Updated article about July 14, 2026 Lamar Utilities Board meeting

EDITOR’S NOTE:  This article has been updated to include a discussion held at this meeting between the Lamar Utilities Board and Lamar Mayor Crespin and City Administrator Hammes, concerning decisions made at the July 13 City Council meeting.

The Lamar Utilities Board met July 14, 2026 for a regular bi-monthly meeting   All board members were present.  Minutes from the June 23, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously.  Purchase Orders 2025-05686 through 2025-06073 totaling $650648,552.52 were approved.  Of this amount, $628,920.92 needed board approval.  The June estimated power purchase from ARPA amounted to $625,200.98 of this amount.  Wind turbine parts purchased from Wind Solutions., LLC made up the other $3,719.94 of that total.  The payment of bills totaling $219,647.57 were approved unanimously.  $81,809.55 payable to CIRSA was the largest component of that amount, for insurance.

Bid #2085 was awarded to Western United for raptor protection and line materials, in compliance with the department’s Avian Protection Plan.  Western United submitted the lowest of 5 returned bids, in the amount of $19,082.42.  There were again no monthly financial reports available due to the ongoing Tyler software conversion.

Superintendent Hourieh’s System Operation Report read: “The line crew replaced a 40-foot wooden pole with a Class II ductile iron pole that was damaged by high wind on the east end 25kv circuit at CR JJ and 26.5.  The crew completed the upgrade of 3 phase, 4kv circuit between 5^th and 6^th streets, from Park to Chestnut St.  The upgrade included replacing a 40-foot wooden pole, installing a 25 kva pole mount transformer, fiberglass crossarms and reconductoring the circuit with No. 4 ACSR wire.  The crew is also in the process of installing 1000 ft. of underground, 25 kv circuit that will power 1000 kva 277/480 v service ro the new McClave School.  With Renew Energy on site, our crew completed the replacement of the wind turbines yaw puck system.  The process takes about 5 hours for each turbine.  Each turbine has 18 pucks that work with the yaw bearings.  Linear Labs continues to monitor and collect data on T-2.  They are planning on installing the new plc code on July 15^th which will help improve efficiency and faults mitigations.

Mayor Crespin and City Administrator Hammes were present at the meeting and after the business portion of the meeting, Crespin said he wanted to let the LUB know about the decision of City Council the evening prior, at its July 13 meeting.  He told the Board of Council’s decision to not accept the proposal made to them by the LUB in which the discharge permit required for the new wastewater treatment plant would be transferred to the City in exchange for Council reallocating the annual $350,000 ARPA settlement money back to the LUB instead of being retained in the city’s General Fund.  Crespin reiterated what he said at the Council meeting – that he felt such a demand was the equivalent to a ransom demand and that it would set a bad precedent for other City departments, using a hypothetical example of the police department refusing to patrol unless the city gave them new vehicles.  LUB Chairman Doug Thrall disagreed, saying that the ARPA settlement was originally intended to be used to lower electric rates for the citizens of not just Lamar, but the entire area it serves and that the only reason the settlement money was even received was because the LUB bought legal action against ARPA, not the City of Lamar.

The discussion went on for about an hour, with Crespin saying the city is hiring an attorney to delineate the city’s legal authority, while Thrall and Light and Power Superintendent Hourieh argued that no attorney was needed, and Thrall suggesting a mediator instead.  “The simple fact is, that settlement is for electric power and should go to our customers, not the City of Lamar’s general fund” said Thrall.  Crespin said the City will apply for its own discharge permit since the LUB won’t transfer the one they hold, but that if the CDPHE doesn’t grant the request it would add “at least $20-30 million” to the project.  Hammes added that the project is 30% designed but can’t move forward without the permit. Crespin said while he appreciated the LUB’s passion about the issue, it needs to be resolved, which is why it was decided by Council to hire an independent attorney who has experience in municipal matters such as this.  “We’ve been bickering back and forth about this for at least 10 years and it needs to be resolved” said Crespin, likening the City and LUB to a “dysfunctional family that needs a parent to step in”.  Crespin went on to tell the LUB that Council is also exploring the possibility of a sale of Lamar Light and Power to Southeast Colorado Power Association, who has approached the city with the offer, but added that it is only in the early stages of discussion and that any such decision would be up to a vote of the public, not the City Council.  At the end of the sometimes-heated discussion, Thrall said “Our board will look at anything reasonable as a proposal”.

By: Barbara Crimond