Jon Brammer appointed to Haxtun Town Council

The Haxtun Town Council has a new member sitting around the meeting table. Jon Brammer was appointed to fill a vacancy left by former council member Dean Anderson. Anderson filled a council position for nearly a year, being appointed in February 2023 and just recently resigned.

Anderson’s position on the Board was one left open in elections last year, forcing the Council to solicit interest from the community to fill. At that time, two individuals submitted letters of intent to fill the opening, including Anderson and Brammer. At that time, Anderson was appointed.

In light of Anderson’s recent resignation, the Council voted to appoint Brammer to the open position. Brammer will fill a seat until elections this November. At that time, three council seats will be up for election. Nomination petitions for those seats will be available in August.

In Brammer’s letter of interest, he said he would like to fill a seat to be more actively involved in his community. “Though there are many places to assist in the community, serving on the Town Council is a good fit for me,” he said. “I have been very pleased with some of the actions previous councils have undertaken, particularly the recent road project and I would like to continue down the path they have charted to improve our town. I would like to see how the town can better assist in bringing and maintaining economic vibrancy, maintain and improving infrastructure and continuing to grow our community.”

Brammer said he spent most of his childhood in Haxtun and later graduated from Haxtun High School. After high school, he attended Kansas State where he received a Master’s in Ag-Economics. He has been a local home and business owner since 2015.

“I look forward to seeing the progress the Town Council will make in the future to ensure Haxtun continues to be a great community to live and work in,” he said.

After Brammer’s oath of office in a Tuesday evening meeting on Feb. 5, council members acted on an economic incentive application from Knode Realty and Auction. The local business refaced the office building with two large picture windows and a new commercial glass front door. The locally owned and operated business has been on main street for 22 years. The application asked for reimbursement for the building permit fee and infrastructure improvements.

The Council agreed to the request totaling $8,988.68. Funds for the economic incentive applications are budgeted each year by the Council.

In other business the Council:

• Approved an engagement letter with Lauer, Szabo for the 2023 financial audit:

• Superintendent Ron Carpenter said VAP finished the insulation on the pool building and the interior framing has started. The slide was installed and the mechanical room should be installed this week;

• Carpenter said the well control system was updated from an old mercury system to an electronic system that should be more precise;

• The Superintendent announced a grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for security on the water well houses. Lights and security doors will be placed on each well house;

• Police Chief Tom Bullard said his department was awarded a grant to put Narcan in all patrol and fire department vehicles;

• Clerk Kelsey Harms said the Town was awarded a grant for emergency sirens;

• The Town Hall and shop will be closed on Monday, Feb. 19 for President’s Day. Residential trash will be picked up the following day;

• The following building permits were approved: Tom and Dana Davis, 307 Westridge, for a wood frame shop; Kyle Wilson, 234 North Washington Avenue, to finish two bedrooms and a bathroom; and Haxtun Building Center, 321 South Colorado, for an office space addition.