All Entries in the "Utilities" Category
Main Street Construction Project Delayed
The Lamar Main Street Overlay project by CDOT won’t begin in February or March of 2015. The city has received word that the major repair project for Main Street has a better construction window perhaps in 2016. The city had requested a Tier II Energy and Mineral Impact Assistant Grant to finance the replacement of […]
Colorado Employment Situation – November 2014
Nonfarm payroll jobs decreased 2,500 over the month from October to November to 2,457,300 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs decreased 3,700 and government increased 1,200 over the month. According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate decreased two tenths of a percentage point in November to 4.1 […]
Commissioners Consider Costly Repairs
With 2014 coming to an end, the Prowers County Commissioners are concerned with projects extending into 2015. Kirk Powers, Building Operations Supervisor, discussed holiday decorations, repairs at the Big Timbers Museum, parking space at the County Annex and sidewalk repairs for the north side of the courthouse. “Our Christmas displays are in sad shape and […]
Commissioners Set 2015 Budget, Approve Pay Hikes
The Prowers County Commissioners approved the 2015 budget this past Thursday, December 11. Expenditures for twelve different areas amounted to $21,240,438, including $6,731,413 for the General Fund, $4,081,000 for the Department of Human Services, Road and Bridge Fund at $2,690,356 and $3,227,407 for Sales and Use Tax Fund. The commissioners had considered a temporary four […]
ARPA, LUB Mediation Set for January 2015
The Lamar Utility Board held its final monthly meeting of the year on Tuesday, December 9. General housekeeping matters occupied the majority of the agenda. Lamar Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh noted that mediation with ARPA regarding a pending lawsuit will begin next year, on January 14th through the 16th. Hourieh stated that although a […]
Lamar Redevelopment Authority Discussing New Funding Guidelines
The Urban Renewal Authority is four years old. The Tax Increment Funding levied on capital improvements within the Authority District generates about $100,000 a year. The Authority has voiced some concerns about the quality and types of investments on improvements the grants have funded. The Lamar City Council, sitting as the Redevelopment Authority Board, met […]
Holly Trustees Lease New Landfill Loader, Appoint ARPA Representative
Some slight modifications were made to the Holly administrative line-up during the Trustee’s monthly meeting in light of former Administrator, Marsha Willhite’s resignation. Mary Rushton, Town Clerk and Treasurer assumed the administrator’s duties on an interim basis and Megan Jara was sworn in as the new Clerk and Treasurer for Holly. Rushton told the Trustees […]
Lamar Utility Board Discusses Collection Write-Offs
The Lamar Utility Board voted to accept the annual collection write-offs for unpaid customer bills for the year. The uncollectible accounts for 2013 amounted to $49,997.99, which is only a hair shy of the $50,000, budgeted for that year. That sum represents 0.38% of the Light Plant’s 2013 revenues of $13,145,197. A collection agency […]
City Seeking Funding for Main Street Water Main Repairs
The City of Lamar will take advantage of CDOT’s deep resurfacing project along US Highway 287/Main Street through Lamar next year, and will replace all the affected water and storm water lines during the highway construction. JVA Consulting Engineers have estimated the water project at $3,246,800 with the bulk of the cost amounting to $1,228,000 […]
CWCB Drought Update for November 2014
Warm and dry conditions persisted throughout October and early November, with October 2014 the sixth warmest on record. However, recent precipitation and below average temperatures have resulted in improved snow accumulation across the state. The Arkansas basin, which has been the hardest hit by the drought, has received significant beneficial moisture this fall, and is […]
It’s Time to Order Seedling Trees
This year the Colorado Forest Service is partnering directly with the Prowers County Soil Conservation District in Lamar to sell seedling trees. They have a wide variety of trees available and this program enables property owners of any size to obtain trees at a nominal cost. Order forms are available at the new […]
City September Sales Tax Revenue Takes a Drop
Total Sales and Use Tax Collections for the City of Lamar fell to 5.73% below last year’s Year to Date for a drop of $167,038 compared to 2013. City Sales Tax collections for the same period were off 5.68% for a decline of $150,912 Year to Date collections on all taxes for 2014 is $2,748,983.49 […]
Kim Verhoeff Appointed Lamar Municipal Court Judge
Attorney Kim Verhoeff was the lone applicant to show interest in replacing Larry Stutler as the Municipal Court Judge for the City of Lamar. Stutler has tendered his resignation from the office effective December 31, 2014. He has been the Municipal Court Judge since 2008 and following the November General Election, was set for […]
Dust In and Warmth Out
By now, the view of dust clouds moving into our area from over the plains is a familiar sight. This past Monday, November 10, was especially significant as it also marked the end of the warm temperatures southeast Colorado has enjoyed for a period through the fall. The term Polar Vortex was not as […]
Holly Trustees Approve 2015 Budget
The Holly Trustees approved the 2015 budget following a hearing that preceded the regular monthly meeting this past Wednesday, November 5. Total General Fund expenditures for 2015 are projected at $354,442, only slightly below the current year estimate of $355,216 Revenue for 2015 from other than property taxes is $283,653. The mill levy is expected […]
Lamar Utility Board Seeking Alternative Power Sources for Light Plant
The Lamar Utility Board ratified a letter of intent between LUB and Greencastle, an energy development firm from Ohio. The letter directs Greencastle to perform an exclusive feasibility study which will focus on options for the future use of the Lamar Repowering Project. Greencastle is a full service energy developer that specializes in renewable energy […]
Judge Denies Lamar’s Restraining Order Request Against ARPA & Syncora
The City of Lamar and Lamar Utilities Board were denied a request for a temporary restraining order against ARPA, Arkansas River Power Authority and bonding agent, Syncora Guarantee, during a hearing conducted this past Wednesday, October 22. A Senior Judge, Scott Epstein, ruled that the parties will have 90 days to come to some form […]
City Prepares Finances for Main Street Overhaul
CDOT will begin a major overhaul of North and South Main Streets in the City of Lamar sometime in February or April of next year. Josh Cichocki, City Water and Wastewater Manager, said the city needs to secure funding to finance its share of the infrastructure improvement project while the water and wastewater main […]
Lamar Utility Board Approves 2015 Budget
The 2015 Lamar Light Plant budget was passed by the Lamar Utility Board during their meeting, Tuesday, October 14. The budget, according to Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh, is in two sections. One budget deals with the revenue requirements for Operations for the transmission and distribution of electricity. The second deals with the Lamar Repowering […]
Redevelopment Authority Board Approves Funds for Antique Alley
The Lamar Redevelopment Authority Board approved the funding request from Antique Alley at 101 South Main Street for an HVAC system at the new store. The amount of the request, according to Shawna Hodge, Lamar’s Main Street Director, is $8,380 and the business owners will contribute $931 in matching funds. The business, the former […]