Lamar Cub Scout Pack 223 attend City Council meeting of March 23 to explain recent service project

Members of Lamar Cub Scout Pack 223 explain their service project

The Lamar City Council met on March 23, 2026 for a regular meeting.  Absent were council members Brent Bates, Mark Headlee, and Joe Gonzales.  Jim Schleining gave the invocation to begin the meeting.  Council voted to approve the Consent Agenda, which included prior meeting minutes from Council, the Lamar Utilities Board, the Library Advisory Board, and the Water Board.  Also approved was payment of bills in the amount of $767,725.36, a pawn shop license for Lamar Outdoor Sports, and a renewal of a retail fermented malt beverage license for Family Dollar Store.  No audience members were in attendance wishing to speak during the public comments portion of the meeting.

City Treasurer Kristin Schwartz told Council that the city would be submitting for $3M of Congressionally Directed Spending money for the wastewater treatment plant and that CDOT recently did a walking tour for the TAP grant.  The City Clerk had no report for the evening.  City Administrator Mitch Hammes announced several upcoming events – the Southeast Colorado Concert Association is having a “She Gees” concert at the Lamar High School at 7 pm on March 28; the “Higher Places Tour” free concert will be held March 29 at 6:30 pm at the Lamar Community Building (doors open at 6 pm); Common Grounds with City Council will be at 7 am on April 1 at the Cultural Events Center.  Hammes wanted to give a public thank you to the Lamar Police Department who recently assisted a semi that had broken down on Main Street, escorting it to a nearby repair shop.  He also announced that Kolby Brubacher had been hired as the city’s City Facilities Manager and had completed a busy first week on the job.  The Public Safety board recently met and has been forming Neighborhood Watch groups throughout the city – persons interested in this should contact the administrator’s office at 336-1364 for more information.  The Lamar Library is gearing up for its summer reading program.  Hammes added that the Willow Valley water line projected started recently and that on March 31 at 6 pm at the Community Resource Center, a “contractor roundtable” will be held to discuss how the city’s building department operates. He said invitations had been issued to all contractors licensed within the city.

In New Business, a public hearing was held for a Special Liquor Event Permit to the Lamar Chamber of Commerce, to host a beer garden during its annual Cinco de Mayo event.  No one present at the meeting spoke in opposition to the permit.  Chamber President Kolby Brubacher said there would be no changes to the event in terms of security or perimeter fencing and that servers had been TIPS certified for the event.  A second public hearing was then entered into, concerning a Temporary Modification of Premise permit for Palace Tavern LTD, dba Tavern 1301.  This modification was requested to be used in conjunction with their current liquor license to include an outdoor, enclosed tented area for the upcoming National Lion’s Convention on April 10 and 11.  Due to several attendees being elderly and/or handicapped and unable to climb stairs to the upstairs ballroom, this outdoor area will be used for banquet and meeting events throughout the convention.  The County has loaned a 40×40 foot tent and the area will be accessed through the Colorado Room of the Tavern.  No one spoke in opposition of the permit, but two members of the Wiley Lions Club were present to thank Council for allowing this modification for their event.  The third and final public hearing was for a transfer of the prior Safeway store’s liquor license to the building’s new owners, who will be opening the Prowers County Market in the near future.  At the last meeting, it was brought up by a local business owner that a new liquor license could not be issued to Prowers County Market as it is within 500 feet of a liquor store – however, state laws allow the transfer of an active license to an approved business.  Landon Brown, owner of Prowers County Market was in attendance for the hearing, saying that anyone involved with the sale or stocking of liquor in the store will be TIPS certified.  He also said that, per public suggestions, the liquor area of the store will not contain other grocery items and will have its own designated spot in the store.  He reiterated that he is excited to continue the operation of a grocery store in the same location that his grandfather did prior to it becoming a Safeway store. No one spoke in opposition of the license transfer and it was approved unanimously by Council.

