by Larry Patrick
WALSENBURG– The Huerfano County Commissioners approved the leasing of the old library building on Main Street to the District Attorney’s office at $500 per month. The DA, Frank Ruybalid, has been looking for better facilities in Huerfano County for his staff to do their job.
The County hired two new dispatchers to begin immediately. Jordan Barela and Cindy Blenkush will receive salaries of $25,000 plus benefits.
Dean Oatman of the CSU Extension Service, gave a report to the Commissioners on his efforts for Huerfano County. Oatman is handling Extension Service duties for Las Animas and Huerfano County due to budget cuts. He said it hasn’t been easy serving both counties but that he is getting a lot of understanding from the 4-H people after the initial shock with the state’s cutbacks in funding for programs and services.
Jerry Gallegos and Jaime Abeyta of the Rocky Mountain SER program gave their quarterly report on jobs for the area. Gallegos said $56,400 was spent on job programs last year in Huerfano County, $40,000 of it on the riverwalk cleanup by 24 youth last summer. Gallegos urged the Commissioners to come up with some programs that his organization can help fund this year.
Help is available for workers who have been displaced. Anyone laid-off from a job should contact R.M. SER for help in other job placement or training. Gallegos emphasized his organization can also help employers with on-the-job training expenses of hiring new employees.
