Phillips County Commissioners receive recent update on American Rescue Plan

Phillips County commissioners have been provided an update regarding the American Rescue Plan and the funds to be distributed to each entity in Phillips County.

The county itself will receive $828,426, Holyoke $554,980, Haxtun $227,220 and Paoli $8,546.

Half of the funds are available now and the balance will be paid in 12 months. The funds must be expended by Dec. 31, 2026.

Conditional use permit reviewed

Commissioners reviewed the April 19, 2018, conditional use permit and its conditions for Sprague Brothers Land LLC for a swine nursery housing up to 9,999 head of feeder pigs two miles east and four miles north of Holyoke. Commissioners provided clarification on the location of the monitoring well.

While his motion didn’t go forward, at the June 30 meeting, Commissioner Garold Roberts made a motion to add verbiage to the existing Phillips County zoning requirements that would have meant any new commercial feedlot over 5,000 head seeking a conditional use permit may be required to go to a vote of the people in a regular or special election, with costs incurred for the election to be paid by the applicant.

As there was no second, the motion was not considered.

Roberts emphasized that he had reservations in making the motion and doesn’t want to necessarily turn away agricultural operations as they’re already heavily regulated. He noted that the way it’s written now allows for feedlots of any size to be built outside three miles of Holyoke’s stoplight with an approved conditional use permit.

Chairman Terry Hofmeister said he feels the timing is not right to put another condition on the agriculture industry. Commissioner Tom Timm echoed this sentiment, and Hofmeister added that he feels the issue would not need to go to a vote of the people since that’s one of the reasons the county has the board of adjustment and three commissioners.

Commissioners affirm

resolution from 1894

A resolution originally adopted Sept. 3, 1894, was affirmed by the commissioners last month.

The resolution says the board of commissioners at that time found that in 1887, citizens of what is now Phillips County but was then part of Logan County petitioned the county board to declare all town and section lines public roads, which the board did.

At the time, all parties having fences running across any town and section lines were notified to remove all obstructions from said roads within 30 days of the date of publication of the notice.

At their Feb. 18, 2021, meeting, commissioners denied Eric Luedke’s request to build a fence within the county’s right-of-way located on the section line southwest of Holyoke between county roads 27 and 29 where County Road 4 would be.

Luedke requested at the July 9 meeting that the motion denying his request be rescinded. He disclosed to the board that he had built the fence. The commissioners acknowledged that there are no plans to build a road at that location.

Luedke said he will take the fence down if the county determines a need to build a road there, but he declined to sign an agreement stating such.

Commissioners ultimately rescinded the approved Feb. 18 motion denying Luedke’s request to build the fence, with conditions.

If the county needs to build a road at the location, then the fence will be removed. Roberts pointed out that the county has the authority to put roads on the county’s own right-of-ways if there’s a need to do so.

Commissioners review

second round of business grants

The second round of business grants using COVID-19 relief funds was reviewed by the board.

Since the amount of the recommended business grants exceeds the remaining money in the county and city of Holyoke allotments, no checks will be issued until the Town of Haxtun determines if any of its remaining allotment can be used for this purpose. The Haxtun Town Board will meet in August to discuss the use of their remaining funds.

Gun range maintenance discussed

Gary Engels met with the board and proposed taking over maintenance of the gun range since no county department is currently assigned the task.

Engels will bring a specific plan for proposed updates and repairs to a future meeting. After those items are completed, Engels feels he can take care of the necessary maintenance by working one day per month. He proposed a contract of $1,200 per year. No action will be taken until further information is received.

Other business

In other business last month, commissioners:

•  Approved a subdivision exemption request submitted by Rocking W & Co., LLC to sell six acres to Taylor and Natasha Wilson northeast of Haxtun.

•  Approved a subdivision exemption request submitted by Eric and Arika Luedke to sell 11.1 acres to Eagle Creek Colorado southwest of Holyoke.

• Met with weed and pest manager Kerri Doleshall, who was concerned about the availability and cost of chemicals for the 2022 spraying season. The board agreed to allow Doleshall to purchase chemicals for next year using this year’s budget.

•  Donated $2,000 from CVRF RF-063 funds to the First United Methodist Church for its food pantry.

• Approved the installation of an additional security camera for the Biesemeier Room at Phillips County Event Center for $500.

•  Approved a grant application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the purchase of a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe patrol car from John Elway Chevrolet in the amount of $47,851.21.

•  Hired Jennifer Holt as a child welfare/adult protection supervisor with Phillips County Department of Human Services effective Aug. 2.

• Waived the $45 building permit fee for the Town of Haxtun to build a city maintenance shop west of the town limits.

• Held a 46-minute executive session for the purpose of receiving legal advice on a specific legal question.