Lamar City Council meeting of September 14, 2026

Mayor Kirk Crespin presents Brent Bates with a plaque thanking him for his years of service as a City Councilmember for Ward 1.  Bates recently resigned from Council.

Before the regular City Council meeting, a work session was held to hear from Kolby Brubacher, Parks and Recreation Director, who gave an overview of city facilities and parks, detailing improvements he has made to date as well as plans for building maintenance, staff training, expanding adult recreation programming, and more.  Between the work session and the regular meeting, a reception for outgoing Council member Brent Bates was held.  Later in the regular meeting, Bates was presented with a plaque of appreciation for his years spent on Council.

All current councilmembers were present for the evening’s meeting.   Three people were present to speak during the Public Comments portion of the meeting.  Mike Duffy asked if the Parks Department could look at the youth soccer fields at Escondido Park, as the grass is very long, making it difficult for the teams to play. Next was former councilman Bates, who addressed Council:  “I would like to say, as now a resident standing up here, I would like to see some of our councilmembers do more as far as reading your agendas, researching the topics, asking questions of your department heads and really taking the job seriously.  You weren’t elected to be up there as a figurehead or as a rubber stamp and I think it’s important that you remember that you are representing the constituents of Lamar.  They trust you with your vote, so you should give them the time that it deserves. Thank you”.  Lastly, Anthony Gazotti expressed his displeasure with Council, saying he felt that they are hiding behind non-disclosure agreements with tech companies and that they are demanding blind trust from the people that they serve.  “If any project is as good as you say, then prove it in the daylight”, he said.  He then directed his message to viewers – “Your elected officials work for you.  You are not something to be managed after the deals have been made”.

City Treasurer Kristin Schwartz said the City got good news on insurance prices, saying property, health, dental, and Worker’s Compensation rates are not going up nearly as high as expected.  Also, CDS funding grants are still being considered, which are to be used for the Public Safety Building. City Administrator Hammes announced that the 2026 CML Fall District 6 meeting will be held in Lamar September 23.  LCC’s Suicide Prevention & Awareness Night is September 18 at 7 pm in the large lecture hall.  The Lamar Chamber’s last evening farmer’s market is September 26 from 5-8 pm with a movie to follow in the parking lot.  He then had Pat Mason, Public Works Director, give an update on his department.  Mason said that the annual asphalt street paving is held up this year, due to the milling machine schedule.  $400,000 was budgeted for this maintenance, and the cost will be near that, estimated at $380,362.  He then said that next year’s budget for this may need to be increased.  The Willow Valley water line project will necessitate street repair in several blocks and he said that the infrastructure below some sections may need to be repaired before paving.  Hammes then added that the Street Department is to be commended, as they don’t just do street repairs, but are also responsible for projects like the recent brick deterioration on the building next to Coronica’s, which is being repaired.  He and Mayor Crespin thanked the department for all the work that they do, which can often go unnoticed by residents.

The New Business agenda included 16 items.  First was a public hearing for a Special Event Permit for the Lamar Chamber’s Oktoberfest Beer Garden.  It was approved unanimously as there were no audience members speaking for or against it, as well as the event not having any negative incidents in past years.  Council voted to ratify a phone poll regarding a letter of support to High Plains Community Health Center regarding their application for HRSA-27-099 for fiscal year 2027.  Funding from same will help expand nutrition services including education, healthy food resources, and prevention and management of chronic diseases.  A lease agreement with SITA for the SE Colorado Regional Airport was approved.  The agreement began in 2018 and the equipment installed enables passengers to connect to the internet through on-board connectivity. Also approved was a contract with Lower Arkansas Valley Area Agency on Aging to assist in operating the Lamar Community Resource and Senior Center.  The City was awarded a grant in the amount of $12,600 that requires a 10% match from the City in the amount of $1,400.  This is a budgeted item and will cover Fiscal Year 27 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027).

Agenda Item 5 was a request to approve an extension to DOLA for Grant #9894 which is set to expire November 30, 2026.  This grant was for the design and engineering of the City’s new wastewater treatment plant.  Matching funds for this phase were an award of CDS (Congressional directed funding). This asked-for extension would last until December 31, 2027, allowing the City to maximize both funding resources and all granted funds. It was approved unanimously.  Item 6 also involved the wastewater treatment plant, as it asked for approval of an amendment to the 2024 JVA, Inc. contract to include specific language.  JVA provides engineering services on the project.  The City received a grant from CDS and the EPA is administering the funding of that grant.  The EPA is requiring the amendment to the contract. It was approved.

