Town Council votes to replace hot water heater

Decisions on a hot water heater for Little Sprouts Learning Center, changes to the golf cart ordinance and setting an interim police chief salary for Sergeant Tom Bullard took the greater part of a Monday, Nov. 7 meeting of the Haxtun Town Council. Interim Mayor Lori Lundgren presided over the meeting as she fills in until new incoming Mayor Mike Ensminger takes his oath of office in December.

Several months ago, members of the Little Sprouts Learning Center Board along with Director Julie Brown attended a Town Council meeting and expressed their concerns with areas of the daycare center building. The group also gave in-depth details on the financial strains placed on the center due to previous direction of the local daycare. One of those items, Brown said, was the condition of the hot water heater at the Center. The water heater, installed 10 years ago when the building was constructed, leaks and is extremely calcified. The Center is under strict rules and regulations set by the health department, which requires the daycare facility have a commercial grade water heater.

Over the past few months, Superintendent Ron Carpenter has been working with Little Sprouts Learning Center board members and director along with Precision Plumbing and Heating to come up with a suitable replacement that will meet all requirements.

At the recent November meeting, Carpenter said he received a bid from Precision Plumbing and Heating for $8,500 to replace the hot water heater with a new model that fits within health department regulations. When the local daycare center was built the Town of Haxtun assumed ownership of the actual building, a stipulation of a portion of the grant funds originally obtained for construction. Recently, the Town of Haxtun agreed to retain ownership and in light of that decision, the Council voted last week to replace the hot water heater at Little Sprouts Learning Center and cover all costs to do so.

The Council also discussed changes to the current golf cart ordinance specifically regarding the age to drive a golf cart on town streets and a windshield requirement. The two projected changes came up as topics of discussion several months ago. Since then, in meetings and at work sessions, council members have discussed making changes to the golf cart ordinance.

Last week, the Council voted to change the age requirement to drive a golf cart from 18 to 16. A second change was also approved to remove a stipulation that requires windshields on golf carts approved for town streets. The newly drafted and now adopted ordinance appears on page 6 of this week’s Herald and changes will take effect 30 days after publication.

At the start of the meeting, council members discussed possible salary changes for Bullard, who is filling in as Interim Police Chief. He took on the temporary role at the end of October in light of a recent investigation underway in relation to Chief Nate Nadow. Nadow was placed on paid administrative leave following a special meeting of the Haxtun Town Council on Oct. 24.

According to Clerk Kelsey Harms, the Town Council voted to pay Bullard the equivalent to an annual salary of $63,000 while he serves as the Interim Police Chief for the Haxtun Police Department.

In other business the Council:

• Approved a special event liquor permit for the Haxtun Volunteer Fire Department for a rocky mountain oyster fry;

• Set a hearing date for Jan. 3 for a resolution to annex property known as Skyland to the Town of Haxtun. The property is owned by Lyle Lundgren’s estate and is located on the southwest end of town;

• Renewed optional insurance coverages with CIRSA;

• Signed a letter of intent for a federal grant application for new emergency sirens. The grant is 75/25 and would require $14,000 from the Town of Haxtun. If approved, the grant and additional funds would allow for new sirens including demo of the old sirens, installations of new ones including poles and other equipment and training for the Town’s maintenance department;

•Received word that the Phillips County Recreation District pledged $125,000 towards the pool project. That number is above and beyond the $120,000 already pledged and paid by the District;

• Carpenter said he is seeking bids to fix the existing basketball court located by the current pool. Hopes are to use conservation trust funds to help with repairs at the court;

• The following building permits were approved: Steve Bahnsen, 305 West Strohm Street for a kitchen remodel/siding and a new roof; Jeff Otto, 141 North Wayne Street to replace a window; Joel Woodside, 145 North Washington Avenue to replace a bathtub; Jason Hadeen, 207 East Second Street for new siding, soffit and windows; Ben and Casey Stephenson, lot one and two on Pheasant Run for a new wood frame home; Tom Edwards, 111 North Westridge for an electric tap; Cesar Mendoza, 633 Fairview Avenue for a porch.