County commissioners support grant application to benefit Haxtun & Paoli businesses

At the Nov. 30 meeting of the Phillips County Board of County Commissioners, several individuals met with the board to request action or provide updates. Discussion continued regarding the Fair Manager position. Other miscellaneous matters were addressed as identified below.

The board met with Phillips County Economic Development Director Mikey Brown. She explained the Community Business Preservation Program grant funding being offered by the state Office of Economic Development and International Trade. So far, Brown had identified interested businesses in Haxtun and Paoli with more possible from those communities as well as from Holyoke. She foresees submitting one countywide competitive grant application, due in January. She requested letters of support from the board to incorporate into the application. Later in the meeting as new business items, the board approved the request for support letters for the Haxtun Downtown project and the Paoli Business District project.

County Treasurer Steve Young discussed tax and interest forgiveness on accounts for which most had either expired or a responsible party from which to obtain payment no longer existed.

Young also mentioned that the new online method of registering buyers for the following week’s tax lien sale has worked out well. Seventeen buyers had registered including some from out of state.

Dan Waln, Courthouse Sidewalk Project Manager, said that the project went well. The sidewalk on the south side of the courthouse will be completed in the spring of 2024 by Simon Contractors. Waln recommended that the board address some lawn and landscaping needs next year. The upkeep of the Veterans Memorial was also noted as needing some attention.

Colorado State University Extension Agent Jessie Salyards provided 4-H-related and other updates from her office. She also gave updates on behalf of Stephanie Starkebaum, the CSU Extension Family and Consumer Science Specialist.

As unfinished business, county assessor’s office staff provided information about the property tax- and valuation-related changes brought about by Senate Bill 22-238 and the special legislative session’s Senate Bill 23B-001. County Assessor Doug Kamery, Deputy Assessor Toby Thompson, and Transfer Clerk Nick Flaa each talked through a section of a spreadsheet handout for which each is a subject matter expert.

“Property taxes are still going to be higher than before, just not as high as they would have been,” said Kamery in regards to the special session.

The board discussed the application process for the Fair Manager position and the need for an open, competitive and transparent process.

The following new business items were approved:

• A request to use two parking spaces at the courthouse to sell live Christmas trees during the Country Christmas community event on Dec. 4;

• Requests from the county treasurer to forgive taxes and interest on six different specified accounts in various specified amounts;

• The roadway occupancy agreement submitted by Zion Farms for underground construction of an electrical service line;

• A request from the county clerk to hire a specified person as a part-time election judge;

• The proposal from Kelley Law, Ltd to provide legal services for Phillips County in 2024;

• The request from Pheasants Forever to allow alcohol at the Farm and Home Show, Feb. 2, 2024; and,

• To authorize the chairman to sign the 2024 VALE Grant that supports the county’s Victim Advocate program.

The board tabled the discussion on one of the requests for taxes and interest forgiveness until treasurer Steve Young could attempt to contact the account owner again.

Prior to adjourning, a scheduled regular meeting date was changed from Monday, Dec. 18 to Friday, Dec. 15.