All Entries in the "Utilities" Category
State to Granada on Landfill-Correct It or Close It
Granada Trustee Jerene DeBono led an open meeting for local residents, Wednesday, April 10, informing them of the changes needed at the Granada landfill as mandated by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, based on a site inspection several months ago. DeBono said there were about 19 deficiencies requiring correction and some of those […]
Lamar Light and Power Testing New LED Streetlights
Some portions of Lamar will appear different under new street lights that are being tested by Lamar Light and Power. Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh, informed utility board members, four light pole locations have had regular wattage lights replaced with LED versions. The intersections are at Parmenter and 4th Street, Oak Street and Division Street, East […]
Abandoned and Cleared, from Condemned House to New ‘Lease’ on Life
Abandoned or derelict houses have a detrimental effect on a neighborhood and in the long run, on a city’s potential for economic gain. Lamar, according to Chief Building Inspector, Bobby Ward, has about 20 such houses than can be torn down. Once the house is removed, the vacant lots can be used for new housing. […]
Water Restrictions Discussed/Carnival Coming to Lamar for State High School Rodeo
Events are moving forward to host a full-scale carnival in Lamar during the Colorado State High School Rodeo finals, June 5-9, but it won’t be at Willow Creek Park. If all goes as planned, a carnival will be set up at the Prowers County Fairgrounds, corresponding with the scheduled rodeo, in town for the annual contest. […]
Colorado Employment Situation for February 2013
(DENVER) — Nonfarm payroll jobs increased 10,800 from January to February to 2,352,900 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 10,100 and government increased 700. According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate decreased one tenth of one percentage point over the month to 7.2 percent. The […]
Light Agenda for Utility Board Meeting
Only a few items were on the agenda for the Lamar Utility Board’s bi-monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 26. Lamar Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh noted that sales of electricity through the end of February are down 7.3% compared to the same time last year. Residential sales dropped 2.7% and Commercial/Industrial sales were off 11%. […]
PCDI with New President, Directors and Back at the Track
Larry Lusher of Farmer-Stockman Realty and Rick Robbins of Colorado Mills, attended the Prowers County Development Incorporated monthly meeting as the two newest board members, Tuesday, March 26. They were elected to the PCDI board during last month’s annual banquet meeting. Board member, Marsha Willhite, Holly Town Administrator was elected as PCDI President replacing […]
Economics Highlight Crowder Town Hall Meeting
Several topics were discussed during the Saturday morning Town Hall meeting held by State Senator, Larry Crowder, and the general focus was on the economic impact of each issue, whether it was gun safety legislation, the repurposing of the former Ft. Lyon Prison in Bent County, Conservation Easements or ARPA electric rates. Crowder, newly […]
City Council to Discuss Water Upgrades and Health Improvement Issues
The Lamar City Council will hear a presentation from Emily Nieschburg of LiveWell this Monday evening on the Health Place Grant. The city could realize up to $1M in grant funding depending on the health needs of the community, as compliled through earlier community assessment meetings. Nieschburg will outline the scheduled April visit by representatives […]
County OKAYs Water Shares for Cemetery District, Monster Truck Show Gets Green Light
Rella Ann Steele and Joel Kalma, East Prowers Cemetery District Board members, had their request for 8 Prowers County LAWMA water shares for cemetery use approved by the commissioners. The rate for the year was set at $100 per share. Steele explained that the board and the new groundskeeper had made some real improvements at […]
Colorado Employment Situation – January 2013
Employers in Colorado added 7,100 nonfarm payroll jobs from December to January for a total of 2,342,900 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 8,200 and government decreased 1,100. According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a percentage point to 7.3 percent. The […]
Granada Trustees Review Landfill Upgrade Options
An assessment of improvements to the Granada landfill will be reviewed in Denver Tuesday, March 19. The Compliance Meeting was called by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment and will be attended locally by Granada Trustee Jerene DeBono, Keith Siemsen from the Prowers County Health and Environment Department and County Commissioner, Wendy Buxton-Andrade. DeBono […]
Holly Trustees Continue Landfill Compliance Measures
The Holly Board of Trustees selected Brase Insurance to provide liability insurance coverage at the municipal airport. The Brase Insurance quote, at $1,725, was substantially lower than last year’s premium and provided the same amount of coverage. The Trustees decided in favor of one of three options presented to them for groundwater testing at the […]
No Leeway for Electric Rate Reductions in Near Future
The Lamar Repowering Project and the debt service needed to pay the construction bonds is here to stay, whether the plant is producing electricity or placed in cold storage. And if the rates for purchasing power from a grid, as is being done now seem high, the rates would probably be higher if the […]
Water Supplies, Storm Alerts Discussed at Community Conversation
Although the drought in southeast Colorado continues, the water supply from the City of Lamar well fields is in good shape, according to City Administrator, John Sutherland. “At this time, we’re not anticipating a need for any water use restrictions for the coming summer,” he told the Community Conversation audience at the Lamar Foursquare Life […]
Repowering Project Upgrades May Run through 2013
ARPA, Arkansas River Power Authority, provided utility board members with a written update on the status of the Repowering Project. The boiler manufacturer, Babcock and Wilcox, has continued to make modifications to allow the unit to operate at maximum potential without exceeding emissions limitations stipulated in the light plant air quality permit. To date, […]
County Approves Railroad Crossing Safety System Near Granada
A railroad crossing warning system will be installed at CR 22.5 near Granada in the near future. The Prowers County Commissioners, CDOT and the BNSF Railway Company entered into a contract to furnish and install flashing light signals, gates, bells, constant warning circuitry, new cabin and concrete crossing pads. The county’s contribution to the project […]
Commissioners Hear Businessmen’s Concerns over Electric Rates
Going to ARPA for Answers Several of the county’s major commercial electric users addressed their concerns regarding the high cost of local utilities and its potential negative impact on new and current businesses to the Prowers County Commissioners during their Thursday, February 21 meeting. Doug Morris of JBS Five Rivers, and Rick Robbins of Colorado […]
A Honeymoon to Remember
Don and Arlene Snover, Lamar residents, were among the 4,200 passengers stranded for several days aboard the Mexico bound cruise ship, Triumph. The couple decided to take the trip to celebrate their honeymoon, and got more than they expected in memories to last a lifetime once the ship’s engine went offline because of a fire. […]
Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture Focuses on Innovation
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The critical role of innovation to the future of US agriculture was the focus of the “Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture” on February 14, 2013 in Denver. The forum, called “Cultivating Innovation: Creating Ideas for the Future,” challenged attendees to think about the need for innovation when considering a future with a […]