County Discusses Emergency Trailer Responsibilities, Sells Antique Wagons

Prowers County Courthouse

How to best share an emergency operations trailer among county responders was the topic of discussion for Prowers County Commissioners Thursday, September 12, with Staffon Warn, Emergency Operations Manager for the County and Prowers County Sheriff Jim Faull.  The trailer is owned by the county, but was recently donated to The City of Lamar Fire and Ambulance Department with some provisions in the offer.  The county will continue to license and insure the trailer, while the city will continue to upgrade and outfit the operating and communications equipment for it.  Lamar Fire Chief Marshall Cook informed the Lamar City Council this past Monday, September 9, that it would take several years to do, working from his operations budget.  The idea is that other responders in Holly, Wiley and Granada could also use the trailer for their emergency needs.   

Commission Chairman, Joe Marble, asked Warn and Faull if the best place to store the trailer would be the east parking lot, off the County Courthouse and who would be in charge of the keys or  would sign out the trailer when a need arose?  Marble said that as the County Sheriff, Faull would be the first choice.  He recommended a joint meeting with each municipality to iron out specifics, not excluding Bent or Baca County representatives.  Marble said a basic intergovernmental agreement would be needed to eliminate any confusion of responsibilities in years to come. 

Earlier Encampment at LCC

Kelly Emick, history professor at Lamar Community College, was granted the loan of three antique wagons owned by the county and stored at the Big Timbers Museum.  Emick said the wagons would be used to help showcase activities for the 2013 LCC History Encampment set for October 4-5 at the campus.  The idea for the Encampment was initiated by Emick’s mother, Professor Judy Arnold in 2005 and has since been held every two years at the college. 

Four of the county’s antique wagons have been sold.  Bids were opened during the Thursday commissioner’s meeting and based on high bid; the wagons were awarded for sale to Leon Sparks, Burt Davis and Greg Emick.  Total purchase price was $1,731.25.  Fees for use of the fairgrounds for two Sand and Sage Round Up Royalty meetings were waived at the request of Wynter Dorenkamp, who organizes the contests. 

Susan Crites, President of the Lamar Historical Society discussed signage issues for the Big Timbers Museum.  She said some work needs to be done on the main entrance and exits to the parking lot, as some visitors are using the old areas.  “I’m afraid someone will take the wrong turn and end up high centering their car,” she explained.  The commissioners said they’d budget some split rail fencing to close those gaps.  Crites said long term items included signage for handicapped parking and a lighted sign over the west door of the Transportation Museum.  A programmable LED sign, similar to the one used for the Granada Amache project was a consideration, pending grant funding. 

The 2014 County Holiday List was approved by the commissioners who noted that the same numbers of days as 2013 were okayed, including the November election day.

By Russ Baldwin