Council approves majority of incentive request

The Haxtun Town Council considered a third economic incentive application for the year in a Monday night, Aug. 6 meeting. In the absence of Mayor Mike Ensminger, Mayor Pro Tem Lori Lundgren presided over the short, 30-minute meeting.

The Council considered an economic incentive policy application from Every Bloomin’ Thing, a business located in the heart of downtown Haxtun. Local florist Rebecca Ensminger recently completed extensive construction on the outside of the building to include a new door, windows and siding and is also awaiting a new awning.

In the application request, Ensminger asked for a total of $13,440.70 back in incentives, which includes infrastructure of the project, a use tax waiver and building permit fees along with other miscellaneous supplies.

Over the past few months, the Haxtun Town Council has granted approval of incentive funds to several other local businesses including $13,000 to Town Square Realty and $1,000 to Meraki Salon and Spa, a business currently under construction with a future opening date.

In the August meeting earlier this week, Council Member Bob Coinek asked if there was a specific formula or process used to determine how much each application should be granted. Superintendent Ron Carpenter said that incentive funds are released on a first come, first serve basis as the budget allows. This year, he said, the Town earmarked $30,000 in economic incentive funds.

“I hate to spend everything we have in one place, it’s only August,” Council Member Dave Green said. He added he has hopes for other projects down the road.

Carpenter explained that should businesses complete projects this year and funds were exhausted, business owners could apply for funds in the next fiscal year.

Green later made a motion to approve Every Bloomin’ Thing’s request with the exception of the cost of the awning, which later passed by vote of the Council. The total amount of funds approved to go back to Every Bloomin’ Thing is $11,900. In her application, Ensminger said any incentives given back will go to continued improvement to her building.

“That will take most of the funds we have left,” said Green. The Town of Haxtun has a total of $3,400 remaining in economic incentive funds for 2023.

“We have to be happy that money is available because it is helping main street,” Council Member Dean Anderson said. “It’s really looking good.”

At the start of the meeting, council members voted to appropriate the use of money from an Old Hire Police Pension Fund that is no longer in use. Haxtun Town Clerk Kelsie Harms said all public notice was given and those funds were not claimed and so now the Town can use them to pay pension plans for current police officers. Those funds, she said, are restricted for certain use but the Town is eligible to use them for current police pension. She added that those funds will cover what the Town currently contributes to police pension for the next six or seven years.

Later, in staff reports, Carpenter gave an update on insurance claims from recent hail storms. He said the Town Hall building and the Library received severe roof damage along with other structures that received moderate damage like the gazebo in the park and the ball park concession stand. Some of the repairs, he said, could be done in house, but Spelts Roofing will need to put an entire new roof on town hall and re-seal the library. The Town is currently working with insurance for reimbursement.

As for the pool, Carpenter noted that the plumbing is roughed in for the bath house and some concrete has been poured. Fencing posts have been laid out and decks are expected to be poured next week.

In other business:

• The Council signed an intergovernmental agreement with the Northeast Colorado Regional Innovate Housing Strategies group. Carpenter said funds from grants will help a consultant look through Haxtun’s municipal codes and make recommendations for updates and changes;

• Police Chief Tom Bullard said he has been working with school staff on security training. He is also planning some programs with the Colorado State Patrol;

• The Council voted to move the September meeting to Tuesday, Sept. 5 in light of Labor Day.