Phillips County officials and local emergency responders refining communication protocols

During the Phillips County Board of County Commissioner’s meeting on March 29, Commissioner Terry Hofmeister and County Administrator, Andrew Nygaard, shared information from a March 25 meeting held to discuss dispatching procedures by the Phillips County Communications Center. Also attending the meeting were Communications Center Director Sara Kumm, Sheriff Michael Beard, Emergency Manager Broc Pelle, and from the Holyoke Volunteer Fire Department, Chief Stacy Rueter.

The meeting’s discussion centered on natural disasters, lightning strikes and what type of calls necessitate engaging the county Emergency Manager. Current practices were reviewed as well as Pelle’s list of preferences for when to be notified. Some agreed-to recommendations were identified which will be turned over to the Communication Board to address.

Brian Urdiales, one of the Republican candidates for State House District 63, was present to introduce himself and to learn more about the nature of county business being conducted. There were no other public comments.

The board met with Colorado State University Extension Agent, Jessie Salyards, for updates on 4-H activities and other work from her office.

The board met with Jon King, owner of Tree King, who requested to be released from the remainder of his service contract for work at the courthouse and fairgrounds due to some changing circumstances that no longer made it feasible to continue work he started. King checked with Huckleberry Tree Service and confirmed that they could assist with the remainder of the work to be done. King recommended to the board that they turn over the remainder of the contract to them. The board approved a motion to release King from the contract and pay the amount owed for work completed. Another motion was passed to acquire the services of Huckleberry Tree Service. Commissioner Roberts abstained from the latter due to a family member being associated with the business.

Steve Starkebaum, representing the county Livestock Board, met with the board to request a waiver of rental fees for a Colorado Junior Swine Association event set for early May at the Bank of Colorado Pavilion. A motion was approved to do so.

As an Old Business item, the board discussed a Viaero Fiber Network roadway occupancy agreement that had been approved in April of 2020 but not acted upon at that time. The board tabled taking action until Road and Bridge Manager Kevin Scott could get further details from Viaero.

As New Business, the board approved the follow actions:

• The submission of a Department of Local Affairs Energy/Mineral Impact Assistance Fund grant application related to the construction of a new Road and Bridge storage building in the southeast part of the county;

• A clarification to the purchase price of the property for the aforementioned Road and Bridge storage building from the March 8 motion of $35,000 to the actual price of $35,392.02;

• A work order for materials at the cost of $2,500 for the courthouse second-floor new office space;

• A roadway occupancy agreement from PC Telcom for underground construction of a fiber optic line along County Road 37 from Section 18, T7N, R45W to Section 13, T7N, R45W;

• The contract for commitment of being an election judge for years 2024-2026, as presented by County Clerk Beth Zilla; and

• A request from Road and Bridger Manager Scott to proceed with the chip seal project on County Road 30 in Haxtun at the quoted price of $48,662.

Meeting minutes by the County Clerk are available from the county administration office. They can also be located at the county’s website, http://www.phillipscounty.colorado.gov/. From the homepage, use the Department dropdown menu. Select County Commissioners and then Meeting Minutes.