Garretson appointed manager for revitalization effort

Exciting things are happening for Haxtun’s main street. Discussions at the November meeting of the Haxtun Town Council centered around joining Colorado’s Department of Local Affairs Main Street Program along with the possibility of obtaining ownership of the old hospital building located at the corner of South Colorado and Fletcher Street.

DOLA’s Colorado Main Street Program offers support for community-led downtown revitalization. The program helps communities thrive by providing a customizable framework to focus efforts, energy and resources.

According to website information, Colorado Main Street is a Main Street America Coordinating Program. As a Main Street America Coordinating Program, Colorado Main Street helps to lead a powerful, grassroots network of over 40 Coordinating Programs and over 1,200 neighborhoods and communities across the country committed to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.

The Town of Haxtun has been an affiliate member of the Main Street Program, but recently, discussions have shifted to become an official Main Street Program community. Over the past few weeks, program officials have visited Haxtun to talk with town representatives and community members regarding the benefits of being a member community. Those benefits include preserving Haxtun’s main street through many various resources and grant funding opportunities. The membership also provides individual businesses with the same resources for revitalization.

To become a Main Street Program community, the Town of Haxtun will need to go through a lengthy application process as well as appoint a program manager. That process includes forming a board to develop and oversee projects and forming a mission statement.

Communities in Colorado that have most recently benefited as Main Street Program members include Brush, Hugo and Lamar.

According to Haxtun Town Clerk Kelsey Harms, the Town of Haxtun approved moving forward in applying to join the Colorado Main Street Program as an official community. In doing so, the Council also voted to appoint Darcy Garretson as Haxtun’s program manager; a position Garretson has taken on a fully as a volunteer.

Moving forward, work will begin on the application process. Garretson and other town representatives plan to meet with community groups in the coming months as well as host community meetings to gather input.

In conjunction with discussing Main Street Program opportunities, Garretson spoke with council members about the ownership of the old hospital building. The building is located at 205 South Colorado Avenue directly south of Town Hall.

According to Harms, the owners of the building have passed on and their heirs wish to have the building put to use by local non-profits. In doing so, the heirs have shown interest in shifting ownership to the Town of Haxtun with the condition that non-profits have use of the building. Gifting the building to the Town of Haxtun opens the door for additional resources to preserve and revitalize the building for future use.

The Town of Haxtun opted to move forward in pursuing ownership of the building, noting the idea goes hand in hand with pursing a community partnership with the Main Street Program and helping to preserve, improve and revitalize buildings along Colorado Avenue in Haxtun.

“It is a huge opportunity to help main street and bring some life to the building,” Harms said.

In other business the Town Council:

• Approved a special event permit for the Haxtun Volunteer Firemen for an event last weekend;

• Approved an ordinance to designate and establish an electric utilities enterprise. The Town of Haxtun’s electric fund is currently operated as such;

• Appointed Superintendent Ron Carpenter as the Town’s E911 representative;

• Approved 2024 insurance quotes with CIRSA;

• Set the budget hearing for Dec. 4;

• Signed an ongoing letter of support for Haxtun Health’s main street clinic project;

• Discussed the possibility of increasing water rates. Discussions are to continue in work sessions;

• Heard from Kelly Elwood with Lyle’s Repair about concerns with the alley blocked behind Haxtun Health’s main street clinic construction site. He said it makes it difficult for his business to receive freight and creates a number of safety concerns.