HOLCOMB — The Holcomb City Council on Wednesday continued to debate the fairness of an increase in the city's annual payment to the Finney County Economic Development Corp., even after having approved the increase earlier this month.
During its previous January meeting, the council approved a $25,000 payment to the FCEDC for its 2017 contribution after it was disputed by Councilman Brian Rupp that Holcomb was paying too much per capita compared to Garden City.
Rupp said in previous meetings that he believes the payment should be more capita-based and reiterated that on Wednesday.
In previous years, Holcomb has paid $15,000, and typically paid it at the end of the year.
“In my opinion, that’s an amount I’m comfortable with,” Rupp said of the $15,000.
Councilmen Jerry Quint and Ron Schreibvogel agreed.
“I didn’t think we should have paid the $25,000 when we voted on that, but I think $15,000 is more in line with what the city should pay, if we’re paying it,” Quint said.
“I think we’re happy with that $15,000, and I think they need to be told this is what we’re thinking,” Schreibvogel added. “We have to think about our people here. But economic development is helping us also.”
Council members appeared to come to a consensus that Holcomb’s recent payment was too much and that they think the $15,000 that they paid in previous years is more suitable. Mayor Gary Newman, who is Holcomb’s representative on the FCEDC board, was absent from Wednesday’s meeting.
City Administrator Robin Lujan said during Wednesday’s meeting that the council would need to meet with FCEDC officials to let them know they think a $15,000 payment in future years is more appropriate.
Also during Wednesday’s meeting, Holcomb resident Checko Vallejo asked the council if the chief of police position would be filled in house — specifically by a “nine-year veteran,” referencing Holcomb Police Sgt. Josh Tipton — or by someone outside the agency.
The police chief position has been vacant since former chief Anthony Forsen resigned earlier this month. His resignation came after it was revealed in November that he was charged with giving false information to Finney County Sheriff’s deputies while he was a passenger in a DUI-related accident in June 2017 while he was off-duty.
Holcomb officials haver said that Forsen resigned on his own and was not asked to.
“The reason that I’m asking that is because I felt that Sgt. Tipton has given that much time to the community,” Vallejo said. “… I just feel like that he’s dedicated nine years to this community, that if he was going to get the chance, or maybe be able to prove himself for a year… I just felt it in my heart to ask you about that.”
Vallejo said Tipton has more than 13 years of experience in law enforcement and 10 years of military experience.
“I just thought maybe if the guy could maybe be offered a year to prove himself… He could probably be somewhere else making more money, but he takes pride in serving this community…" Vallejo said. "I just wanted to ask on his behalf, because I mean this guy has served in Iraq. He’s not only served this community, but he’s served this country…”
Vallejo said that while Tipton did not put him up to speak to the board, he noted that he spoke with Tipton and said he expressed interest in the position.
Vallejo said that he went around Holcomb to get signatures in support of hiring Tipton as police chief, but said he picked “a bad week” to go around because he was sick three weeks prior.
“I didn’t get as many signatures as I knew I could have got, but everything I got from the community was all positive. I didn’t get anything negative about him,” Vallejo said.
Rupp said he appreciated Vallejo's input.
“Typically, open positions like that, we usually take applications and kind of go from there,” Rupp said, noting that the council will choose who they think would best fill the position. “I think it’s great that you came in and offered your support for Josh.”
Bruce Heinitz, a former Holcomb City Council member and public works director, also addressed the council during public comment, encouraging them to hire from within on open positions, though he did not specifically say the police chief position.
“I think that whenever possible, positions should be filled from within. If an employee for the city doesn’t see them as having an opportunity to advance, they're not going to be nearly as dedicated to the position they are in,” Heinitz said. “…Now if there is some compelling reason that that person may not be qualified, then so be it. But every time you go out to fill a position, you’ve lost training and you don’t know what type of individual you will get.”
Rupp said hiring form within is what Holcomb strives for.
“I agree that there’s definitely some merit to that,” he said.
Contact Josh Harbour at jharbour@gctelegram.com.