HPD has new officer

Police Chief Doug Bergstrom reported to Holyoke City Council members at their Dec. 21 meeting that Jordan Fleharty started work as a police officer with Holyoke Police Department on Friday, Dec. 17.

He passed his Peace Officer Standards and Training test Wednesday, Dec. 15, and was sworn in the next day. Fleharty won’t be done with field training and completely on his own until roughly the end of February.

Bergstrom also reported that HPD handled or generated 56 calls for service from Dec. 2-16, including one municipal code violation under code enforcement.

Pool building to receive new glass

Council members approved a bid from Cornhusker Glass for the replacement of glass at Holyoke Swimming Pool. City Superintendent Mark Brown said all glass at the pool will be replaced except that of the walk-in door for the outdoor wading pool, which he said is in really good shape.

The council approved $1,500 for the door closers, $3,015 for a new front door at the main entrance and $17,940 for the rest of the exterior glass.

Brown said that Cornhusker Glass representatives told him that they’re at the mercy of the manufacturer when it comes to the arrival time of the glass for the project, so there is not yet an estimated time frame for the project.

Council hears reports

Brown reported that there was a power outage during the windstorm Wednesday, Dec. 15. A fuse just north of Jack’s Bean Company on Highway 385 was taken out, but the issue has been resolved.

City personnel responded to several other trouble calls that day, and power was temporarily lost to the R1 well on Sherman Avenue. A fuse inside the transformer blew. The cause is unknown, but power was restored.

Street crews have been busy picking up tree branches that blew down in the storm. Brown said the tree that fell in City Park was marked to come down anyway.

Water and sewer crews have finished blowing out the sprinklers at the golf course and the cemetery. They have also been working on broken water meters and making minor repairs at the lift station.

Brown also reported that the red clay mix is on-site for the infield of the small baseball/softball field, and Ron Marshall is working to finish leveling it. Brown added that the construction crew for the new fire station is also on-site.

City Clerk/Treasurer Kathy Olofson told council members the fourth-quarter conservation trust fund distribution came in at $6,870.69. Total distribution in 2021 was $27,254.47, which is an increase of $4,173.35 from last year. She said the state contribution to the fire department pension fund was also received in the amount of $8,658.

Additionally, she noted that the city offices will be closed all day Friday, Dec. 31.

Recreation director Victoria Dunker reported that registration is open for the first grade basketball clinics that will be held Thursdays in January.

She also reported that registration for the Showdown on the Plains cattle show is about to open. She added that rooms at local hotels are starting to get booked in anticipation of the event, which is scheduled for Friday-Sunday, Jan. 28-30.

Council member Brian Akey reported that Holyoke Golf Club is still looking for a new superintendent after the resignation of Don Schelling.

Other business

In other business at the Dec. 21 meeting, council members:

—Approved a transfer of Holyoke Municipal Airport’s 2022 Federal Aviation Administration entitlement funds in the amount of $150,000 to Greeley-Weld County Airport. The yearly entitlement of $150,000 can be lent to other airports to be paid back in another year and added to that year’s entitlement for a total of up to $450,000 for an airport project.   

— Wrote off bad debts for 2021 utility bills in the amount of $1,371.37 and for 2021 accounts receivable in the amount of $10.

— Approved a donation to Phillips County Museum for 2022 utilities in the amount of $1,500.

— Approved a special events permit for the Phillips County Fair Board for Friday, Dec. 31.

— Approved a special events permit for Pheasants Forever Inc. for Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022.

— Held a 13-minute executive session for the purpose of receiving legal advice.