City Closer to Accepting Valco Pond Acreage

The Valco property is almost but not quite ready to be transferred to the City of Lamar.  It had been hoped that the 100 acre-plus site could have been transferred before the end of 2012.  With the mayor’s signature on the mineral permit, the property and some of the reclamation responsibilities will fall to the City of Lamar as outlined by the state Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety.  Since last year, one of the four ponds at the site has been filled in and the shoreline leading to the other three have been modified and graded to make them more accessible to the public once the city takes possession.  Revegetation is required at the site to alleviate future blowing dust and dirt erosion and a portion of the property belonging to All Rite Paving will need to be fenced off to the public.  City Administrator, John Sutherland, said that the seeding program begun last year did not take and needs to be done again.  Before the city takes over the property, a letter of understanding for the continued financial obligation to maintain the property needs to be signed by the current owner, Tom Brubaker.  Water is a second concern, as the city will be responsible for any evaporation recharge from the surface area of the ponds.  The city has LAWMA shares to accommodate the estimated 70.55 shares that will be lost and the Division of Parks and Wildlife said they would be willing to split the water needed to maintain the water levels lost through evaporation.  The land has been privately owned and as such, is not accessible to the general public at this time.  There have been instances last year when the police had to ask persons to leave and not fish in the ponds. 

Lamar Librarian, Debbie Reynolds noted the winners of an “I Love Library” raffle and poster contest this past February.  They are Aspen Hawkins, America DeLa Torre and Shanteya Robles with Rashmi Gaitonde winning the raffle.  Reynolds noted the Lamar library will be closed to the public from March 18 to the 22^nd during a remodeling project and while new bookcases and display cases are set up in the library.  Some work has been underway the past several weeks as the video cd’s have been transferred to wooden bookcases.  Once the project is complete, there will be additional solid wood shelving available.  Former Lamar Librarian, Susan Ooton, who is now at the Canon City Library, requested any left over shelving for her operation.  The council directed Reynolds to see if any local organizations or schools could use the shelves and price them as they may first go out to bid.

During a scheduled public hearing, the council voted approval for the final plat of Comer Subdivision which runs along portions of South 14^th Street in town.  Properties owned by Marion Kinder, Dorma Kinder, Joe and Emmelina Gonzales and Russell Anderson and Shirley Montgomery at 900, 902, 908, 1002 and 1004 South 14^th Street are being subdivided.  The land adjacent to some of the property is in the county and contains some livestock, mostly for 4H projects. 

March 25 has been set as the date for a public hearing for the Buzzard’s Roost in Lamar.  Owner Jay Gruber plans to hold a two day County Jam again this year, on June 22 and 23, as well as his annual Road Jam for two days in September.  The hearing will be for a temporary modification of premise application as the music concerts are held outdoors, adjacent to the lounge on West Hickory Street and North Main Street.  Mayor Roger Stagner said the first event has to pass the council or the second one will be denied as well. 

Ten members of the Lamar Fire and Ambulance Department were noted for their special performance before the Lamar City Council this past Monday evening.  Lamar Fire Chief Marshall Cook detailed the emergency call at the Passport Inn this past December in which a motel patron suffered a cardiac arrest.  Cook praised the response team that stabilized the patient en route to Prowers Medical Center and from there to a hospital in the Front Range.  The nine who received certificates of appreciation were:  Jeremy Burkhart, Marcus Widner, Ryan Cook, Brandon Kemp, John Owens, Ryan Yoder, Donald Griggs, Nick Palmer and Nathan Palmer. Patrick Arrona was not present to receive his commendation, but it will be presented to him at a later date.

Ms. Christine Etherton Ruth, representing the Colorado Daughters of the American Revolution, explained the planned restoration and repairs scheduled for the Madonna of the Plains statue in Lamar.  The work to the statue will be done this spring.  Along with general cleaning of dirt and accumulated dust, cracks and crevices will be filled with an epoxy mixture similar to the stone makeup of the statue.  The final task involves the application of a clear polymer sealer which protects from moisture as well as long term environmental conditions.  The statue is one of twelve and was donated to the City of Lamar with the DAR as caretakers.  The 86 year old statue is in better shape than the 11 others that were created for display according to Ruth, mostly because of the dry weather conditions that prevail in this corner of the country.  She said the statues were originally intended for indoor or a sheltered display.   

The council voted to renew a three year lease for odor-scrubbing equipment located at the southeast corner of McKorkle Field at the beginning of Prosperity Lane.  An odor control system was installed in 2009 to alleviate the hydrogen sulfide odors emanating from the sewer system.  The new three year lease will cost $14,705 and will need to be replaced every three years.

By Russ Baldwin