All Entries Tagged With: "Lamar Utility Board"
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
ARPA and City of Lamar Perspectives on Required Demolition Permit
The City of Lamar and ARPA, Arkansas River Power Authority, have been at legal loggerheads for the past year over the failed Lamar Repowering Project, its ultimate disposition and the ability to default on the construction bonds used to build the coal fired plant. The plant has been offline since late 2011. In September 2014, […]
Light Plant Makes Repairs on Area Outages
The Lamar Utility Board held a brief meeting, approving purchase orders and payment of bills. A bid for underground junction boxes for $5,357 was approved to maintain stock inventory. Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh, explained that some of these will be used as parts of the electrical infrastructure for the proposed dormitory pod for Lamar […]
Lamar Utilities Board Keeps Power Development Options Open
Lamar Utilities Board Extends Green Castle Agreement The Lamar Utilities Board, following an executive session on Tuesday, April 14, voted for a third extension of the agreement with Green Castle to pursue development of a natural gas power plant for Lamar. Lamar Light and Power Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh, explained the energy development firm needs more […]
LUB Extends Fact-Finding Agreement with Energy Production Companies
The Lamar Utility Board spent only a few minutes with their regular meeting agenda on Tuesday, January 13, and the bulk of the meeting in executive session, reviewing a contract extension with representatives from GreenCastle and BioStar Renewables. GreenCastle and Lamar Light and Power entered into a 90 day contract last fall, employing the energy […]
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 […]
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 […]
Thrall Joins Lamar Utility Board
The Lamar Utility Board officer line-up was reorganized following the swearing-in of Doug Thrall to the board on Tuesday, September 30, by Judge Larry Stutler. Thrall’s appointment was confirmed the night before by the Lamar City Council for a full, five-year term. There were no changes in the actual line-up as Mike Bryant […]
Electricity Thieves “Play” with Fire
Some people are stealing electricity from Lamar Light and Power and their illegal hookups have the potential for danger. Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh, told the Lamar Utilities Board, his crews have come upon several instances where people ‘jump’ an electrical meter to skip out on payments. Fortunately, it’s not a widespread situation, but Hourieh […]
Thrall Gets Nod from Lamar Utility Board
Lamar businessman, Doug Thrall, received a unanimous vote of recommendation to become a board member from the Lamar Utilities Board, during their Tuesday, September 9 meeting. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Lamar City Council for action during their September 29 meeting. Thrall appeared before the board to answer questions regarding a potential conflict […]
Lamar Utilities Board Reviews Insurance Contracts, Board Member Application
Lamar Utilities Board members voted to continue insurance coverage for its 29 mile gas pipeline. The coverage with IMA Kansas Inc. routinely renews on September 3 and was initiated in 2005. Other insurance carriers for the city, such as CIRSA or Traveller’s, covers the power plant substations and wind turbines, but not for the pipeline. […]
Temporary LUB Chairman Appointed
Mike Bryant was elected as a temporary board chairman by members of the Lamar Utilities Board during their regular meeting on Tuesday, August 12. Rick Beard was elected to serve as vice-chairman. Both members will serve in this capacity until a replacement for David Anderson has been recommended by the Utility Board and approved by […]
Discussions on Repowering Project Get Heated During First Public Hearing
Looking for responsibility, looking for blame, looking for a way out summed up the questions and mood of the 70 to 80 residents who were on hand for the first of three public information meetings, hosted by ARPA, Arkansas River Power Authority, regarding that board’s two main options for the future of the Lamar […]
Lamar Utility Board Notes Slight Revenue Drop, Customer Base
The Board’s monthly System Operating Report notes that sales of electricity throughout the month of May have declined 2% and revenues have increased by 2.35%. The customer base of Lamar Light and Power showed that there has been a reduction of 37 accounts. That change is reflected on all rate classes when compared to the […]
Lamar City Council Names New Member
The newest member of the Lamar City Council was approved to replace Skip Ruedeman’s Ward 2 seat following his resignation. Following an interview, the council selected Gerry Jenkins to fill the remainder of Ruedeman’s term. Jenkins has been employed by Rocky Mountain SER for a number of years as well as a member of Voces […]
Lamar Utilities Board Notes End of Year Financial Report
The Lamar Utility Board December 2013 Financial Report indicated that total operating revenues for the year, year to date, are $13,145,197 and total operating costs are $11,431,003. Gross operating income for the year was $1,714,194. When the non-operating revenues and expenses are considered, there is a net loss of $19,851, year to date. Light […]
Lamar Utility Board Holds Brief Meeting
Just a few agenda items were listed for the Lamar Utility Board’s bi-monthly meeting this past Tuesday, April 15. Light Plant Superintendent Houssin Hourieh noted that All Rite Paving & Redi Mix has begun a second gravel pit west of Hasty at the intersection of CRJJ and CR22 in Bent County. Hourieh noted the […]