All Entries in the "Utilities" Category
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 […]
Lamar Utility Board Considers Membership Applications, 2024 Budget
Lamar Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh, discussed the plant’s capital outlay for the 2024 budget during the August 29th meeting. Capital Improvements totaled $1,719,400 and Operations and Maintenance was estimated at $725,000. Various overhead distribution upgrades were estimated at $345,000 while substation upgrades came to $205,000. Wind Turbine parts and blade edge protectant was $70,000. […]
Lamar Utility Board Details Turbine Repairs
Lamar Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh gave the board a briefing on the plant’s wind turbine recent operations. He said the three Light Plant turbines have generated 6,987.07 WWH’s of electricity at an average capacity factor of 30.83% for the first half of 2023. This is a 14.40% drop-off from the same period last […]
Arkansas River Report for July 2023 from Arkansas River Watershed Collaborative
After ending June drought-free, Colorado has seen drought conditions creep back into the southwestern quarter of the state, according to the current U.S. Drought Monitor report. The National Weather Service three-month outlook projects above-normal temperatures through October and below-normal precipitation for the western half of Colorado. Precipitation The CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, […]
Bennet Announces $79.3 Million for Colorado Projects in Senate Appropriations Bills
Denver — Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet announced that he secured nearly $74 million for 78 Colorado projects through the congressionally directed spending (CDS) process in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Senate appropriations bills. In total, this year’s Senate appropriations bills included $79.3 million in funding for projects across the state. These bills […]
Bennet, Lummis, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Boost Support for Programs to Reduce Salinity of the Colorado River
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) introduced the Colorado River Salinity Control Fix Act to provide greater support for Colorado River Basin water users and local governments working to reduce the salt load in the Colorado River. U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), […]
