Upgrades to the Bank of Colorado Pavilion floor, the purchase of a new road grader and briefings with various department heads fills the month-end report from the Phillips County Commissioners for October. The Commissioners met three times each month, the final meeting of the month includes a press briefing for local newspaper staff.

During the Oct. 9 meeting of the Phillips County Commissioners, Phillips County Economic Development Director Trisha Herman and Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Holly Ferguson submitted their respective 2021 budgets for consideration.

The two are currently working together on the next round of COVID relief funds and their hopes are to assist local businesses with identifying lost revenue due solely to COVID. Hopes are once that stage is complete, they can further assist those businesses with qualifying and applying for available aid. Herman said some communities have established long-term recovery teams for the same purpose.

Later during the same meeting, the Commissioners met with Dan Waln, Maintenance Department Supervisor. Waln presented two bids from local vendors to replace and install a new heater in the maintenance garage. He also asked for permission to participate in an upcoming online auction with interest in purchasing a toolbox for a county pickup.

Later, the Commissioners approved a bid from Hometown Heating and Air to install a 100K BTU heating unit in the maintenance garage for $3,000. The trio of elected officials also gave Waln the go-ahead to bid on a toolbox not to exceed $1,650 with Big Iron Auctions.

Waln also talked to the Commissioners about upgrades at the BOC Pavilion and the Phillips County Fair Grounds including updating lighting to the racetrack and grandstands area as well as improving the floor in the arena.

Due to moisture conditions and condensation in the BOC Pavilion, the Commissioners approved adding a gravel/clay mixture to the area floor at a cost not to exceed $13,000.

Later, during a mid-month meeting held on Oct. 19, the Phillips County Commissioners approved a request from Road and Bridge Manager Mike Salyards to purchase a 2021 John Deere 672G Motor Grader with rippers from 4Rivers Equipment, LLC for $259,757. The County plans to trade a 2004 Caterpiller 140H motor grader for $60,000 bringing the total cost to $199,757.

In other business, the Commissioners:

• Approved a request from 4-H Extension Agent Jessie Stewart to waive rental fees at the Event Center to host the 4-H Colorado Leadership Conference in November;

• Approved a motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission for the subdivision exemption for the sale of 10 acres from Brad and Bev Young to Casey and Kathleen Kropp in the NE1/4 of section 17,T7R, R42W;

• Approved Potter’s Septic invoice for porta potties at the fairgrounds for $6,330;

• Re-appointed Aaron Sprague to the Republican River Water Conservation District Board;

• Reviewed a letter from Kenneth W. Ham concerning the confined animal feeding operation facility permit that was applied for by Aurora Dairy. The Commissioners plan to forward the letter to the County Attorney for review.