The Lamar City Council met for its regularly scheduled meeting Monday, Jan. 22.

 

During audience participation, Kim VanHook of Lamar spoke to the council concerning issues with Charter Spectrum. She noted that due to the result of recent outages, various rebates were offered to customers and when they called to request a discount, however, it was noted she recommended to the company they offer all Lamar citizens a rebate and she was informed each citizen has to call and ask for it, according to the citizen.

 

Later in the council meeting, Mayor Roger Stagner noted it may be of interest to see if there are any other providers that could offer cable services in Lamar.

 

Another Lamar citizen addressed the council during audience participation. Gretchen Stewart visited with them about the feral cat problem in town. Stewart voiced concerns about cats being killed and her group could assist with the issue by helping get the cats spayed and neutered. The citizen said they do what’s called, “TNR,” which is trap, neuter and release which helps decrease the population, according to Stewart.

 

The citizen said they would like to help if the city would like their assistance.

 

City council member, Oscar Riley, provided an update from the golf board and airport board. He noted the golf course has discussed watering due to how dry it has been. Riley also noted there will be a benefit tournament held with a $35 per team member for the entry fee. The council member said that discussion at the airport meeting included getting a proposal from Phillips 66 for self-service and it was noted a plane blew out a tire on the runway and he noted they discussed how to fix the runway.

 

Anne-Marie Crampton, City councilmember, noted that the Prowers Economic Prosperity annual meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at Lamar Community Building. She noted this is a good opportunity to come learn about the annual progress and to ask any questions.

 

Lamar City Administrator, John Sutherland, provided an update on the Prowers County 9-11 telephone authority board minutes. There will be a rate increase per line to $1.40 per month. The current rate is $0.70 per line. Sutherland said this will “make a significant difference to their budget.”

 

Rick Rigel, General Manager, with ARPA, provided a presentation and information to the council on the bond refinancing.

 

“We’re in a position now and the (bond) market has stayed pretty good,” noted Rigel. “We think there is a real opportunity to get back into the bond market now that we have all of our outstanding litigations settled, and maybe can resolve in some significant savings for us.”

 

ARPA formed a banking team shortly after the settlement with the City of Lamar, according to Rigel. The underwriter for ARPA is Goldman Sachs.

 

There are nearly $140,000,000 in outstanding bonds, according to the ARPA General Manager.

 

“We’re not able to refund all of them currently,” said Rigel. Specifically noted are the 2010 bonds that are not able to be refunded until July of 2020, noted the general manager. 


“The only way that we will do this is if there is an annual savings in its restraints,” said Rigel about the bond refunding.

 

Rigel noted the current deadline to pay off the bonds is 2043 and it has been discussed to possibly extend that to 2047, however, that would increase what is spent on interest. He further noted that as of now, they are looking at keeping the existing term of 2043 to pay off the bonds.

 

ARPA hasn’t had to take any rate increases since 2011, said the ARPA General Manager. “I don’t see that we’ll ever be able to necessarily do any kind of sustainable rate decrease, but what we hope to do is be able to stabilize all of our rates for another how many years we can,” said Rigel.

 

ARPA’s bond counsel will draft up language for the bond refinancing for ARPA members to approve. It was anticipated by Rigel that he would be back by the middle of March to discuss with the Lamar City Council.

 

It was noted that the legal counsel for each ARPA member would be able to review and provide input before it is voted on. ARPA is made up of six communities; Lamar, La Junta, Las Animas, Trinidad, Holly and Springfield.

 

In other business at the council meeting, Ron Cook visited with the council about the annual car show and Rod Run that is held during Lamar Days. The car show will be the weekend of May 18-19 with the no booze cruise scheduled for May 18 with the Poker Run at Sonic in Lamar.

 

The council approved use of Willow Creek Park for the event and anyone requesting to stay the night would need to seek an application from the administration office at the City of Lamar.

 

A public hearing for Pilot Travel Center to provide 3.2 percent beer license was scheduled for the council meeting on February 12.

 

The council approved the re-appointment of Wayne Reinert to the Planning and Zoning Commission. His current term will expire on February 1, 2018. The new term is a five year term expiring on February 1, 2023.

 

The appointment of Dwight Russell Daniels to the Variance Board/Building Codes was approved by the council. It is a five year term expiring on Oct. 1, 2020.

 

It was also approved for the re-appointment of Earl Hawkins to the Variance Board/Building Codes. His recent term expired on Oct. 1, 2017 and the new term is a five year term expiring Oct. 1, 2022.

 

The appointment of Palle Day-Jensen to the Adjustment and Appeals Board was approved. He will take over an existing term that will expire July 1, 2018. A vacancy was created due to a board member resigning.

 

The council ratified a telephone poll, approving resolution no. 18-01-01 which supports the agreement between the City of Lamar and the State Board of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund which regards the Inspire Grant.

 

It was approved by the council to ratify a phone poll to submit the History of Colorado CLG Grant in the amount of $20,000. The grant dollars will be used to identify historic resources citywide. It is a no match grant, according to Angie Cue, Community Development Manager.

 

The appointment of Bert Davis, Human Resources Manager for the City of Lamar, to the County Health Pool, was approved. According to the agenda item commentary, the City’s Insurance Brokers recommend the representative be the human resources manager.

 

It was approved to apply for a PetFinder Emergency Medical Grant to cover the costs of $533 that were recently spent for an eight week old puppy that got sick with a viral infection and was treated by Lamar Animal Medical Center.

 

The council approved for Lamar Fire and Emergency Services to submit application for the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The grant would be used for 26 Scott X3 5500 PSI SCBA’s with integrated PASS alarms, thermal environment warning protection, AV-3000 HT face masks and two 55000 PSI cylinders per pack, according to the agenda item commentary. The total for the grant is $200,928 with a five percent match by the City of Lamar of $9,568.

 

The City Council approved the appointments to boards and commissions, as previously discussed at the Jan. 8 meeting.

 

The engagement letter with Holscher, Mayberry and Company, LLC was approved by the council. This is for an independent audit that is done annually and is required as part of the City Charter.

 

Resolution no. 18-01-02 was approved by the council. This resolution adopts the fiscal year 2018 compensation plan update for the City of Lamar as prepared by Public Sector Personnel Consultants.

 

A study was completed in 2012 on wages and salaries for City employees and was updated in 2017, five years after the original study. In the 2018 budget that had been approved by the council, it included “the cost of increasing the compensation of each employee whose wages were below the new minimum for the classification salary range of this new study,” as stated in the agenda item commentary.

 

It was noted by City Administrator John Sutherland during his report that there will be a council work session on Monday, Feb. 5 at 6:30 p.m.; the City Council breakfast will be on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 7 a.m. at McDonalds and that all City offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 19 for President’s Day.

 

The next council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m.