Police Chief Tanya Mayhew submitted her letter of resignation to members of the Haxtun Town Council on Monday evening, Oct. 4. Her intended last day of employment with the local police department will be Monday, Nov. 1. After accepting her letter of resignation and voting to retire her badge number, council members formed a police chief hiring committee to immediately find a suitable replacement for the already short-staffed police force.

“After almost 19 years with the Town of Haxtun, I am retiring my position as Chief of Police for the Town of Haxtun effective Nov. 1,” Mayhew said in her letter. “This was a difficult decision and one that comes with great sadness. I have enjoyed my time with the department and in serving this wonderful community. I have worked for many great board members during my tenure and have experienced many excellent accomplishments and advancements for the Town. I look forward to seeing the continued growth in this community. I will continue to call Haxtun my home and provide service to the department and the community, but in a different role.”

Mayhew said she has accepted a position with the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office as an investigator. In her new role, she said she will continue to serve the Town of Haxtun by assisting with major cases that transpire in city limits as well as in Phillips County.

“My heart belongs to this community and it will always be important to me,” Mayhew continued in her retirement letter. “I will continue to serve on committees and put this community first; however, I have been called down a different path for myself and my family. Please know that I will support the department and the community and will aid in a smooth transition as well as provide mentoring of the incoming/future chief of the department, if allowed. I appreciate all that you have done for me as well as other employees and am blessed to have had the opportunity to serve this community as the Chief. I respectfully request that I be given retired status with the Haxtun Police Department as I have served more than 15 years. It has been a pleasure working for the Town of Haxtun and I look forward to future endeavors. Thank you for the wonderful years and for everything that you all do for this community.”

At the conclusion of reading her letter aloud to the Council, Mayhew was honored with a standing ovation from the council table and the rest of the room.

“Thank you for your service here, I don’t know that we can tell you that enough,” Mayor Brandon Biesemeier told Mayhew. “Nineteen years is a lot,” he said. “I would like us to see us retire her badge.”

Biesemeier went on to express his thoughts on the importance of maintaining a local police force. “I know what that means to a small community,” he said.

Council Member Ryan Horton expressed the same sentiment, stating he believes Haxtun must have its own police department. “This is home, we have to take care of home,” he said. “Replacement should be the only discussion we have.”

Moving forward, council members Rob Martinez and Ryan Horton along with Mayhew will form a committee to begin the hiring process of a new police chief. Mayhew said she did not believe the department would have a difficult time in finding a replacement.

In the meantime, current Police Officer Tom Bullard will serve as interim Police Chief and Administrative Secretary Vickie Freemyer will pick up more administrative duties to help with necessary paperwork and reporting.

Martinez, Horton and Mayhew were also given permission to add a fourth member to their committee if they so desire, one from the community. Biesemeier said several individuals had reached out expressing their interest to serve on the committee when they heard of Mayhew’s anticipated retirement.

Plans will be for the committee to receive applications, pick their top candidates and later involve the entire Council before hiring a new police chief.

Before the topic of Mayhew’s resignation, council members voted to adopt Ordinance 2021-4 updating the animal code. Changes include allowing chickens inside city limits.

Haxtun residents will soon be allowed to own and keep up to six chickens within city limits. Roosters will remain prohibited. In order to house chickens in Haxtun, residents will need to submit a permit application and have housing facility inspected by representation from the Town of Haxtun. That permit will also include at one time, $50 fee.

The new ordinance will also limit the amount of dogs and/or cats one household can possess. Per the new ordinance, each household can have up to three dogs and up to three cats, but no more. Those who have more than three of each of those pets at this point are grandfathered in, however, once those pass on or move out of town limits, only three will be allowed.

The new animal code ordinance is included in its entity in this week’s edition of the Herald on page 6. The ordinance will take effect 30 days from the publication date. After that time, it will also be available for inspection on the Town’s website, townofhaxtun.colorado.gov.

In other business:

• Council members signed a memorandum of understanding for control of confidential data, as done annually. Karie WiIson will be the signature authority on the MOU:

• At the request of the Swimming Pool committee, the Council discussed options for interest rates for accounts holding funds raised for the local pool project. Research on the matter will continue;

• The Council voted to purchase tickets for employees and spouses to the Swimming Pool committee fundraising event on Oct. 23. The event includes a performance from Groove ‘N Motion. Cost of the tickets totals $300;

• Council members voted to give Phillips County $5,725 in designated CARES Act funds;

• Appointed Jody Brundige to the Haxtun Housing Authority. She replaces Cork Bornhoft;

• The following building permits were approved: Jared Anderson, 306 Westridge for an addition to a deck; Steve Kussman, 425 East Raymond Street for a roof; Dave Ridlen, 245 North Washington for a deck and porch; Steve Statz, 225 North Walker Avenue for a roof; Don and Bev Lock, 234 South Utah Avenue for adding to a deck; Every Bloomin’ Thing, 121 South Colorado Avenue for a new sign.