff’s Office has been approved. The county’s portion of the purchase is $19,830, which is 45%. The USDA funds will be received as reimbursement of expended county funds.

— Agreed to correct a water runoff issue on the county right of way from Double W Dairy on County Road 37. The road and bridge department will complete the work that will keep runoff from the dairy operations on dairy property. The dairy agreed to pay up to $5,000 to complete the project.

— Approved a one-time donation of $2,500 to Phillips County Economic Development for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

— Renewed ambulance service licenses for East Phillips County Ambulance Service and Haxtun Ambulance Service for April 1, 2021-March 31, 2022.

— Approved a subdivision request from Gary Koch to sell Ryan Horton five acres of ground south of Haxtun.

— Met with Sheriff Thom Elliott to discuss the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control aerial wildfire assistance program. Elliott was directed to take the necessary steps to implement the program.

— Met with Amber Donovan of Northeast Colorado Health Department and found the Bank of Colorado Pavilion kitchen is ready for commercial use.

­— Approved a roadway occupancy agreement with Poe PLT for construction of an underground electric line to cross County Road 14 southeast of Holyoke.

— Appointed commissioner Garold Roberts to sit on the CSU Extension hiring committee to fill the vacancy left by Deeona Johnston.