Swearing in a new police chief, paying off the main street bond and employee job descriptions and pay scales topped agenda items at the Haxtun Town Council's first meeting of the new year. Council members met on Tuesday, Jan. 4 at the Haxtun Community Center.

At the start of the meeting, new Police Chief Nathon Nadow took his oath of office. Nadow was selected as a finalist for the chief position in December when Council members voted to offer him a conditional job offer. The conditional job offer allowed Nadow to enter the next step of the hiring process which included physical evaluation and psychological assessment.

Since then, Nadow passed all additional testing and took his oath of office on the evening of Jan. 4. He officially started his employment with the Town of Haxtun the following day.

Nadow's addition to the local police department brings the force up to two staff members including Chief Nadow and Officer Tom Bullard. In his first items of business, Nadow will be on the hunt for a third officer to bring the force to full staff. In addition to the two officers, Vickie Freemyer works on the local department as an administrative clerk.

For a full story on new Police Chief Nadow, see inside this week's addition of the HF Herald.

Later in the meeting, council members voted to pay off the 2011 street bond in the amount of $256,494. Those bond funds were used to rebuild main street from the railroad tracks north to Strohm Street.

The move to pay off the bond early allows the Town to enter into debt for the upcoming street project slated to begin later this spring. In November, voters approved a major street project that will include more than 40 blocks of new streets within city limits. As a part of the big plan, council members hoped to pay off the existing bond before incurring additional debt for the new project.

According to Town Clerk Karie Wilson, the bond was paid three years early, which means the Town saved a significant amount in interest. Wilson said interest on the payment totaled about $1,100 a month therefore paying the bond early saved nearly $40,000 in interest.

At last month's meeting, council members approved a bid from Simon for the 2022 street project. The bid totals $1.4 million, just under the expected $1.5 million.

Haxtun voters approved the street project during elections in early November when ballot question 2A passed 325 to 70. The passing of that ballot issue will allow the Town of Haxtun to incur debt for the upcoming street project. Voters also approved the use of half a percent sales tax already in place for the community center for additional street repairs for five years.

In the January meeting, council members also reviewed proposed employee job descriptions and salary options. According to Wilson, the job description subject surfaced several months ago when council members asked each department head to develop job descriptions for each position within their department as well as provide current salaries and options for increases.

In an effort to retain quality employees and attract new ones when needed, council members wanted to take hard look at current positions and salaries. Superintendent Ron Carpenter provided salary and job descriptions for the maintenance department and Wilson provided the same for the clerk and deputy clerk positions. Now that a new chief has been hired, Nadow will also be tasked for doing the same for the police department.

Moving forward, employees will undergo annual evaluations and have options to advance in salary based on performance and evaluations. This year, each employee received a salary increase as well as a cost of living increase.

The salary increase also includes the police department, who is working to recruit a third officer. The wage increase for the police officer position will hopefully attract and help retain an officer to bring the force up to full staff.

In other business the Council:

• Established the front door of Town Hall for the posting place for all public meetings;

• Set a hearing date for a special event liquor license for the Haxtun Gun Club;

• Set a special meeting for Jan. 17 to adopt the new bond ordinance and related paperwork;

• The following building permits were approved: Marilyn Michael, 120 North Lava to replace a front deck; Darlene Widgery, 222 North Wayne Avenue for a re-roof; John Chapdelaine, Grant Street for electrical work; Jessica Sandoval, 635 South Washington Avenue for an attic staircase; Tanya Mayhew, 238 South Miller Avenue for a bathroom remodel; and Dwain Hansen, 335 North Iris Avenue for a re-roof.