July 9, 2025

 

Present:                                                                                               Mayor:         Vance Brian, Jr.

                                                                                                            Trustees:          Blaine Ice

                                                                                                                                    Bill Kissell

                                                                                                                                    Rod Swisher

                                                                                                                                    Calvin Melcher

                                                                                                                                    Johnnie Lyons

                                                                                                                                    Dan Tefertiller

 

David Dougherty, Granada/Holly Police Chief         Austin Hazen, Fire Chief

Elsie Martin, Granada Police Clerk                           Rodney Hazen, Business Owner/Resident

Randy Holland, Town Administrator                        Larry & Brenda Crum, Residents        

Cynthia S. Humrich, Town Clerk/Treasurer              Scott Biggs, Resident

Tracy Kirmer, Town Deputy Clerk

                                                                       

Call to Order. At 7:00 p.m., Mayor Brian presided over the regular meeting of the Holly Board of Trustees. Roll was called. All present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

Additions to the Agenda. I requested an allowance for Teale Hemphill from Southeast Colorado Regional Housing Authority and Stephanie Gonzales from Southeast Colorado Economic Development (SECED) to present information to the Board during Public Appearance and to waive the three-minute time limit. All Board of Trustees for the Town of Holly agreed to this allowance.

Approval of June 4, 2025 Regular Board Meeting Minutes. A motion to approve June 4, 2025 Regular Board Meeting Minutes was made by Trustee Ice. Seconded by Trustee Kissell. Motion carried 6-0.

Approval of current bills subject to final approval of Finance Committee Meeting on Friday, June 11, 2025. A motion was made to approve all current bills subject to final approval of the Finance Committee Meeting on Friday, July 11, 2025 by Trustee Lyons. Seconded by Trustee Melcher. Motion carried 6-0.

Notices and Communications. Judge Verhoeff agreed to the dog violation fees as approved by the Board of Trustees at the June 4, 2025 Regular Board Meeting. In contacting Prowers County, they informed us that they have an ordinance stating that the County is not a sanctuary county and recently sent a letter to Lauren Boebert’s office, confirming their decision.

Public Appearances. Teale Hemphill with SCRHA and Stephanie Gonzales with SECED presented the details on the early adoption of “Fast Track” for the housing authority and Prowers County. They presented information on eligibility and benefits for local governments who become a part of this process. Discussion followed regarding the Town of Holly’s Ordinance 2023-5.

