Council Confirms Resolution on ARPA Bonds, Air Show Planned for September

Municipal Offices in Lamar

The Lamar City Council, during its May 29^th meeting, approved Resolution 18-05-01 which ratifies and confirms Resolution 18-03-01 approving the issuance of $143M refunding bonds by the Arkansas River Power Authority.  The funds are for the outstanding debt for construction of the Lamar Repowering Project.  Since March of this year, ARPA has been negotiating with Tri-State G & T to replace ARPA as the electrical power for its six member cities.  The negotiations won’t be finalized in time to “defease” the bonds within the time limits provided for in the settlement ARPA reached with the City of Lamar.  In order to meet that obligation, ARPA is asking its members to re-affirm its previous action to refund ARPA’s outstanding bonds and to provide for the “extraordinary redemption” of the refunding bonds when the negotiations with Tri-State have been concluded.

Several ordinances were approved by the council under the consent agenda, including re-platting the Lot-Line at 212 Cottonwood Circle, Lots 12 & 13 in North Park of Woodland Park in Lamar; re-platting parcels at 1301 North Main Street in Lamar, amended Maxwell Subdivision of Forest Park Place in Lamar and Ordinance No. 1225 acknowledging the authority of the Lamar Utilities Board to approve a power purchase agreement between the LUB and SECPA and the termination of the power supply agreement between the City and the Arkansas River Power Authority and approving ARPA’s Execution of the Defeasance Funding and Assignment Agreement with Tri-State Generation and Transmission.

Ted Vasquez and Martin Montoya from the City’s Public Works Department, explained the need to have the handicap ramp, curb and gutters, driveways and sidewalks replaced at the corner of Beech and 4th Streets in Lamar. Vasquez said this will improve the drainage, appearance and public use of the Municipal parking lot at the corner.  A price quote of $11,897.75 has been offered by Adame Kan-Du Construction for that work which would include 421 linear feet of curb and gutter replacement and one handicap ramp.  A separate quote of $8,305 was submitted for replacement of 290 linear feet of sidewalk in addition to two driveway aprons and three footings installed in the sidewalk for three future planter boxes.  The price agreement, which involves just the labor for the project, was approved by the council.  The department hopes to have the project completed in time for the August Classic Car Show.

The council approved a letter of support for ChargePoint’s grant application for the installation of an EV (electric vehicle) fast-charging station in Lamar. Colorado has an ALT Colorado EV Fast Charging Corridors Grant Program through the Colorado Energy Office.  The grant will provide funds for the installation of a station in Lamar which falls within the corridor of use for owners of electric vehicles.  The new stations will help alleviate the problem of where an EV can find a place in Colorado in which to recharge their vehicle.  ChargePoint now operates 1,200 such stations in the state.  No location for the station has been mentioned, pending approval of the grant for Lamar.  City Administrator, John Sutherland, explained the newer stations can fully charge a vehicle in under an hour, compared with some older models which can take up to three hours to deliver a full charge.  One such older model is at the Lamar Chamber of Commerce parking lot.

The Lamar Fire Department was given the go-ahead to purchase $8,000 worth of fireworks from Tri-State Fireworks for the annual July 4^th display which is operated by Department volunteers.  Fire Chief Jeremy Burkhart noted that additional funds from the recent Lamar Days, No-Booze Cruise helped the department come close to their goal.

The City of Lamar has been named as a defendant and received a District Court summons in Case No. 2018CV030019. The city’s insurer cannot represent the city in this case due to the nature of the claim and CIRSA recommended attorney Josh A. Marks of the law firm Berg, Hill, Greenleaf & Ruscitti, LLP to represent the city. The council voted to approve the retention letter.

Administrator Sutherland reminded the council of the approaching informal breakfast session set for Wednesday, June 6^th at 7am at Burger King, and decided to skip the July meeting as the first Wednesday will fall on the 4^th of July this year.

Councilman Oscar Riley, liaison to the Lamar Airport Board, stated that an air show has been planned for the airport in September, coinciding with the annual 9/11 Memorial Salute and Parade set for September 10^th.  Riley noted there will be an additional military presence as well as an acrobatic jet, airplane rides and displays of drones and a drone race as well as a parade fly-over that morning.

By Russ Baldwin