More Downtown Improvements for City of Lamar

Main Street Lamar, Co

The Lamar Redevelopment Authority approved the City Council authorize Mayor Roger Stagner to sign price quotes for trash receptacles and benches that will be paid for from the CDOT Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant.

The city received a grant of $400,000 almost three years ago from CDOT to fund projects of this nature. The quote for 20 benches is $41,711 and $79,776 for 48 trash receptacles.  Angie Cue, Community Development Manager presented the option to the Authority which is comprised of City Council members.  She said the new additions will be located on Main Street from the Community State Bank south to Park Street.

The city’s Colorado Main Street Program awarded $2,375 in scholarship funds to be applied to costs incurred by Lamar Partnership Incorporated during trips to several main street development seminars and meetings this year and in 2020.

Lamar City Administrator, John Sutherland, reminded the council of several upcoming events for the community including the 29^th Annual Windmill Classic, set for July 12-14 at the Lamar Softball fields.  Sixteen teams from Colorado, Kansas and Wyoming will be in town for the annual competition.  The Lamar Chamber of Commerce will host the 4^th Annual Taste of Lamar food and wine tasting event at the Lamar Eagles Lodge, Saturday, July 13^th beginning at 6pm.  A girl’s fast pitch softball tournament, River Valley Brawl Tournament is set for July 19-21 in Lamar.  The council approved a request for overnight RV parking at the ballfield complex to defray some costs to the teams. The Heat Stroke Hustle Fun Run/Walk is set for Saturday, July 20^th at 7:30am with registration at North Gateway Park.

Two other areas of concern were discussed by the council, one from Gerry Jenkins who had been contacted by a resident complaining that the municipal pool would not open for an afternoon due to a lack of customers. Apparently the costs of maintaining a full complement of lifeguards outweighed the level of income that would have been generated by only a few swimmers.  Administrator Sutherland and the Mayor Roger Stagner, said some arrangements to allow swim time could be provided.

Stagner noted he had observed several picnic tables loaded with trash near the skateboard area in Willow Creek Park. “There were several trash barrels no more than five or six feet from the tables, and people just couldn’t make the effort to throw away their boxes and bags.  That’s not right and that’s not being fair or courteous to the people who come behind you to use the park facilities.  Make the effort, people.  It’s not that hard to keep that area clean.”

The council moved to go into executive session to discuss a personnel matter regarding the City Administrator. The next regularly scheduled council meeting is set for Monday, July 22^nd and a special work session meeting between the council and Prowers County to discuss ambulance service costs will now be held tentatively in mid-August as the July 15^th meeting has been cancelled.

By Russ Baldwin