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By Candie Fix
Managing Editor 

Voters could see street question on Nov. ballot

 

February 10, 2021

HAXTUN'S NEWEST Police Officer, Cameron Kondella, officially took his oath of office with the Haxtun Police Department on Monday, Feb. 1. The new officer is currently in field training with other officers from the department. His addition to the Haxtun PD brings the local department back to full staff with three officers. Watch for more on Officer Kondella in next week's issue of the Herald.

Haxtun residents could see a ballot question in November pertaining to a major street project. Council members along with Town Superintendent Ron Carpenter looked over several different scenarios to fund the project during a Feb. 1 meeting at the Haxtun Community Center.

According to Carpenter, the project would include 42 blocks of street, which has been mapped out to include those that have been deemed beyond patching, as well as some curb and gutter. Total, he said, the project is estimated to cost $1.6 million.

Carpenter said the 2021 budget includes some curb and gutter work but the major street project, if funded, would begin in 2022. The Haxtun Town Council, along with Carpenter, are looking at various ways to fund the project and are currently working with a bond attorney to draft a ballot measure to put before the voters in November elections.

"This is very preliminary," Carpenter said. "We want to try to do this without raising any taxes."

Plans are to continue discussion on the projects at future meetings and work sessions.

At the beginning of the meeting last week, Police Chief Tanya Mayhew introduced new Police Officer Cameron Kondella to members of the Council. Kondella was sworn into office on Monday, Feb. 1 and joins the Haxtun Police Department as a third officer on the force. His addition brings the department up to full staff for the first time in nearly a year.

Mayhew said Kondella will be in field training during his initial days of employment with the department.

Additionally, Mayhew said she is taking steps to order a new vehicle to add to the department's fleet, as approved in the 2021 budget. She plans to purchase a Durango for $37,000. That total is before adding necessary equipment.

During discussion items, Mayor Brandon Biesemeier told members of the Council that in addition to Haxtun Health's new main street clinic project, the local hospital is looking into purchasing land around their new building for parking space. Biesemeier said Haxtun Health Chief Executive Officer Dewane Pace has expressed interest in purchasing land owned by the Town, specifically behind town hall including the old fire hall and the town shop.

Haxtun Health recently purchased the old Smith Hardware building in the 100 block of South Colorado Avenue and plans to build a new, two-story building that will house a clinic in addition to space for other departments such as pharmacy and physical therapy.

Carpenter said he sought estimates on construction of a new town shop and totals come in between $250,000 and $300,000. Those figures do not include land or utilities. No formal decisions were made on the inquiry form Haxtun Health.

In other business the Town:

• Approved Carpenter and Town Council Member Mike Ensminger as Town representatives with the Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities;

• Approved an engagement letter with Lauer, Szabo and Associates for the 2020 audit which is slated for the first week in March;

• Carpenter said the Town's trash truck is out for repairs and in the meantime, Haxtun is borrowing a truck from Holyoke;

• The Town Superintendent said work has been done to repair welcome signs for the west and east sides of Town, which were damaged during an early summer storm last year. When weather permits, the new signs will go up;

• Phillips County Economic Development Director Trish Herman reported to the Council that there is a group from Holyoke interested in developing some quadplexes in the Haxtun area. The Council invited the group to attend a future meeting to visit about the project;

• Clerk Karie Wilson said the swimming pool project has a total of $111,664 cash in the bank with an additional $175,000 pledged towards a new pool. The $175,000 includes in-kind work;

• The following building permits were approved: Mike Fleury, 246 West Strohm Street to remodel a home; Joe Bivins, 205 South Logan Avenue for outside trim and a new shower; Integrity Building, 433 East Strohm Street for drywall, windows and a bathroom update; and Integrity Building, 433 East Strohm Street for underground electric.

 

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