March 5, 2025
Present: Mayor Pro Tem: Blaine Ice
Trustees: Rod Swisher
Bill Kissell
Calvin Melcher
Johnnie Lyons
Dan Tefertiller
David Dougherty Granada/Holly Police Chief Vance Brian Resident
Elsie Martin Granada Police Clerk Austin Hazen Fire Chief
Randy Holland Town Administrator Rodney Hazen Resident
Cynthia S. Humrich Town Clerk/Treasurer Deputy Clerk Tracy Kirmer
Call to Order. Mayor Pro Tem Ice presided over the regular meeting of the Holly Board of Trustees on the above date at 7:00 p.m. Roll was called. All present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Additions to the Agenda. None.
Approval of February 5, 2025 Regular Board Meeting Minutes and Wednesday, February 12, 2025 Special Board Meeting Minutes. A motion to approve both February 5, 2025 Regular Board Meeting Minutes and Wednesday, February 12, 2025 Special Board Meeting Minutes was made by Trustee Melcher. Second by Trustee Tefertiller. Motion carried 5-0.
Approval of current bills subject to final approval of Finance Committee Meeting on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, changed to Tuesday March 11, 2025. A motion was made to approve all current bills subject to final approval of the Finance Committee Meeting on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 by Trustee Lyons. Second by Trustee Kissell. Motion carried 5-0.
Notices and Communications. Lauren Boebert’s team will be in Holly, in our board chambers, to meet with anyone from Prowers County who would like to discuss with them any questions or issues relating to the State of Colorado and/or personal issues they may have with Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, or VA. The team is here to try to assist where they can. They will be here March 26, 2025, from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. Lauren herself will not be present.
Public Appearances. None.
Reports. Police Report. Police Chief Dougherty presented the February police report. He stated that there were 38 calls for service in Holly. The visitor log for Holly from January 1, 2025 through February 28, 2025 was 7, and for Granada it was 18. He then presented the number of hours each officer worked in February with a total of 209.5 hours. Chief Dougherty then stated the mileage and miles driven on each of the police vehicles for the month, which totaled 672 miles for the Holly vehicles. The officers wrote a total of 0 summons to County Court and 10 citations for the month, which totaled $890.00 in fines, and $329.30 for VALE. Police officer hours for JAG grant year two total hours 2,160; 180 hours per quarter per police officer or 60 hours per month per officer. They will begin working 10 hours less a month for each officer for the next four months to get back on track. Chief Dougherty presented some statistical facts and information regarding his department. The JAG grant for year three is now open, and he asked the board if they wanted him to fill out the application, which they affirmed. Administrator Report. Administrator Holland presented to the Board that the ARPA generator has been serviced for the year, however, we found a leak today and they will come back to fix it. He, staff and board members attended the Prowers County Comprehensive Plan Review. He also attended the County Commissioner’s meeting where there was a discussion on a proposed transmission line that would run through Prowers County. He stated that we are still working with the Fergason Group regarding the electrical grant. We have cleaned up the pocket park next to the theater and installed a fence; explaining to the contractor that no more mess as in the past will be allowed. Stuart Stevenson has been here to assess the generators at the light plant. They are going to provide a quote for maintenance on our generators. Atmos installed a new service line at the light. We had a service line leak in front of the bank that had been there for many years and a water leak on the line that serves an area on the west end of Holly, which has been repaired. A local company did their electrical start-up, which was a 900 horsepower load and all went well. As a reminder, Tysh and I will be going to the water conference in Loveland, March 16 through the 21st. Ramon is scheduled to attend Hotline School in Grand Junction the first week of May. He is also going to Lamar at times to gain more electrical knowledge. We gave the Holly School District the financial information for the electric line build across the Shanner playground. As of yet, there has been no response from the school. Blaine and I attended the ARPA board meeting in La Junta Thursday, February 27th. The ARPA board approved using a mutual aid agreement with the other ARPA members to assist in building the lines for the electrical project, providing we receive the grant from Department of Energy. We are in the process of applying for this grant and the cost share from the mutual agreement will be part of our portion of the grant match. We are still moving forward with the water project. Water system sanitary inspection is coming up on the water tower. Discussion ensued regarding some of our water leaks on the service line on the west side of town. Clerk/Treasurer Report. Clerk/Treasurer Humrich reported the January financial, the current bank account balances and the police/court information for the month of February. She presented to the Board that the current standing with the USDA water project is waiting on the confirmation of the interim loan. We have signed the bond counsel agreement, the Modified Agreement between Owner and Engineers contract with Element Engineering, and will be having a meeting Thursday, March 6th with Element Engineering, CO Bank, and Butler/Snow, our bond counsel, to get time frames in place to begin work. The Clerk met with Tara Marshal and Desiree Sandoval from the Department of Local Affairs to discuss grant opportunities, one for pre-water project funds which is very doubtful, and the other is for the match to a historical grant to do repairs to the depot building. The status of the Holly Complex rehabilitation and options were discussed. The AVNA library account had $751.28 left over from the flooring project. The library brought to our attention that they had a need for some new computers, as some were not working properly. We purchased four Chromebooks and headphones for the library totaling $747.96, leaving approximately $3.32 which we would like to move into the library account and close the COLOTrust account, as long as there are no objections. I have had a question posed to this office regarding tiny houses and whether they are allowed in Town limits. Discussion on this subject ensued with a decision to gather more information and a possible workshop to be decided at the next board meeting. Library Report. Presented that there was a total of 57 patrons, 49 checkout of materials, and 6 computer uses for the month of January. A motion was made to accept all reports as given by Trustee Melcher. Second by Trustee Tefertiller. Motion carried 5-0.
Old or Unfinished Business. None.
New Business. Approve Liquor License Renewal – UPOP Holdings dba J.R.’s Country Stores. A motion was made to approve the liquor license renewal for UPOP Holdings dba J.R.s Country Store by Trustee Melcher. Second by Trustee Lyons. Motion carried 5-0. Resolution 2025-4 – A Resolution to Impose Disconnect and Reconnect Fees Associated with Water Meter Inactivity. A discussion regarding what this Resolution is for. A motion was made to approve Resolution 2025-4 – A Resolution to Impose Disconnect and Reconnect Fees Associated with Water Meter Inactivity. A roll call vote was requested which resulted in all affirmative votes. Motion carried 5-0. Airport Liability Insurance Coverage – This was on last year’s agenda; we tried to get the documents for this year but have had no luck at this time. It is tabled until further notice. Appointment of Mayor. We have one Letter of Interest from Vance Brian for fulfilling the remainder of the Mayoral seat which ends with the 2026 Election. Vance was a previous employee of the Town of Holly and presided over the Board of Trustees with the additional duty of Mayor Pro Tem before leaving the board. A motion to appoint Vance Brian as Mayor to fulfill the remainder of the unexpired term. A roll call vote was requested; the result was all affirmative votes. Motion carried 5-0. Mayor Pro Tem Blaine Ice thanked the Board for their support during his temporary period of acting Mayor.
Miscellaneous. We need to begin the process of thinking about some requests for special events; one being a street dance and beer garden, the other being a graduation party with a street dance, Also, a local resident whose neighbor had a birthday party in the backyard played music loudly until 3:00 a.m., as told to us.
Adjournment. At 7:58 p.m. a motion was made to adjourn the meeting by Trustee Lyons. Second by Trustee Tefertiller. Motion carried 5-0. This action was completed by the newly appointed Mayor Brian.
/s/ Blaine Ice, Mayor Pro Tem
ATTEST:
/s/ Cynthia S. Humrich, Clerk/Treasurer