PCDI/ARPA Partnering on Supplemental Environmental Projects

Lance Benninghoff, Executive Director of Prowers County Development Incorporated, will serve as the third party administrator for an ARPA environment project which was a portion of a consent decree settlement between Arkansas River Power Authority and WildEarth Guardians. PCDI will be paid a 5% administrative fee and out of pocket expenses for Benninghoff for the $125,000 project which is intended to benefit ARPA community members through an environmentally oriented or energy savings project selected by WEG and the U.S. District Court.

The proposal to the PCDI board was made by Rick Rigel, ARPA General Manager, during a PCDI meeting this past Tuesday, December 3. “We feel the best course of action would be replacement of LED lighting in various municipal buildings to our member communities in southeast Colorado,” Rigel explained. He said the $125,000 was a portion of a settlement in a lawsuit brought against ARPA by the environmental group, WEG.

ARPA will assist Benninghoff identify those facilities best served by the switch to LED lighting including libraries, community centers or other similar purposed buildings. A cost breakdown for the lights, labor, equipment needed for installation and conversion and estimated savings from the project will be included in several reports prepared by Benninghoff during the life of the project. Actual installation will begin no later than 180 days after the final approval date and Rigel estimated the project should be completed by October, 2015.

The board agreed that Carla Scranton, PCDI business manager should submit a letter of interest to serve on the Canyons and Plains board of directors. There are currently two openings and the tourism group is holding their annual meeting in Lamar this Thursday at the County Annex. It was also agreed that Scranton and Benninghoff should attend a Public Information Officer training course held by the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The two day course is set for next February in Lamar. It was felt the community could benefit with two persons trained to represent the retail and commercial sector of a community during an emergency response situation.

Matrix Design Group of Pueblo will be invited to a PCDI meeting to provide additional information for a business proposal made by Matrix regarding shared information on the development of the Lamar Reliever Route. This is contingent on Matrix Design Group’s successful bid for a portion of the project from CDOT. Additional discussion concerned the PCDI by-laws regarding proxy or absentee voting during the annual meeting. Board members will receive copies of the by-laws for future review. As of this month, major contributors to PCDI will receive monthly financial updates. The next PCDI meeting will be held Tuesday, December 31 at 7:30am.

By Russ Baldwin