All Entries in the "Utilities" Category
Commissioners Focus on Annex & Courthouse Upgrades
Kirk Powers, Prowers County Building Operations Supervisor, reviewed some current and future upgrades planned for the Annex on East Cedar Street in Lamar. The building now features new stairs to the rear as Powers explained, “We’re very pleased with the way they turned out. We made them flatter and longer and added an extra step […]
Lamar Light and Power Continues to Upgrade Equipment for 2016
Houssin Hourieh, Lamar Light and Power Superintendent, told the Utility Board members that some expenditures have been budgeted for 2016 to update aging and outdated equipment. The plant will focus on power station relays for the 25 & 69 kilovolt substation equipment. He noted, “The relays were manufactured in the 1960s and we can’t […]
Water Lamar Fee Schedule for 2016
Customers of the City of Lamar will soon be paying higher water use fees, as the council approved a new schedule to help offset increased loan costs to pay off past infrastructure improvements and help accrue additional finances for future improvements. The council has deliberated at length this year, including holding several work sessions, to […]
Holly Trustees Focus on Water Issues
The state health department and the Environmental Protection Agency are requiring commercial and industrial water lines to be equipped with backflow devices which prevent the spread of contaminated water into a community’s drinking water system. The Holly Trustees were briefed on the development during their monthly January meeting by Mark Hartman, a water circuit […]
State Water Plan Reviewed at Crop Production Clinic
John Stulp, former State Agriculture Secretary, Prowers County Commissioner and current Special Policy Advisor to Governor Hickenlooper for Water issues, was one of eight speakers at the January 6th Crop Production Clinic held at Lamar Community College. Stulp provided an update on the Governor’s State Water Plan which was presented to Hickenlooper last month. […]
A Warm and Wet 2015 for Southern Colorado
2015 was a warm and wet year across south central and southeast Colorado. 2015 precipitation totals were bolstered by record setting late Spring and early Summer precipitation, which helped to end a multi-year drought across portions of southeast Colorado. With that said, 2015 has become one of the “Top 10” warmest and […]
Council Wraps Up 2015, Discusses Funding for Economic Development Study
The City of Lamar is receiving funding to improve the deficiency rating for the short bridge crossing the Lamar Canal and linking the city’s industrial park to Commercial Street. The State Special Highway Committee recommended the funding for $392,480. City Administrator, John Sutherland, told the council the bridge has a 20 rating which […]
2015 News Highlights from the Past Year-January/February
Although the lawsuit between ARPA and City of Lamar continued through most of the year, it took a back seat to recurring news themes focusing on different aspects of economic development within the community and the manner and amount of financial support that would be offered by the City of Lamar and Prowers County. As […]
Colorado Employment Situation | November 2015
Total nonfarm payroll jobs declined 2,100 from October to November to 2,528,400 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs decreased 1,700 and government decreased 400. According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a percentage point in November to 3.6 percent. The number of people actively […]
Housekeeping Meeting Closes Lamar Utilities Board Year
Several annual housekeeping events were approved during the final Lamar Utility Board meeting on Tuesday, December 15th. One resolution establishes the interest rate paid on utility deposits and is drafted according to the regulations set by the state Public Utility Commission. The rate, set back in 2011, holds steady at 0.34% per year. The […]
GoCO Inspire Grant Will be an Involved Process
Next year, Lamar could receive a GoCO grant in the neighborhood of $5M, earmarked mostly for outdoor activity projects for local youth. Lamar has already qualified for the Inspire Initiative planning grant of $100,000 needed to formulate a comprehensive application to the state by next August. The implementation plan will include places, programs and […]
Red Cross Offering Emergency Shelter Training in Lamar
Volunteers Needed for Disaster Response Lamar, CO – Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015 – The American Red Cross and Prowers County Department of Emergency Management will host the Shelter Fundamentals course in Lamar, Colorado December 17, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:p.m. The class will be held at the City of Lamar Cultural Events Center. The […]
Lamar Utility Board Reviews Recent Outages, Delinquent Payments
Nine power poles were lost in the November 17th snowstorm that brought drifts and power outages to southeast Colorado. Lamar Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh, told the board that strong winds out of the north affected the east-west run of power lines with accumulated icing. “It caused some of the protection devices to operate and […]
New Water Rates Discussed by Lamar Council
The City of Lamar has not raised municipal water rates since 2009, but is considering an increase in light of the funds that have been spent over the past several years upgrading the city’s water delivery infrastructure. This includes work done on water, wastewater and storm-water facilities. The price tag for debt on the projects […]
Crews Restore Power, Remove Tree from Semi
Tuesday’s storm front brought strong winds to the Lamar area and a dusting of horizontal snow, while Granada and Holly had to deal with greater accumulations. Highway 287 south of Lamar was closed due to lack of visibility and El Paso County donated several tread-mounted vehicles to reach stranded motorists. Some Lamar residents living on […]
Prowers Gas Gathering Requests Contract Review from LUB
Art Pansze, a partner and manager of Prowers Gas Gathering, requested a review of the contract his company has with the Lamar Utilities Board during their November 10th meeting. Citing the lower price for natural gas prices over the past four years and the cost of drilling new wells, Pansze requested consideration for the $120,000 […]
New Council Sworn In, City Approves Water Project Loan Application
Two Lamar City Council meetings were held Monday, November 9 and were a part of a municipal housekeeping process following a general election. The first meeting, held with current city council members approved the consent agenda. The second meeting, at about 5 minutes later, began with swearing in ceremonies for any new council members, a […]
Utility Board Gains New Member
Michael Horning, Lamar businessman, was sworn in as the latest member of the Lamar Utility Board, replacing the vacancy left when Michael Bryant’s term expired. Judge Stanley Brinkley administered his oath of office at the Lamar Light Plant offices on Tuesday afternoon, October 27th. He will serve a five year term until 2020. Board chairman, […]
City Council Okays New LUB Board Member, Olive Street Station Liquor License Transfer
The Olive Street Station transfer of ownership and retail liquor store license from Ken Roe to Donald Compton and T.J. Sanders was approved following a brief public hearing. The business at 403 East Olive Street was recently purchased and both Sanders and Compton told the council there are no plans for any changes to the […]
What a Difference a Road Makes
After being planned since 1997, Camino de Santa Fe opened to traffic on May 22, 2015. The City of Lamar had taken the initiative to finish the road that connects East Parmenter to East Olive Street and as a consequence, open more through traffic to the Dollar General Store and provide another traffic outlet to Walmart. City […]