RSSAll Entries in the "Utilities" Category

Public Hearing Set for GP Aggregates Permit

Public Hearing Set for GP Aggregates Permit

    The Prowers County Planning Commission set Wednesday, March 17th for a public hearing for a special use permit requested by GP Aggregates, LLC and GP Irrigated Farms, LLC for the West Farm Gravel Pit. The hearing will begin at 8am and will be held at the Home Economics Building at the Prowers County […]

Arkansas River Power Authority – Business Operations – Janury 2021

Arkansas River Power Authority – Business Operations – Janury 2021

  ARPA Retires its Power Revenue Refunding and Improvement Bonds Series 2010: ARPA directed UMB Bank, its bond trustee, to retire ARPA’s 2010 Bonds effective January 15, in the amount of $15,066,966. The retirement of the Bonds will reduce the Authority’s annual debt service by $1.23 million and was instrumental in ARPA’s ability to implement […]

Lamar Utility Board Receives Update on SECPA Legal Action

Lamar Utility Board Receives Update on SECPA Legal Action

      Houssin Hourieh, Lamar Light Plant Superintendent, provided an update for the board on February 9th, on the board’s legal action against SECPA, Southeast Colorado Power Association. On January 25th and 26th, Hourieh, board chairman, Doug Thrall, board attorney, Don Steerman and case attorney, Ric Fanyo attended a virtual hearing for the Public […]

Future Airport Ownership Discussed by Council

Future Airport Ownership Discussed by Council

      The fate of the Southeast Colorado Regional Airport is up in the air. The need for new operators or a new contract was discussed during the February 8th Lamar City Council meeting. Tanya and Eric McSwan, who have been the fixed base operators at the airport for several years, have asked the […]

Lamar City Council Discusses Owner Accountability for Vacant Buildings

Lamar City Council Discusses Owner Accountability for Vacant Buildings

      Lamar City Council members discussed an ordinance, suggested by City Administrator, Steve Kil, that can help officials identify the owners of vacant buildings and the level of the structure’s current code compliance. A 2020 report generated by the city indicated there are over 100 residential and commercial properties in Lamar that are […]

LUB Starts Work for 2021

LUB Starts Work for 2021

  The Lamar Utilities Board began their 2021 meeting sessions on Tuesday, January 12th continuing to observe pandemic protocols. Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh informed the board of continuing upgrades to sections of the plant including the 5-4kv distribution circuits power protection relays in the plant. The current relays date back to the 1960s. No […]

City of Lamar Prepares for 2021

City of Lamar Prepares for 2021

  The Lamar City Council finished business for 2020 with their final meeting of the year, Monday, December 21st with a reminder that city offices will be closed December 24th and 25th as well as January 1, 2021. City Administrator, Steve Kil, noted the Community Development Block Grant of $900,000 for the administration of funds […]

ARPA Business Operations – December 2020

ARPA Business Operations – December 2020

  ARPA Board Adopts 2021 Budget: At its December meeting the ARPA Board of Directors approved its operating budget for 2021 in the amount of $24,790,124. The 2021 Budget supports the Board’s goal to retire its 2010 bonds and to reduce its energy rate by approximately 3.6%. The budget as adopted, will ensure funding for […]

LUB Wraps Up 2020 in Final Meeting of the Year

LUB Wraps Up 2020 in Final Meeting of the Year

    The Lamar Utility Board held its final meeting of 2020 on December 15th by approving Resolution 20-12-05, adopting a modification to the Charter Appropriation Adjustment, an annual housekeeping action that establishes the adjustment for 2021, according to Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh. Since 2009, a tariff entitled “Charter Appropriation Adjustment” allows the board […]

Holly Trustees Approve 2021 Budget

Holly Trustees Approve 2021 Budget

    The Holly Trustees approved the town’s budget for 2021, following a public hearing on Wednesday, December 2nd, for comments. Ordinance No. 532 allow appropriation of sums of money totaling $2,373,796 which will be applied to the General Fund at $523,413, The Library Fund at $21,701, the Utility Fund at $1,819,677 and the Conservation […]

2020 County Census Response was Low

2020 County Census Response was Low

    Prowers County Land Use Administrator, Michelle Hiigel, told the Prowers County Commissioners recently, the 2020 census numbers below those of 2010. “Not the actual population count,” she explained, adding that won’t be available until sometime next year. “We just saw a drop in the number of responses comparing 2020 to 2010.” Prowers County […]

Time Line Laid Out for Lamar Repowering Project Demolition

Time Line Laid Out for Lamar Repowering Project Demolition

    The Lamar Utility Board was briefed on the pending demolition of the Lamar Repowering Project by Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh, during it’s November 24th meeting. He also projected a timeline for the lawsuit the board has had pending with Southeast Colorado Power Association. In a special conference call meeting, the ARPA board […]

Summary of ARPA Business Operations - November 2020

Summary of ARPA Business Operations – November 2020

ARPA Board Adopts New Wholesale Rate Tariff- Energy Rate Reduced 3.57%:  The ARPA Board of Directors adopted a new rate tariff that includes an energy rate reduction of 3.57% at its October meeting. The reduction in ARPA’s energy rate is a result of ARPA’s ability to retire its 2010 Bonds of $14.8 million early next […]

Council Moves Forward to Remove Troy Motel, City Sidewalk Improvement Project

Council Moves Forward to Remove Troy Motel, City Sidewalk Improvement Project

Correction on November 11, 2020 City Council Article (Editor’s Note) A portion of this article originally stated Prowers County received $592,062 in CARES Act funding from the state. Actually, that amount was funded to the City of Lamar while Prowers County received $452,139 which includes Holly, Granada, Hartman and Wiley. Prowers County Commissioner, Wendy Buxton-Andrade pointed […]

Lamar Light Plant Approves Colorado Beef Line Extension Request

Lamar Light Plant Approves Colorado Beef Line Extension Request

    Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, LLC (Colorado Beef) has requested a line extension on their property at CR2 and KK in Prowers County. Light Plant Superintendent Houssin Hourieh told the board this will result in a minimum monthly electrical charge based on usage or the cost of the extension, whichever is greater. The agreement […]