Wal-Mart Subdivision Plat Finalized, Another Derelict House to Come Down

Intersection at Camino and Highway 50

The final plat of the Wal-Mart Subdivision has been finalized as the department store contracted with a private firm to complete the plat. Wiley Work, Lamar City Engineer and Jeremy McEndree, of the City Building Department, told the City Council, that Lot 1 is the present site of the store and Lot 2 is land currently owned by TL Land, east of the stoplight, while Lot 3 is at the northwest corner of the property, adjacent to Camino de Santa Fe.  A joint agreement between Wal-Mart and TL Land has dedicated Camino de Santa Fe and all easements to the public and those easements cover the utilities currently on the property.  Planning and Zoning has signed off on the plat and recommended the City Council give approval.  Work added, “It was good the city built the road extension to Highway 50 as it spurred them on to get the property dedicated to us.”  Work said it’s a good subdivision plat which should have been done years ago.

House on North 7th in Lamar

Another house in Lamar will soon be demolished, following adoption of a resolution by the City Council. The two-story property is located at 104 North 7th Street in Lamar.  The resolution gives the go ahead for the city attorney to initiate action in Prowers County Court authorizing the demolition and removal of the debris with the cost to be assessed against the said real property.  The owners had been given notice to demolish or remove the structures over 30 days ago and no action had been taken by them.  Lamar City Attorney, Garth Nieschburg, recommended that an attorney will probably be hired to represent the owner, but these costs will be assessed against the owner.  Councilman Kirk Crespin wanted to make sure the city is conducting all due diligence with regard to properly notifying the owner of the planned demolition.  The property, a portion of which appears to have been gutted by an earlier fire, is uninhabitable and could pose a hazard to anyone entering the house.  There is no target date at this time for the demolition.

The council held a first reading of an ordinance providing for the adoption of the Revised Flood Insurance Study for Prowers County and Incorporated Areas with Accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The new maps are required to be adopted so city residents can purchase flood insurance if it is required or desired by them.  Essentially a map of the coverage area that was developed in 1982 is being replaced with a map from 2016.  City Engineer, Wiley Work, says this ordinance gives the city the opportunity to make changes to the levee along Willow Creek and bring the maps up to compliance at a later date, perhaps as long as ten years.

The council approved extra-territorial water service for Juan Lopez who resides on CR GG in Lamar. A request for water service for the single family residence was recommended by the Lamar Water Advisory Board.  The measure was needed as the residence is locate outside the city limits and Lopez has agreed to extend his private line to a hook-up owned by the city on 14^th Street.  As his property falls outside the city limits, he will have to pay a double rate for water consumption.

The next informal city council breakfast has been scheduled for the Pit Stop on North Main Street in Lamar on Wednesday, March 2nd from 7am to 8am. The public is invited to drop in to discuss issues about the city or ask questions of their council representatives.

Dewaye Schroeder was re-appointed to a new, five-year term on the City’s Water Board. Dewayne is a retired Water Resources Engineer with a degree in petroleum engineering and has had previous experience with water rights in the Arkansas Valley.

City Administrator, John Sutherland, stated that the city has received a verbal commitment from a candidate who was selected to become the new Lamar Librarian. Sutherland said the offer was made and the contract is expected to be finalized by April 4^th.  Members of a Youth Council may be advertised for, to fill out the required numbers to work on the city’s Inspire Grant with GoCO.  Community input is required to help develop ideas on how best to use as much as $5 million the city could receive for the creation of outdoor activities for youth in the area.  Potential candidates would be from 13 to 22 years old and would meet once a month while the survey is underway, through the spring, summer and into early falls.  More information will be provided if there is a need for membership, according to Rick Akers, Lamar Parks and Recreation Director.

By Russ Baldwin