Lamar City Council Approves Officers for Caged Conflict Event

Lamar Days committee members received permission from the city council for waiver of carnival fees at $290 for Crabtree Amusements, a new concession conducting the carnival in Lamar. The council also approved permission to locate one carnival house trailer for three employees at Willow Creek Park from May 11 to May 15. Another house trailer will occupy one of the RV trailer parks in town. Lamar is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Leisure Services director Rick Akers reminded Chamber of Commerce President Jillian Tinnes that the carnival is prohibited from dumping grey water at Willow Creek Park, and she said she’ll make sure that provision is included in the contract. The city will supply water and electricity as it has to other carnivals in past years.

A spring and summer downtown beautification project has been supported by the Lamar Chamber of Commerce. Chamber members are seeking funds through a future radiothon to buy flowers which will be planted throughout downtown Lamar. The flowers cost $800. Local 4-H clubs will plant the flowers the first weekend in May. The chamber is asking businesses to help out by adopting a block for continued care of the flowers. No date has been set for the on-air fund-raising at this time.

Lamar Librarian Debbie Reynolds read a proclamation declaring April 10 thru the 16th as National Library Week in Lamar, highlighting the various contributions a library plays in a community, from lending books and videos to assisting in research projects, and hosting numerous reading events for school age children. Mayor Roger Stagner signed the proclamation. On a library related event, Pastor Harold Bohls of the First Southern Baptist Church and Ministerial Alliance in Lamar, used the public open session to state that the Cultural Event Center had been denied to him as a location for holding a national day of prayer on May 5. He stated it was explained to him that neither religious nor political events had access to the Center per a ruling from the Library Board. He said the board and Reynolds had been helpful in their explanation and Reynolds said she had been unsure as to the ruling as it applied to a non-denominational or inter-denominational event. She said the board will meet April 28 to address any changes in the by-laws that can be made.

The city council signed a new concession stand contract with the Lamar Savage Booster Club, continuing a 14 year agreement. Under terms, the city would receive 8% of the new income for 2011-2012, a 2% increase over last year’s contract. Rick Akers, Leisure Services director explained to the board that because of a 2009-2010 contract with Coca Cola, the percentage for the Club was reduced to 6%, but is now being set back to the original agreement of 8%. Increased utility costs have increased over the past two years, necessitating an increase in the percentage fee. The renewal agreement is open ended relating to future fee negotiations. Akers said he addressed Booster Club members on the new agreement, and they had no objections.

A caged conflict event is being promoted by Voces Unidas to coincide with this year’s Cinco de Mayo celebration. The fight will be held at the Lamar Community Building and the Lamar police department has been asked by the promoter to provide security services for the evening, May 7. Police Chief Gray McCrea explained that eight officers will be employed at $30 per hour for the caged conflict which is scheduled from 6pm to midnight. The council approved the request from Donald Martinez, events promoter.

A resolution amending certain by-laws of the Lamar Municipal Airport Advisory Board was passed. City deputy administrator Bill Pfeilsticker told the council the change would require the airport manager to report to the city administrator instead of the public works director and eliminate the annual election of an airport board secretary as the city would provide that person. These changes, he said, are mostly bookkeeping as they have been in practice for several years. The other by-law change would allow telephone polls for board members and outline how they would be conducted and ratified.

The city council adjourned and went into executive session on two occasions, one to allow the city’s water attorney, David Shohet to provide updates on water court cases, the Ark Valley Water Conduit and the intergovernmental agreement with Prowers County on the Idler Farm Dry Up. The second executive session was held for consultation regarding issues with the Lamar Utilities Board and ARPA, Arkansas River Power Authority.