PJ Wilson Resigning from Lamar City Council

City Councilman P.J. Wilson announced that he will be stepping down from the council as his family has purchased a home outside the city boundaries, no longer allowing him to serve out his full term. He stated that his final day in office would be March 12, unless a replacement for his seat is found prior to that date. Wilson represents Ward II in Lamar. He said he has appreciated working with all council members and enjoyed the time he was given to represent his community. Wilson said he would continue to look for other community-oriented pursuits where he could offer his services.

The Lamar City Council held one public hearing and delayed a second one during their February 13 meeting. The first concerned amending the 2003 CDOT revised Colorado Model Traffic Code regarding penalties for vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the city and adopting the 2010 version. The revised ordinance adjusted penalties to conform to the 2010 modifications, essentially increasing a parking fine in Lamar from $1 to $15. The second public hearing was scheduled to deal with approval of a contract update and renewal between the city and Cablevision Systems Corporation, formerly Bresnan Communications, LLC. That company assumed ownership of Bresnan Communications and their contract with the city expires September 12, 2014. The hearing was postponed until March 26 because the city council had not been given all the pertinent information needed to conduct the hearing. The council is considering a resolution authorizing renewal of the Cablevision Franchise Agreement which begins September 2014 and ends on September 12, 2019.

The council approved a Hotel/Motel license transfer of ownership for Holiday Motel on North Main Street . The former owner, Paul Gadash, transferred ownership of the business to family member Linda Rose and the license is required to reflect the new ownership. As the motel/hotel fee on Holiday Motel had been paid in full just this past December, the council voted not to charge the new owner for the $118 fee.

The council approved the re-appointment of Daniel Neuhold for a five-year term expiring February 1, 2017 on the Water Advisory Board, and the appointment of Bryce Hiigel to the Parks and Recreation advisory Board for a three-year term which expires in February 2015. Other contract considerations included approval to Miranda Hubbard, personal exercise trainer, for a six month rental of the city’s Cardio Vascular and weight room at the community building. The contract amount is for $100 per week. Another agreement as outlined by Police Chief Gary McCrea, included security services to be provided by the Lamar Police Department for a “Caged Conflict” event at the Community Building on Saturday, February 18 from 6pm to midnight. The promoter, Donald Martinez, requested eight Lamar Police Officers to provide security between 6pm and midnight at $30 per hour, per officer. Upfront payment of $1,440 has been requested by the Police Department.

The city’s master contract with TEC, The Engineering Company, was approved for transfer to Farnsworth Group which recently took over TEC. As explained to the council by Doug Montgomery, Water and Wastewater Director, Farnsworth Group is a full service engineering and architecture firm with offices throughout Colorado. A current master contract with TEC calls for work on the 6MG tank rehabilitation project and for design and bidding services for the water main replacement project serving the Prowers Medical Center area. Montgomery said the first of three interior coats of paint to the water tank was completed today and the final coat is expected to be applied by the end of the week. City Administrator, Bill Pfeilsticker said he and Montgomery decided to place the “Lamar” name on the tanks on the south-southwest corner for best visibility for travelers on Highway 287.

The council set March 12 for public hearing on two separate annexation resolutions. Earlier, the city council received petitions for annexation for two residential properties having identical ownership. As explained by City Administrator Bill Pfeilsticker, Dustin Langston requested annexation of two properties, one of which is contiguous to current city boundaries along Yucca Street West and South 14 Street.  The annexation of the first property will allow the second to then be contiguous to city property and may also be annexed within city boundaries.  The other public hearing concerns a petition for annexation of just over five acres of vacant property adjacent to Memorial Drive, near CR EE5, owned jointly by Mark Bosley, Monette Strailer and Niccola Lauritsen.  The property is currently zoned A-3 Fragile Land.  It was recommended that the annexed property be rezoned to O-E, Open Estates.

The council noted several upcoming events including the annual PCDI meeting set for this Thursday, February 16 at the Cow Palace Inn, city offices will be closed, Monday, February 20 for Presidents Day, the 10th Annual High Plains Snow Goose Festival will run February 23-26 and Spring Clean Up day for the city will be on Saturday, April 21.

The council work session consisted of a presentation from Ty Miller, project director of Ennovate, Inc. Miller’s firm does energy analysis studies for municipal and other buildings around the state, providing recommendations for upgraded heating and cooling equipment. This is a similar proposal that was made to the council late last year by a firm that provides similar energy-saving information. Miller said Ennovate focuses on rural communities and has the approval of the Governor’s Energy Office. He said Ennovate has done work at Wiley School and in Holly. Miller said performance contracting enables a client to use future energy savings to pay for the initial costs of energy savings projects through a guaranteed savings program.  City Administrator Pfeilsticker said he’d like a list of references from Miller before the council takes any action on a feasibility study, which would be the next step in laying out a contract between the city and the company.

Lamar and Prowers County have been selected to host this summer’s State High School Rodeo Championships, June 6–10 at the Prowers County Fairgrounds. Mayor Stagner said he met with the Prowers County Commissioners regarding use of some city equipment to help host the event, an agreement similar to the last time Lamar hosted the event. Stagner said the county is seeking, at no cost, use of the city ambulance crews, some police drive-thrus, additional dumpsters and some picnic tables, as well as pool passes for the rodeo contestants. The council was generally in agreement to approve the request, but it will be formally placed on the agenda for action on February 27.

By Russ Baldwin