The Phillips County Commissioners have approved a resolution opposing Citizen Initiative 16. The Initiative relates to the care and exploitation of livestock.

In March, a citizen initiative titled Protect Animals from Unnecessary Suffering and Exploitation, also known as PAUSE, was approved by the Board of the Colorado Secretary of State for petition on the Nov. 22 general election ballot as Initiative 16. The initiative would broadly re-define animal sexual abuse in a manner that would criminalize many common and necessary veterinary and animal husbandry practices. It would also require tremendous delays, in some cases years, prior to human processing of livestock for food.

The Phillips County Commissioners recently passed a resolution to oppose Initiative 16 stating, “these delays, of up to one-quarter of an animal’s statutorily defined lifespan, would greatly increase the cost to ranchers to feed and care for these animals, which at processing would produce meat of low value to the consumer at much higher purchase cost. For many meat producing animal varieties, specifically poultry, bred for rapid weight gain, the result of delayed processing will be the suffering of morbidly obese animals unable to support their own body weight for years prior to process.”

The resolution goes on to say that it has been reported that Governor Jared Polis has agreed that the PAUSE initiative would not only hurt Colorado, but destroy jobs.

“This Board is absolutely against the infliction of needless suffering of animals and recognize that our cattle and livestock producers take great effort to treat their animals humanely,” the Commissioners said in passing their resolution to oppose the initiative. “Be it resolved, that the Phillips County Board of County Commissioners of Phillips County, Colorado, oppose this Initiative and urges the Governor of Colorado and Commissioner of the Colorado Department of Agriculture to continue to do the same. Finally, shall it be resolved, that all people who care about the well-being of animals such as livestock, service animals and other take action to defeat this measure.”

During a month end meeting last week, the Phillips County Commissioners announced the hiring of a new Emergency Manager. Broc Pelle has been hired to replace Bob Hildenbrand, who left his position earlier this year. Pelle is expected to begin his new position in May.

In other business the Commissioners:

• Met with Amber Donovan from the Northeast Colorado Department of Public health and found the Bank of Colorado Pavilion kitchen ready for commercial use;

• Approved a resolution, a five-year moratorium, to regulate the transportation of domestic sludge into Phillips County;

• Approved Lou Harmon as the County Engineer for the Colorado Department of Transportation Courthouse sidewalk project. Funds in the amount of $104,694 from CDOT as well as $26,173 from the County, will be used to replace sidewalks around the Courthouse;

• Approved an application from East Phillips County Ambulance Service to renew ambulance service in Phillips County;

• Approved an application from Haxtun Ambulance Service to renew ambulance service in Phillips County;

• Approved a work plan to correct a water run-off issue on County Road 37. Road and Bridge crew will complete the work with Double W Dairy to contribute up to $5,000 towards the project;

• Approved a donation of $2,500 to Phillips County Economic Development for efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic;

• Approved a storm season ad in the Holyoke Enterprise for $250;

• Approved a subdivision request from Gary Koch to sell Ryan Horton five acres of found located in the SE ¼ of section 17,T7N, R47W;

• Agreed to rescind a resolution declaring a county local disaster;

• Approved a waiver for the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce to use the Courthouse Square for Dandelion Daze;

• Approved a contribution to the Meals on Wheels program in the amount of $4,500 to renovate the kitchen facilities. Funds will come from the CFRF-RF063 grant;

• Approved a roadway occupancy agreement with Poe, PLT to cross County Road 14 with an electric power line.