Reports. Police Report. Police Chief Dougherty presented the June police report. He began with stating that there were 51 calls for service in Holly. The visitor log for Holly from January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2025 was 39, for Granada it was 106 of which 31 were Holly visitors. He then presented the number of hours each officer worked in June with a total of 173.5 hours. Chief Dougherty then stated the mileage and miles driven on each of the police vehicles for the month which totaled 990 miles for the Holly vehicles. The officers wrote a total of 0 summons to County Court, 1 summons to Holly Municipal Court, and 10 citations for the month which totaled $700.00 in fines, $259.00 for VALE. There were a total of 0 misdemeanor arrests and 1 felony arrest in Holly. He presented his point of view regarding the letter of concern to the Town of Granada. VALE funding – he stated that we would be given our quarterly fund allotment without having to send in an invoice request. Trustee Lyons asked about another officer taking the on-calls without pay.  Dave’s rebuttal is that it is hard to find good officers – so he does not want to push the other officers – he takes the calls. There was a question about the Sheriff’s office responding to some of these calls and/or backing up Chief Dougherty. Dave will be on vacation for two weeks in August. Question asked by Trustee Lyons regarding tickets being all the same speed and fine; explained about how officer Fredricks handles his tickets. Administrator Report. Administrator Holland reported on new issues with the Town to include an electrical problem at the Holly School superintendent’s house where we had to put our equipment on the sidewalk to be able to restore power. This is part of the past few months’ discussion with the Holly School District. As soon as the parts come in, we will be making a new water tap to supply the Shanner playground. We sent two employees to La Junta June 18th to participate in bucket truck and pole top rescue classes. This was put on by ARPA and La Junta Light and Power. We received CDPHE’s comments from the sanitary survey and we are in the process of addressing those issues identified. Discussed Atmos Energy gas main work and what it is going to do to our streets. We have the engineer’s cost estimate for the three sewer projects. Clerk/Treasurer Report. Clerk/Treasurer Humrich presented the May financial, the current month bank account balances and the police/court information for the month of June. I am working on the 2024 financial audit which should be completed shortly. There is nothing new on the water project at this time. The three sewer projects: we have the engineered estimated costs for each project and the current grant does not cover all the projects. We will focus on the Highway 50 manhole, and I will work at securing another grant. Southeast Council of Governments (SECOG) grants were awarded to the Town of Holly. One of the grants will assist improvements at the swimming pool and the second one will assist us with the ramp at the Holly Theater and the pocket park. I presented the issues with the Holly Public Library and a new program plan which was followed with discussion by the board. The outcome was that we will amend the library ordinance to reflect the new procedures and vote at a future meeting. Candy and I went to liquor license training towards the end of May. Discussion ensued on some of the new rules coming into effect in 2025. I presented to the board a short view of what our new website is looking like, notably there are some changes that we are making and will continue to improve throughout the remainder of this year. Library Report. Presented that there was a total of 101 patrons, 103 checkouts of materials, and 4 computer users for the month of June. A motion was made to accept all reports as given by Trustee Melcher. Seconded by Trustee Tefertiller. Motion carried 6-0.

Old or Unfinished Business. Open Bids – Holly Community Complex. Administrator Holland opened the bids given by Powerhouse Excavation and Construction from Rye, Colorado. A motion to table bid selection was made by Trustee Tefertiller. Seconded by Trustee Kissell. Motion carried 6-0. Ordinance No. 563 – An Ordinance for Establishing Regulatory Processes for Tiny Homes/Tiny Houses Within the Town limits of Holly, Colorado (second reading). A motion to approve the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 563 – An Ordinance for Establishing Regulatory Processes for Tiny Homes/Tiny Houses Within the Town Limits of Holly, Colorado was made by Trustee Ice. Seconded by Trustee Melcher. Motion carried 5-1.

New Business. Holly School District Baseball Field Water Account. A motion was made to send the letter from the attorney regarding the water usage at the Holly School District Baseball Field by Trustee Lyons. Seconded by Trustee Kissell. Motion carried 6-0. Holly Housing Authority Board Appointment, Rob Kirmer – another 5-year term extending to 6/30/2030, Diana Davis – another 5-year term extending to 6/30/2030. A motion was made to approve the Holly Housing Authority Board seat appointments of Rob Kirmer and Diana Davis by Trustee Melcher. Seconded by Trustee Lyons. Motion carried 6-0. Letter of Concern to Town of Granada Regarding Law Enforcement. A motion to send the letter of concern to the Town of Granada regarding law enforcement was made by Trustee Swisher. Seconded by Trustee Tefertiller. Motion carried 6-0. Approve Liquor License Renewal, The Ice House. A motion to approve the liquor license renewal of The Ice House was made by Trustee Lyons. Seconded by Trustee Swisher. Motion carried 6-0. Approve Liquor License Renewal, Trailside Liquor. A motion to approve the liquor license renewal of Trailside Liquor was made by Trustee Lyons. Seconded by Trustee Tefertiller. Motion carried 6-0.

Miscellaneous. None.

Adjournment. At 9:00 p.m., a motion was made to adjourn the meeting by Swisher. Seconded by Trustee Tefertiller. Motion carried 6-0.

 /s/ Vance Brian, Jr., Mayor

 ATTEST:

 /s/ Cynthia S. Humrich, Clerk/Treasurer