Prowers County Commissioners hold discussion with Colorado Springs Utilities and get updates on LCC and PMC

The morning work session was held at the Prowers County Annex building on May 27.  Dr. Rosana Reyes, President of Lamar Community College, gave an update to the Commissioners and provided copies of her April 2025 report.  Highlights from the report include the opening of a second location for the Southeast Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC), located on campus.  In April, LCC welcomed students for two outreach events – Senior Days and the inaugural Middle School Fair.  Both events were designed to introduce students to college programs and opportunities available through LCC.  A Golden Zonta Club was formed at LCC to empower student leaders and to promote equity.  Also launched was a new Title V Aspira Program, a federally-funded initiative designed to support and increase access for Hispanic and Pell-eligible students in our area.  LCC recognized four outstanding team members during the Colorado Community College System’s 9^th annual “Commitment to Excellence Awards” program at the History Colorado Center.  The four are:  Annissia Forney, Library Director and Tutoring Coordinator who received “Administrative Employee of the Year”’; Dr. Brian Gauck, Agriculture Instructor who received “Faculty of the Year”; Cheryl Sanchez, Business Adjunct Faculty who received “Adjunct Faculty of the Year”, and Armando Hernandez, Custodian who received “Classified Employee of the Year”.  The event was an emotional one for LCC, as they honored Armando Hernandez posthumously, following his tragic death earlier in the year. His mother accepted the award on his behalf.  Lastly, LCC student Elianna Velez received the Shirley Rosengrants Memorial Scholarship which supports students in the nursing program.  The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a Prowers County student willing to present a breast cancer awareness program, which Ms. Velez recently did at LCC, emphasizing the significance of early detection.

Representatives from Colorado Springs Utilities were at the meeting to have a conversation with the commissioners regarding a recent Resolution signed on April 8 supporting the AVWCD’s opposition to the annexation plans of Colorado Springs (see recently published press notice from Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District).  They feel that there has been a misunderstanding concerning this opposition and assured the commissioners that Colorado Springs Utilities wants to partner with Prowers County in a long-term plan for water conservation and distribution. It was an extensive discussion with many questions being asked by the commissioners as well as their stressing that keeping water in the county and the district is their first priority.  The utilities company talked about a recent partnership with Bent County which they said will be beneficial for both parties, in which water is shared in “wet years” and that agriculture is the utility’s top priority.  Interim County Administrator Don Wilson said the recently signed resolution was opposing annexation by Colorado Springs and that he needed clarification on numbers of acres of waters that were discussed. He was told that would be provided. The utility stressed that they feel the commissioners have been given false information concerning the matter.  Ultimately, it was decided that additional meetings and discussions would be necessary.

Paula Gonzales, County Finance Director, gave an overview of the 1^st quarter financials for 2025.  She said that she is comfortable with where all departments are at this time, explaining that expenses are always up at the beginning of the year, but that sales tax collections are good and that she is “not concerned with anybody for this time of the year”.  The commissioners were given a detailed report to look over and were asked to contact her with any questions they had once they had the chance to do so.

Lastly, Karen Bryant, CEO of Prowers Medical Center gave a presentation on the hospital.  She said the recent health fair went very well.  School sports physicals will begin in July.  Community advisory meetings (or “case meetings”) have gone well, in which information is presented in public meetings in an effort to make the community aware of what the hospital has to offer.  A recent forensic nursing meeting had a good turnout.  The hospital now has several nurses certified to perform SANE exams, which are Sexual Assault Nursing Exams. The orthopedic, speech therapy and PT departments are all doing very well. The hospital’s annual meeting is Wednesday, May 28, in which election of officers will be held.  A new state-of-the art CT machine is being installed.  It is a 160-slice machine, replacing a 60-slice machine. Until it is fully installed, the older unit is still being utilized in the mobile unit at the hospital.  She brought up two issues that the hospital is battling with in regard to public perception.  First, is that the OB unit is NOT turning down new patients.  In light of the recent closure of AVRMC’s OB unit, this is of paramount importance to our area.  She said the only patients that cannot deliver at PMC are those with high-risk pregnancies and that those are being referred to a hospital in Colorado Springs.  Misinformation has been spread that PMC won’t take new patients, which she said is absolutely false. Women at any stage in their pregnancy (other than the high risk ones) are welcomed at PMC.  Along the same line, although PMC doesn’t currently have a physician who can perform cataract surgery, they will have one very soon.  She says that misinformation has been spread that all patients needing cataract surgery must travel to Pueblo or Colorado Springs and that PMC would not be doing these surgeries in the future. PMC has a good relationship with a local ophthalmologist and intends to keep that relationship and she feels that these untrue rumors are harmful to all.  Bryant stressed that PMC’s goal is for local patients to NOT have to travel, as most procedures can be done here and that the hospital is continually striving to add new services as they are needed.  “We want to bring as much here as we can so that people don’t need to travel” Bryant concluded.

By: Barbara Crimond