New Board Members Attend PCDI Meeting

John Marrin, President of Lamar Community College, and Shawna Hodge, Lamar’s Main Street Director, sat in on their first PCDI meeting, Tuesday morning, February 28. Both were elected to the board during the annual meeting of Prowers County Development Incorporated on February 16.

Board members, after some discussion, decided to reduce the asking price for the Washington Street property, the former Big R warehouse and offices, by $25,000. The building had been listed with local realtors since it was donated to PCDI last year, and is now listed by Hancock Realty with 90 days left on that contract. The board will make a determination on how to market the property once the contract has expired. The building has been appraised at $480,000 and the reduced price now has it listed at $575,000. Board members would like to see it move, preferably to a business concern that could bring jobs to the county. PCDI economic director Lisa Nolder said she has shown the property to oil and gas interests out of Texas, but nothing definitive has resulted from the discussions at this time. Nolder noted the annual membership drive has been a success, with $10,000 donated so far from area businesses. She said she will continue her efforts to meet a $20,000 goal for the year. Nolder also reported that Prowers County is off the table as a site for a potential wind farm. Colorado Springs Utilities had expressed interest in Washington and Prowers Counties as two locations for development with one company expressing interest in securing the contract. Neither will be selected as Colorado Springs decided not to move on the power development project.

Marrin and Hodge outlined LCC’s “Simple Steps” Workshop set for April 7 and 21 at the college campus. The workshop will be taught by SCORE representatives from the Pueblo branch, focusing on information needed by area business entrepreneurs on the best means of starting their venture, how to market and develop a business plan, financial considerations such as cash flow and various funding institutions. Marrin said a number of scholarship contributions have come in from Holly, Holly Commercial Club, Granada, Wiley, McClave, Lamar Chamber of Commerce, Board of Prowers County Commissioners, Lamar Partnership Inc and a private business donation through PCDI. The cost of the program is $75 per person, a reduced price through the scholarship donations.

Doug Harbour addressed board members on his water concerns in the region. He would like to see a group formed to move 11% of Catlin water shares owned by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and other sources to either the permanent pool at John Martin Reservoir and/or Great Plains reservoirs. His informational letter stated that he would like to see the Division of Wildlife and Parks use the Catlin shares in wet years, to help bring of the Great Plains Reservoirs to zero gate. Harbour requested a letter of support for his project and the board asked for additional information on his goals in order to proceed. He said he would contact SEBREA and the tourism organization Canyons and Plains for their input as well.

The PCDI board held elections for 2012 with Cathy Buxton remaining as president, and Lawrence Brase as treasurer, Shawna Hodge was voted vice-president. The next board meeting will be held March 27.

By Russ Baldwin