New District Boundaries Approved for Prowers County; Tri-State Resolution of Support Reviewed

Prowers County Courthouse

The Prowers County Commissioners approved Resolution NO.  2011-8, adopting new district boundaries, during their regular meeting on Thursday, August 8.  This action stems from a requirement that the boundaries in the three districts be altered to meet shifting population changes as outlined in the U.S. 2010 Census.  It had been several decades since the last adjustment was made to equalize the population in the county.  Prowers County Clerk & Recorder, Jana Coen, said the current calendar won’t allow the changes be made into the election computers for this November, but those changes will have to be made following the election and before the end of the year.  Essentially, the only persons affected by the changes will be for those wishing to run for the two open county commissioner seats in 2012. 

The commissioners took no action on a request for a resolution of support for the Lamar-Front Range Transmission project.  Sarah Carlisle, Public Affairs Coordinator for Tri State Generation and Transmission visited with the commissioners on Thursday to provide an update on the project.  Carlisle has been briefing various southeast Colorado county representatives on the transmission system which will span most of eastern Colorado by 2018.  The exact route of the 400 mile power project has not been specified beyond a general pathway, connecting Comanche power generation resources just east of I-25 to Lamar; connecting Lamar to a Vilas route and turning northwards to Burlington, Big Sandy and Arapahoe County.  The project is estimated to cost roughly a half a billion dollars.  County attorney, John Lefferdink will review the language proposed in the resolution of support and report back to the commissioners with his recommendations.  Once formulated an application for a permit to proceed will be filed with the Public Utilities Commission. 

Jackie Brown, RN and Director of Public Health for Prowers County, briefed the commissioners on a public hearing for rule making regarding Core Public Health Services in Colorado.  The meeting will be held in Denver on October 19.  Some of the subjects covered in the hearing that will have a local application to county residents include funding issues and funding sources; some health services can be prioritized in cases of insufficient local or regional funding; conducting a local health improvement plan based on an assessment of a community’s health and environmental status every five years.  Brown said the next may be conducted in 2012 or 2013, and based on area population and facilities; the study may be based through a partnership with other area health providers.  Brown said the county’s health audit on immunizations tested better than the state or national average, and there was a good integration of medical provider services.  One drawback found was limitations of health-oriented promotions based on limited funding other than through grants.  Brown added that the county’s overall assessment showed we’re in good shape with no compliance issues from the state, but there will be a need to prioritize some health programs if funding resources start to diminish.  Brown said Dr. Chris Urbina, the state’s Chief Medical Officer and Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Health and Environment will be in our area in October, as part of a state-wide tour.

By Russ Baldwin