All Entries Tagged With: "ARPA"
Light Plant Makes Additional Storm Damage Insurance Claims
The Lamar Utility Board held a brief meeting this past Tuesday, June 26 before adjourning into executive session to receive legal advice regarding WildEarth Guardian litigation and legal questions pertaining to the Lamar Repowering project. Board members award several bids: $115,048 to Altec Industries for a 2012 Bucket Truck with an aerial device; $29,326 […]
Hourieh Accepts Superintendent Position at LUB, Recaps Latest Storm Damage
The agenda for the June 12, 2012 Lamar Utility Board meeting was pushed back to the next regularly scheduled meeting, June 26. There weren’t sufficient board members available to form a quorum and no action could be taken on the agenda, although there was an informal discussion on some subjects that did not require a […]
Honkers Visit New Manager at ARPA
The Lamar Chamber of Commerce Honkers welcome Rick Rigel to his new position as General Manager of ARPA, Arkansas River Power Authority. Rigel assumed his new duties from his former position as Superintendent of Lamar Light and Power. Rigel’s new position now sees him administering to the power needs of various ARPA member communities in […]
ARPA/Repowering Project Letter of Support from Area Mayors
The Lamar City Council recently ratified Mayor Roger Stagner’s signature on a letter in support of ARPA’s efforts to put the Repowering Project back on line. The coal fired plant has been out of operation since early 2011. It is not currently able to produce electricity at full capacity, or achieve full output without exceeding the limitations of the state-granted […]
Lamar Council Authorizes Letter of Support for ARPA, New Library Van Arrives
Lamar Mayor, Roger Stagner, signed a letter of support as requested by the City of La Junta, asking the City of Trinidad, an ARPA member, to reconsider its lawsuit against Arkansas River Power Authority. The letter also asks that efforts be made by ARPA and member cities, to find mutually acceptable solutions to the […]
Light Plant Takes $125,260 Equipment Hit from April Tornado
The April 27 tornado in Prowers County caused $125,260.33 in equipment damage for Lamar Light and Power. The figures were presented by interim Light Plant Superintendent Houssin Hourieh during the May 29 meeting of the Lamar Utilities Board. The City of Lamar’s insurance carrier, CIRSA has been given the cost of damages for reimbursement. The […]
LUB Assesses Tornado Damages
The April 27 tornado depleted Lamar Light and Power’s inventory with needed replacements for the electrical distribution system. Interim Light Plant Superintendent Houssin Hourieh said power was finally restored to the entire service area after 16 hours. The tornados knocked down or damaged 16 steel poles, 29 wooden poles, 11 pole mount transformers, 40 […]
ARPA Files Notice of Intent to Sue Trinidad over Breach of Fiduciary Duties
The Arkansas River Power Authority (ARPA) notified the City of Trinidad April 30 it intends to file a lawsuit against Trinidad for a breach of fiduciary duties. ARPA recently discovered that Trinidad legal counsel has been assisting the environmental group Wildearth Guardians (WEG) with its lawsuit against ARPA. Although Trinidad has complained that ARPA has […]
Position Statement from City of Trinidad Re: ARPA Mediation
ARPA Wants More Money and More Time— ARPA Management and Some Board Members Want 18 More Months of Conversion to Natural Gas April 24, 2012 Denver, Co. – Two days of mediation with a Court-appointed mediator ended Friday, with no resolution for the Lamar Repowering Project (LRP) that has yet to produce electric power in […]
Rigel Briefs Utility Board on Repowering Project Progress
The Lamar Utilities Board tabled a decision on a new, four year agreement with NMPP, Nebraska Municipal Power Pool. The organization provides electricity, natural gas and related services to a host of communities in six regional states. The four year agreement with Lamar Light and Power was for, “Financial Plan, Cost of service and […]
LUB Discusses YTD Financials and Potential Legal Actions
The Lamar Utility Board members held a very brief general meeting, Tuesday, April 10, before they went into executive session to discuss three areas: Colorado Beef Rate Adjustment Request; Repowering Project and WildEarth Guardian Litigation. In each case the executive session was to discuss legal advice on specific legal questions. Board members hope to discuss […]
ARPA Motion to Dismiss WildEarth Guardian Lawsuit Denied
Representatives of the Arkansas River Power Authority (ARPA) and the Lamar Utilities Board (LUB) expressed disappointment that their motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the WildEarth Guardians (WEG) in early 2011 was denied. ARPA sought to dismiss the lawsuit because the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is already actively addressing the […]
Lamar Utility Board Rethinking ARPA Relationship
Prompted, perhaps in part by questions about high electric fees from Colorado Beef representatives, members of the Lamar Utility Board have decided they’ve reached the point where they need to discuss options regarding their contract relationship with ARPA, Arkansas River Power Authority. The Lamar Utility Board sat down with Doug Morris and Jim Mullins from […]
Lamar Council Annexes Properties, Appoints Board and Commission Members
The Lamar City Council held a brief session Monday evening, March 26, approving several ordinances on their second reading, relating to annexing several properties into the city. The ordinance annexing the property on Yucca West Drive, known as Langston First Annexation, was amended and approved by the council. The amendment altered the zoning designation […]
Oscar Riley New Lamar Councilman, Buzzard Gets Renewed License
Oscar Riley was selected as a replacement Lamar City Councilman for PJ Wilson who resigned his position as he no longer resides within city limits. Wilson informed the council last month and Riley was one of three candidates who was interviewed by the council in executive session last Wednesday. Steven Rabe has been selected by […]
ARPA, LUB Reps Traveling to Boiler Manufacturer
Rick Rigel, ARPA General Manager, Virgil Cochran, Lamar Light Plant Compliance Officer and several local consultants are visiting the boiler manufacturer, Babcock & Wilcox at their company headquarters in Barberton, Ohio the week of March 19, to review the modifications being made to their boiler at the Lamar Repowering Project. Rigel discussed the need for […]
Lamar Utilities Board Updates Equipment
The Lamar Utility Board approved expenditures for equipment not directly related to energy production. Members approved $23,700 for a replacement copier, capable of making large-scale copies of engineering blueprints. Light Plant Superintendent Houssin Hourieh said some of the original prints are deteriorating with age and the upgraded copier will perform more functions than the one […]
Lamar Council Will Discuss Merit Compensation for City Employees
Various forms of merit compensation for Lamar City employees will highlight the Lamar City Council work session set for this evening, February 27. City Administrator Bill Pfeilsticker will ask council members for guidance regarding compensation for city employees who have completed education or training incentive programs. The city has no written incentive program, but it has been generally […]
ARPA Update for Lamar Utilities Board
Rick Rigel, former superintendent of Lamar Light and Power, and the new general manager for Arkansas River Power Authority, briefed members of the Utility Board on the current problems the Repowering Project faces and the steps the boiler manufacturer is making to bring the coal fired plant back on line. Rigel commented that he has […]
ARPA & WildEarth Guardians Unable to Reach Settlement
Lamar, Colorado, January 25, 2012. ARPA Press Release Representatives of the Arkansas River Power Authority (ARPA) participated in a court-ordered settlement conference on January 23, 2012 in an effort to resolve WildEarth Guardians’ pending lawsuit regarding alleged Clean Air Act violations at the Lamar Repowering Project. The conference did not result in a settlement. “We […]