Commissioners Make Offer to VA for Clinic in Annex

 

Lamar VFW Post

Lamar VFW Post

The Prowers County Commissioners issued a resolution during their Thursday, July 25 meeting proclaiming August as Child Support Month for Prowers County.  Linda Fairbairn, Director of Social Services, shared the moment with Shawny Comer, IVD Administrator. 

Kirk Powers, Building Operations Supervisor, told the commissioners the Saturday Monster Truck Show put on by Larry Coberly ran without a hitch at the fairgrounds.  There was a standing room only crowd and the clean up work following the performance was carried out as required in the contract with Coberly’s Frog Productions company.  Powers said he has hired Leon Berndt as the fairgrounds caretaker, effective this past July 15. 

Six different underground and utility permits for Teeter Irrigation were approved as presented to the commissioners by Mark Dorenkamp, Road and Bridge Supervisor.  The road cuts to allow pipe to be laid will be found towards Holly along Highway 89 and County Roads DD and 37.  Approval was given to Rural Fire Chief, Staffon Warn to take possession of a used Sheriff Department vehicle to be used by the Rural Fire and Emergency Operations Department. 

Two Prowers County employees won cash prizes and days off with pay when their names were drawn by the commissioners in the county’s annual Wellness Benefit Drawing.  Those employees who opt into the Wellness Health improvement plan offered by the county are eligible for the drawing.  Pat Melgosa and Marla Fierro each won $200 cash and a day off with pay. 

The renewal application for a liquor license for the St. George’s Creaghe Post #3261, the Lamar VFW, was approved by the commissioners.  The VFW is located on South Memorial Drive. 

County Attorney John Lefferdink reviewed a resolution dating back to 1997 which stipulates the County’s position that it will not replace culverts free of charge.  Lefferdink suggested that a copy of the resolution be sent to the Board of Directors of the Buffalo Canal Company who requested a culvert be installed to replace the one which is rusting and collapsing on a road leading to the Holly Cemetery. 

The commissioners discussed the legal points and rental contract language for an agreement with the VA for use of a portion of the County Annex as headquarters for a new VA clinic in Lamar.  Attorney Lefferdink and County Veteran’s Representative, Jeremy Miller reviewed a contract outline regarding terms of use for the clinic in the Annex.  Miller and Commissioner Wendy Buxton-Andrade traveled to Burlington to get a similar contract from those commissioners to determine how much could be duplicated for Prowers County.  Miller said the county would have local control of the contractors hired for the work and when approved by the County and VA, the bills would be forwarded to the State VA for reimbursement.  The county has a July 31 deadline to submit the rental contract for approval.  Earlier the VA had advertised in local newspapers for bids for office space for the clinic, but none was received from any local property owners.  The annual agreement, if approved by the VA, comes to $25,672.  The commissioners decided to volunteer a portion of the Annex on an interim basis, but are now looking at a more permanent agreement with the VA as the agency could not work with a contract shorter than the five year period.

By Russ Baldwin

 

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