Commissioners Hold Public Hearing on Regional Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan

The Prowers County Commissioners formally appointed Justin Lee as the Prowers County Public Health and Environment Director during their regular meeting, Thursday, November 8.   Lee and R.N. Suzette Hall presented the annual contract for the federally funded Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.  The funding, $42,542, pays for in-home visits to new mothers for basic health and care referrals through the county Department of Social Services and public health organizations.  The commissioners noted that a ‘meet and greet’ welcoming reception for Lee and his family will be held Friday afternoon, November 16, at the Senior Center on East Olive Street in Lamar, between 4pm and 6pm. 

A brief public hearing regarding the Prowers County Local Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan was held with the commissioners and Riley Frazee, Southeast Regional Disaster Planner and Staffon Warn, Prowers County Emergency Operations Manager.  Commissioner-elect, Wendy Buxton-Andrade attended the scheduled meetings on the agenda.  The plan encompasses Baca, Bent, Prowers, Kiowa, Crowley and Otero counties and is federally funded through a Presidential declaration of disaster for an area, such as the Waldo Canyon fires in the state this past summer.  The plan also incorporates the FEMA flood mapping project which specifies that levees in Lamar, Holly and Granada must meet tolerance standards to contain flood waters.  Compliance with those standards is required to prevent the need for flood insurance coverage for local home and business owners. 

Fantasy Tree Committee & Santa

Lisa Thomas, Chairperson for this year’s Fantasy Tree Fundraising Committee, invited the commissioners to the annual event, Friday, November 17, at the Lamar Elks Lodge.  Decorated Christmas trees and wreaths are auctioned, coupled with a silent and live auction, to raise operating funds for the four county safe house administered by Domestic Safety Resource Center.  The commissioners explained that while they cannot dedicate any county funds to the organization as a donation, they personally have supported the project in years past and will attempt to participate in this year’s fund-raising efforts.

 In other action, an underground and utility permit was approved for CenturyLink of Eagle, Incorporated, the commissioners approved their 2013 meeting schedule as well as the county employee’s holiday schedule for the new year, the annual Toys for Tots campaign will make use of the Annex Function Room under a renewed agreement with organizer Darlene Lopez and the commissioners voted to increase the rental fee for the Home Ec Building at the fairgrounds from $50 to $75 per day beginning in 2013.

By Russ Baldwin