Lamar Cub Scouts Pack 223 members Ember Nidey, Aiden McIlveen, and Braxtan Tidwell were present at the meeting, along with pack leaders Mary and Dakota Lewis and Brandan Stornetta.  The scouts addressed Council explaining their recent service project, consisted of handmade wooden benches that they wish to donate to local cemeteries.  The scouts, along with adult supervisors, designed the benches, cut and stained the wood and completed the construction.  They presented Council with photos of the completed benches, which will eventually have commemorative plaques attached.

Council voted to approve Proclamation No. 26-01 “A Proclamation of the City of Lamar Designated the month of April 2026 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month”.  Present at the meeting for the signing of the proclamation were Rosie Gomez, Executive Director of The Cornerstone Resource Center and Tyann Conley, SafeCare Colorado Program Supervisor.  Two upcoming events will be held in association with National Child Abuse Prevention month – April 15 from 4:30-6:30 pm at the Pocket Park, they will hold an event including pinwheels (a symbol for the national prevention month), games and prizes and another on April 26 from 3-5 pm at Lamar Lanes which will include free bowling, snacks and prizes.  All are invited to attend.  A second proclamation was also approved – Proclamation No. 26-02 “A Proclamation of the City of Lamar Declaring April 16, 2026 as Southeastern Developmental Services Awareness Day”.  Present at the meeting was Mackenzie Stornetta, Director of Operations for SDS.  She invited council and the community to attend their yearly open house on this date for a tour of facilities, a lunch, door prizes and more.

Council voted to approve a Display and Services agreement for the 4^th of July and August 8^th Rodeo fireworks displays with Tri-State Fireworks.  Lamar Fire Department Chief Jeremy Burkhart told Council the two shows, costing $12,000 and $3,000 respectively, will be displayed by the LFD as in the past.  The annual “No Booze Cruze” event assists with fundraising for these shows.  Also approved was the designation of City Administrator Mitch Hammes to sign the fairgrounds rental agreement for a drone show on May 16, which includes waiving of fees for the event.  The drone show will be one of 55 such sites in the state of Colorado commemorating the 250^th anniversary of the US and the 150^th anniversary of the State of Colorado.  The show will be held at the fairground utilizing an 800 x 400 foot “basecamp” as well as a designated viewing area.

Approved was an amendment to the Axon Body Cam agreement signed in 2025.  The amendment was requested in order to add two basic licenses and one pro license, along with one additional body cam.  The department has a current position open and the body cameras are state-mandated to be worn by peace officers.  The additional pro license will allow for both administrative staff members to be able to complete required discovery case filings.  Money for these licenses and the camera will come from the department’s operating budget.  Lamar Police Chief Kevin Ridder requested the approval of the amendment.  He also asked Council to approve the use of off duty officers to provide security for the Lamar After-Prom event at the Community Building at the rate of $45 per hour, not to exceed $90.  Ridder also asked for approval to apply for this year’s cycle for Peace Officer Standard and Training Grant money which will reimburse purchases for training gear and ammunition as well as paying for officer training.

Anthony LaTour, Parks, Recreation & Cemeteries Director, was present, asking permission to apply for an additional $5,000 in grant money from FACE (Families and Communities Engaged) to be used for youth camps and clinics.  Last year’s grant was for $5,000 and enabled the city to serve 1,178 youths in programs with the funding.  The additional funding will allow for expanded programs and summer activities for area youth.  He also asked Council to approve a Facilities Use Agreement with SUN DO SUL (Grandmaster Choi) who is looking to expand his classes to the Community Building.   He wants to offer a senior citizen’s Tai Chi class on Mondays from 10-11 am and a martial arts class for kids on Thursdays from 4:30-5:20 pm.  Choi has liability insurance and approved the fee structure for usage of the facility.

Lastly, before adjourning and going into Executive Session, Administrator Hammes that the following individuals were recommended for appointment to the PEP Shovel Ready Program as partners to coordinate with the county for transparency and communication: Mayor Kirk Crespin and City Administrator Mitch Hammes (City Leadership); Anne-Marie Campton, Community Development Director, and Mike Machone, GIS/Engineering (Community Development and Planning Professionals), and Pat Mason, Public Works Director (Public Works and Infrastructure).  All are voluntary positions.

City Council will meet next on Monday, April 13 at 7:00 pm.

By: Barbara Crimond