Lamar Council, No Motion on Nursing Home Resolution

Municipal Offices in Lamar

Proponents of the Sage Brush Meadows Nursing Home were given their public hearing Monday, July 9^th, by the Lamar City Council, their apparent final chance to have the council approve a Special District presented through their Service Plan, which outlined the need for a new nursing home in Lamar and would include an increase in the city-wide Sales Tax by 1% to fund payback in debts incurred to construct the 54 bed facility on donated land north of Spreading Antlers Golf Course.  Members of the council had expressed doubt on their part in earlier meetings, to endorse a non-profit facility which would be in direct competition with for-profit local and regional nursing homes.  Council members have also expressed concerns about sanctioning a multi-year debt through the sales tax on a venture that has no specific guarantee on becoming a sustainable business.  The endorsement of the Service Plan by the council would enable the question of creating the sales tax district to be put to the voters in the November general election.  Following the standing room only, two hour public hearing, during which pros and cons were expressed by the public, the council did not make a motion on the resolution.  Mayor Roger Stagner pointed out that the decision was based on lack of information and changing figures in the Service Plan on the nursing home project submitted by the proponents.  Stagner stated, “We weren’t voting on whether to place the nursing home on the ballot, we were voting on whether to approve their plan.  There are a lot of misconceptions out there on that and we’re just trying to make sure we do our due diligence which is why we were voted in.”

The Lamar Redevelopment Authority agreed to cover 20% of $79,415, or $15,883, for improvements to Coronica’s Liquor Store during its June 11th meeting. That work encompasses renovations to the historic façade at 100 North Main Street in Lamar as well as a beautification project for the south end of the building and replacing a concrete driveway to the south side of the building, used as a drive-thru lane for the store.  The funding was approved at the July 9th meeting of the LRA.

The council agreed to a test trial to chemically treat hydrogen sulfide concentrations at the Pearson sewer lift line on South Memorial Drive. Evoqua Water Technologies, a manufacturer and supplier of Bioxide feed storage systems, will run the test between 75 and 100 days to see if their treatments can reduce downstream concentrations of hydrogen sulfide from the test point.  If the trial does not reduce the concentrations to below 50 ppm, the city will be free of any payments to the company.  If there are significant reductions, the City has the option to purchase and permanently install the equipment for $15,000.  Public Works Director, Pat Mason, said the gas concentrations are averaging around 129ppm and as much as 850ppm has been recorded at the Lamar Truck Plaza from past tests.  He added that the gases are corrosive, eroding concrete and some steel fixtures in the sewer lines.  “We’re going to have to make some replacement repairs in the near future,” he told the council.

Carrigan Excavating Company was the lowest bidder of four contractors to install a 20-inch HDPE casing pipe under Highway 287 near Pelsue Equipment Company. When that is completed, an eight inch PVC water distribution main will run through the casing pipe, supplying Pelsue which is located west of the Highway, and adjacent to the southern section of Spreading Antlers Golf Course.  Carrigan bid $63,210 for the project.  The City of Lamar Public Works Department will install the new water distribution main.

Some municipal red tape has been eliminated in an annual housekeeping procedure as the State of Colorado no longer requires an official contract to operate Welcome Centers. As such, the council approved a statement of work agreement which provides the city with $54,720 per year, paid monthly, for running the Lamar Welcome Center.

The council passed Resolution 18-07-01 which adopts the Personnel Policy Manual and repeals and replaces the current Personnel Management Manual, adopted in 2012. The council developed several drafts during the past year which would allow for new ways to address old problems and to stay current with new regulations.

The annual agreement to allow camping in Willow Creek Park during the Lamarlins regional swim meet July 20-22 was approved.

The council set July 23rd as a public hearing date to allow the Lamar Chamber of Commerce to host a beer garden from 10am to 11pm during the annual Oktoberfest, set for September 22nd.

Palle Day-Jensen was re-appointed to the City’s Adjustment and Appeals board for a five year term expiring in 2023. The council approved Christy Love appointment’s to the Lamar Housing Authority board.  She will fill out the remaining term, until 2019, for Elizabeth Bosquez.

Joe Giadone was re-appointed to a three year term to the VALE board, ending on August, 2021.

Administrator Sutherland noted that Prowers Area Transit will host a 20^th Anniversary ‘Cook Out’ from 11am to 1pm at the SOS Center on Saturday, July 14^th.

The Lamar Library monthly report for June indicates there were 295 registrations for the Summer Reading Program by the end of the month and students had read 124,131 pages, qualifying them for the pool party. This is more than was read during last year’s program.   The Library also noted it was keeping track of computer usage in the kid’s room.

By Russ Baldwin