Prowers Commissioners Discuss Increased Use of Highways 89 and 287 by Gas Companies

Prowers County Courthouse

Baca County has requested permission from CDOT and the Colorado State Patrol to open highways 89 and 287 in their county, and permission from Prowers County to the transport of gasoline, diesel fuel and liquefied petroleum products.  According to Rebecca White, CDOT local government liaison, this will be the first step in a drawn out process.  She made the comments via phone to the Prowers County Commissioners during their Thursday meeting on July 7.   

The Colorado Petroleum Marketers Association and Colorado Propane Gas Association wants four highways in Baca County open to transport for their products. The four are US 160, 116, 89 and 287.  The associations believe using these routes would help save transportation costs for their affiliated companies.  Two of those, highways 287 and 89, go through Prowers County.   Highway 89 connects Holly to highway 116.  Highway 287, however, goes through downtown Lamar.  Commissioner Henry Schnabel said he and the other commissioners have no problem for highway 89, but 287’s downtown route opens some concerns, and he would have to speak with Baca County Commissioners before proceeding.  The Prowers County commissioners sent a letter in February to the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association, stating their approval for the use of highway 385. 

White said the approval process will be lengthy, involving public hearings on the routes,  a route review by CDOT and that organization’s petition to the Colorado State Patrol to conduct a review of the findings before making their recommendation. 

In other action, the commissioners gave approval for a few waiver for use of the county fairgrounds for S.E. Colorado Can Chasers and granted a subdivision exemption for property owned by Ron and Darlene Davis on CR19.  The commissioners also met in executive session with attorney John Lefferdink regarding legal advice on the county sales tax and the Urban Renewal Agreement with the city of Lamar.

By Russ Baldwin