The Haxtun Town Council passed a resolution to set animal licensing fees during a regular, Monday night meeting in early November. The resolution coincides with the most recent animal ordinance passed the month before which allows residents to own chickens inside city limits.

The new animal ordinance allows for up to six chickens within Haxtun’s city limit. The ordinance officially passed in the October meeting and has since been published as legally required before taking effect. According to Town Clerk Karie Wilson, the ordinance will officially be in place on Nov. 13.

Per the ordinance, residents will be required to submit a permit application and have the chicken housing facility inspected by representation from the Town of Haxtun. As set in the new animal licensing fee resolution in last week’s meeting, the permit application will come with a one-time $50 fee.

The resolution regarding animal licensing also outlines fees and costs associated with owning cats and dogs inside city limits, however those fees have not changed. The resolution outlines fees for all animals residing within the Town of Haxtun.

The new animal ordinance passed just last month now limits the number of dogs and 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 possess more of each of those pets at this time are grandfathered in but once those pass on or move out of town limits, only three will be allowed.

Council members also discussed salary changes for Haxtun Police Officer Tom Bullard during the recent November meeting. Bullard is currently serving as the Interim Police Chief. Former Police Chief Tanya Mayhew announced her retirement last month and has since taken a position with the 13th Judicial District as an Investigator.

Bullard, the lone officer with the Haxtun Police Department at this time, is currently serving as the Interim until a Chief is hired in Mayhew’s absence. The Council decided last week to increase Bullard’s pay to reflect his new duties, which took effect on Nov. 1. Bullard will continue to receive the increase in pay as long as he serves as the Interim Police Chief.

Bullard and Administrative Clerk Vickie Freemyer plan to pick up extra duty in the absence of an official police chief at the department. The Town of Haxtun is currently advertising for the open position as well as for an officer.

A hiring committee has been formed to find a suitable replacement for Mayhew. The committee is made up of Town Council members Rob Martinez and Ryan Horton along with former Chief Mayhew.

Since Bullard is the only officer currently with the Haxtun Police Department, officers from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office have been working shifts in Haxtun to help with coverage.

A retirement reception for Mayhew originally scheduled for the end of October was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances and will be rescheduled for a later date.

At the start of last week’s meeting, council members heard from community member Jeremy Kilpatrick, who owns a non-profit called KloverKare. Kilpatrick approached the Council about forming a community garden on West Grant Street in a vacant lot next spring. He would like the Town of Haxtun to install a water tap on the property to help with the garden. The estimated cost of a water tap fee is $2,000.

According to Clerk Wilson, the Council did not take official action on the matter, but seemed interested in installing the water tap if Kilpatrick’s non-profit and the property owner could draft and sign a contract for doing so.

In other business the Council:

• Approved a request to vacate an alleyway in the 300 block of North Lava Avenue. The Town will vacate the alleyway which will restrict through traffic however, the utility easement already in place will remain;

• Added a year’s probation period for employment with the Haxtun Police Department to the Town’s employee policy. The 90-day probation period will remain for health and retirement for all employees and will remain separate from the one-year probation period for police officers’ employment;

• Approved a survey for lot 10, block 10 of the Axelson’s addition located along West Grant Street. The survey divides property owned by Brandon Biesemeier into three separate lots;

• Donated $5,000 in CARES funds to the Haxtun Food Basket for grocery cards. All cards will be purchased locally;

• Approved supplemental insurance quotes from the Colorado Intergovernmental Risk Sharing Agency;

• Approved a purchase of three tasers for the Haxtun Police Department for a total of $1,800.