Agenda Item 7 was a renewal of an agreement with Tesla Chargers for the chargers at 109 E. Beech St by the Welcome Center.  The 5-year renewal was approved, with several Council members saying the chargers are being used frequently.  Item 8 asked Council to approve an engagement letter with Welborn, Sullivan, Meck & Tooley, P.C.  Rachel Bolt is now employed by this law firm, having recently moved her practice there from Dickinson Wright.  Ms. Bolt has been the City’s water attorney working with JVA and approval of this engagement letter would allow her to keep her knowledge and expertise to the benefit of the City.  Council voted to approve signing the engagement letter.

Agenda Item 9 concerned the 24-month moratorium on data centers that was approved at the last meeting.  That approval was granted after then-councilmember Bates’ motion which said “I make a motion to kill the mutual non-disclosure agreement and direct staff to prepare a moratorium for 24 months on all data centers and have it ready for Council to review within the next six weeks”. After that meeting, City Attorney Lance Clark advised Council that he had concerns about the length of the moratorium, saying a 6-month moratorium is more common and less likely to be challenged in a lawsuit from any such company wishing to build here.  Council member Gonzales said he would not retract his vote for the 24 month period, as did Council member Headlee.  Mayor Crespin explained that a moratorium is simply a time period that allows for developing plans and standards – basically a way of saying “not yet”.  Having a lengthier moratorium does nothing if those standards aren’t defined.  A lengthy discussion was held about the need to begin defining the City’s standards concerning a data center, such as noise and water restrictions. Crespin also said that the company who made the initial offer is “off the table” and that the non-disclosure agreements have been “torn up” but that Council needs to work on defining their stipulations should another company make an offer.  The six-month moratorium can be renewed every six months up to five years. Ultimately, it was decided to table the issue until the October 12 City Council meeting to allow Clark time to investigate if any other municipalities have had lengthier moratoriums challenged in the courts before deciding whether to rescind that previous decision and perhaps vote on a shorter moratorium.

Item 10 was the need to elect a new Mayor Pro Tem due to Bates’ resignation.  Both Council member Headlee and Zavala were nominated, so Council members wrote the name of the candidate of their choice on pieces of paper that were then handed to City Clerk Linda Williams to read.  Headlee won the vote by a decision of four to two and was elected the new Mayor Pro Tem.  Item 11 also involved Council members, as it was an explanation of the process of electing a new Council member appointment.  A special meeting has been set for September 16 at 6 pm for the purpose of interviewing candidates who have submitted applications.  An executive session will follow, where Council members vote on who to elect.  This new councilmember will be installed at the September 28 City Council meeting, with a term ending in November of 2027.

Agenda Item 12 was a very lengthy one, with Hammes reading questions that have been brought to councilmembers from constituents and addressing each one.  The question most asked concerned the city utility bills and why they have changed.  He explained the line items that are listed on the bills and explained what each was for: Water (charge based on water use recorded by meter), electricity (charge based on usage per the meter), “water investment fee (towards the wastewater treatment plant)”, “electric service fee (provides funds for meters and maintenance)”, sewer fee (based on water usage), and trash (a set fee).  Extra fees for electricity are set by the City’s Charter to not go higher than the current 12%.  Councilmember Jenkins asked if that 12% could be lowered and was told by the treasurer that those rates are set by Light and Power but also added that a master plan rate study showed that Lamar’s rates are below those of similar-sized cities. Any amendments to the City Charter must be done by a vote by residents.  Other questions asked concerned high water bills, with Pat Mason saying that if a water meter doesn’t shut off for 24 hours, it triggers a “leak alert” to the City to investigate.  Also questioned was the mayor and councilmember compensation.  Currently, councilmembers receive a $300 per month compensation, and the mayor receives $600 monthly – Crespin said he saw a Facebook post that said he gets “$150,000 a year” which is untrue.  The new photo speed camera was another issue asked about.  Police Chief Ridder was in attendance and explained how the camera works, dispelling another rumor that it takes picture of every car – in reality, only cars exceeding a set speed limit trigger a photo and are issued a subsequent ticket (which does not go against points on drivers licenses or affect car insurance).

Agenda Item 13 asked for permission for the mayor to sign an agreement with Toth & Association as part of due diligence related to the offer to purchase Lamar Light & Power by Southeast Colorado Power Association.  This qualified consultant will do an independent valuation of the L&P system and assets.  Cost of the agreement will not exceed $17,500 with the cost split between the City of Lamar and SECPA.  The issue was tabled until the next meeting, as a written agreement from SEPCA needs to be in place before Council approves.  Agenda Item 14 was a very lengthy first reading of “An Ordinance of the City of Lamar, Colorado Amending Chapter 22 Subdivisions Regulations of the Lamar Municipal Code”.

With no miscellaneous topics under Item 15, Item 16 was for the purpose of an Executive Session for two topics- regarding economic development positions and discussion of personnel matters.

The next regular meeting of City Council will be September 28, 2026 at 7 pm.

By: Barbara Crimond