Holly Trustees Hire New Administrator

Michael Tanner, who hails from Arkansas, accepted the offered position of administrator for the Town of Holly following final discussions among the Trustees and interim administrator, Steve Rabe who oversaw the search and hiring process. Rabe said Tanner will be in Holly on Tuesday, November 12^th to begin his duties during the Trustees regular board meeting on Wednesday, November 6^th. The hiring culminates a months-long search for the position which has been vacant for almost three years. Final interviews with Tanner and another candidate were held in a special meeting on October 10^th. Rabe had compiled a task list of areas of concern for the community which he presented to the Trustees this past September. Those areas included plans to close the town landfill and develop a transfer station, water system upgrade, garbage truck replacement, personnel policy guidelines for municipal employees, utility master plan and sewer lift station, to name a few.

There was no final action on the town’s budget for 2020 following a public hearing and another budget workshop will be held with the new administrator. Town Librarian, Elaine Anderson, told the Trustees she plans to leave the community by the spring or summer of next year and the Trustees will need to conduct a search for a replacement. Sufficient funding sources to maintain employees for a minimum of 20 hours a week continue to be a problem. “We were approved for a $4,500 grant from the state for the library, but as I’ve pointed out in the past, none of these funds can be used for salaries,” she explained, adding that under state statutes, to be considered a municipal library, the facility must be open at least 20 hours a week and employees paid the standard minimum wage.

The Trustees approved the annual agreement for services with the Prowers County Sheriff’s Office. Four payments of $14,500 each will be made through the year for a total of $58,000 and the Trustees budgeted $37,000 for a new sheriff’s vehicle for 2020. The State Bid Ford F-150 will remain in service for a minimum of five years. If the annual agreement for services between Prowers County and the Town of Holly is terminated, the vehicle will be re-titled to the Town of Holly.

The liquor license for East Side Liquor was renewed as well as the insurance provider quotes for 2020 from CIRSA for optional coverages. Equipment breakdown insurance rose to $686.59 from the $615 fee in 2019, while Excess Crime at $231 and AD&D at $9.60/employee remains the same from 2019.

By Russ Baldwin