Holly Trustees Adopt 2019 Budget; Hilger Becomes Deputy Clerk/Treasurer

The Holly Trustees approved Ordinances 524, 525 and 526 this past Wednesday evening, December 5, 2018 adopting the town’s 2019 budget, appropriated sums of money totaling $2,463,191 and setting the mill levy as last year’s rate of 28.866.   The tax revenue from the levy is estimated at $77,448 to be used for general operating purposes for 2019.  The property assessment for the town as certified by the County Assessor is $2,683,022.  The town’s General Fund is set at $489,748, the Library General Fund is $19,190, the Utility Fund is $1,936,553 and the Conservation Trust Fund is $17,700.  A public hearing for budget discussions was held prior to the regular Trustees meeting.

Jessalyn Hilger took her oath of office as Deputy Clerk/Treasurer following her 90 day training period the Trustees and Mayor Tony Garcia welcomed her participation in future meetings. The Trustees also set the meeting calendar for 2019 maintaining the first Wednesday of each month as the regular meeting date.

The Trustees plan to discuss the position of interim town administrator with a potential candidate during their January meeting. A new administrator has been under consideration for several months now by the board.  The town has been working without an administrator since accepting the resignation of Jerry L’Estrange at the end of 2016.

The future disposition of the Holly landfill was discussed, primarily what would be the best financial recourse for handling garbage collections prior to the closing of the landfill or transitioning to a transfer station, an event that may be one or two years in the future. Town Clerk, Megan Jara, said she has been in touch with other similar sized communities, such as Kremmling, CO to see how they manage their refuse collections.  The transport of town refuse to the Lamar landfill has been an option with Lamar’s fees running $17.25 per compressed cubic yard.  Jara estimated Holly’s annual amount at 3,800 cubic yards.  The Trustees voted in favor of renewing the town’s refuse loader lease for a year, adding the comprehensive warranty option.

Holly Librarian, Elaine Anderson, reported that 192 persons visited the library during the substantial turnout in town for Holly’s Old Fashioned Christmas celebration and each youngster received a book as a gift.

In earlier action during the November Trustee’s meeting, the board signed the annual contract for service from the Prowers County Sheriff’s Department, noting they decided not to fund a new cruiser for 2019. Liquor license renewals were approved for East Side Liquor and JR’s County store.  In earlier action, the Holly Housing Authority Board appointed Kara Davis to complete the term of Karen Hermosillo, Nancy Magallanes to complete the term of Rebecca Rodriguez.  Donetta Willhite was appointed to complete the turn of Jennifer Holdren on the Library Board.  The board also discussed raising fees for parking in the town’s RV Park with utilities.  The current rates of $25 per day, $125 per week and $300 a month are considerably less than comparable facilities in the county.  Additional discussion will follow in future meetings.  The next Holly Trustee meeting is set for Wednesday, January 2^nd.

By Russ Baldwin