All Entries in the "Utilities" Category
LUB – ARPA Moving Ahead with Turbine Repairs
The Lamar Utility Board ended their year with the Systems Operating Report from Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh. He noted the sales of electricity through November 2023 were down approximately 2.68% when compared to the same time frame in 2022. Resident sales were down 3.98%, commercial/industrial sales were off 1.9% and irrigation sales […]
Lamar Council Begins Search for Police Chief
Mayor Kirk Crespin announced during the December 11th city council meeting, that Lamar Police Chief, Kyle Miller, is retiring from his position with the City of Lamar and as such, the council awarded the bid for replacement recruitment services to KRW Associates, LLC which provided the lowest overall cost and had the desired […]
Drought Information Statement for South Central and Southeast Colorado
Valid November 30th, 2023 – Issued By: NWS Pueblo, Colorado U.S. Drought Monitor – Drought intensity and Extent: D0: Abnormally Dry: Portions of Chaffee, Saguache, Fremont, Custer, Huerfano, Las Animas, Pueblo, Crowley, Otero, Bent, Kiowa and Prowers counties. Recent Change in Drought Intensity – Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. Drought Worsened: Portions of […]
Lamar Utility Board Okays Revised Employee Handbook
Lamar Light Plant Human Resources Officer, Leala Owen, briefed the utility board members on recommended changes made to the employee’s handbook. The first updates since 2007. She said the updates will be consistent with changing employment laws and requirements and the alterations were considered by the Mountain States Employers Council, CIRSA and attorney’s […]
Lamar Light Plant Completes Safety Testing
Houssin Hourieh, Lamar Light Plant Superintendent, informed the Lamar Utility Board, the annual safety testing and inspection of all bucket and digger trucks has been completed as well as other equipment such as voltage sticks, blankets and line hoses. There was one failure to a line blanket as well as cracks noted through Unit […]
New Council Moves Forward on Agenda
With the November General Election concluded, new and re-elected Lamar City Council members took their oath of office to begin their term. David Zavala, recently elected to serve Ward 2, replacing Mike Duffy, was administered his oath by Judge Lane Porter to begin the November 13, 2023 council session. Per the City Charter which […]
Departing Council Finalizes Agenda Items
The outgoing Lamar City Council concluded the details of its agenda during the November 13th meeting. Ordinance 1268, pertaining to vacating the east-west alley between off 401 South 14th Street for Anthony Aguilera, was approved. The alley has not been used in decades and is located between lots 1 and 2, Block 4 in Maxwell’s […]
ARPA BUSINESS OPERATIONS – November 2023
ARPA Board Conducts Strategic Planning Process. It’s widely recognized that the electric industry across the nation, but especially in Colorado is undergoing a significant transition. The advent of rooftop solar installations, Electric Vehicle charging stations, the effort to operate the grid with renewables, and the development of an electric market in the west are but […]
US 50 Drainage Improvement Project East of Swink Starts Mid-November
Otero County— The Colorado Department of Transportation and its contracting partner, Habitat Construction, LLC, will begin improvements to US Highway 50 on Nov. 15. Improvements will start on the east side of Swink and will continue east for approximately one mile. The anticipated completion date of the project is mid-March 2024. Work will […]
Lamar Utility Board Recognizes Service of Clifford R. Boxley, Discusses Funds Investments
At the meeting of October 24, the Lamar Utility Board began its meeting by approving Resolution 23-10-03 – Recognition of Clifford R. Boxley and his service to the Lamar Utilities Board from October 2016 to June 2023. He was presented with a ceremonial lamp by Light Plant Superintendent Houssin Hourieh. Minutes from the October 10, […]
Lamar Utility Board Finalizes 2024 Budget and Write Offs
The Lamar Utility Board finalized its approval of the 2024 budget. Revenues are expected to be $15.7 million with $14.3 million from retail electric sales and the balance from wind turbine production. Operating expenses are estimated at $14.2 million which includes $9.3 million for power supply. Other expenses include $1.400,516 for personnel costs, […]
City Council has 2024 Budget and Land Develop Interests on Meeting Agenda
Several financial concerns were addressed during the Lamar City Council’s October 9th meeting this past Monday. The council held a public hearing for the proposed City of Lamar 2024 budget to outline expected revenues to the city and how the funds will be spent through the new year. Following the hearing, the council […]
Grants Available for Projects Showcasing Agrivoltaics in Colorado
Broomfield, Colo. — To help demonstrate one of the many ways agriculture can contribute to addressing the effects of climate change, Colorado is investing $500,000 in projects that help advance the use of agrivoltaics in the state. Agrivoltaics is the practice of co-locating solar energy installations and agriculture, with crops or grazing land beneath […]
County Steering Committee Candidates Sought
Prowers County is updating its 2003 Master Plan to guide the day-to-day decisions of the County more accurately into the future. This planning effort will address topics pertinent to the rural unincorporated areas of Prowers County as well as areas of mutual interest with the local municipalities. As such, the engagement process seeks to […]
Arkansas River Water Report for August 2023 from Arkansas River Watershed Collaborative
Drought conditions have slipped back into southwestern Colorado, with abnormally dry conditions extending into the Upper Arkansas River Basin, and the National Weather Service three-month outlook projects above-normal temperatures through November and equal chances of normal precipitation for Colorado. Precipitation: The CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow) Network reports the following precipitation […]
