Location, Demographics, Income, Taxes

CITY OF LAMAR AND PROWERS COUNTY PROFILE

Prowers County represents rural life at its finest. The wholesome vitality of our friendly, attractive communities reflect the diversity of our agricultural heritage coupled with the opportunities of modern technology and exportation of renewable energy.”

The city of Lamar (County Seat of Prowers County) serves as the industrial and retail center for the southeastern region of Colorado. Located in the midst of the fertile Arkansas River Valley, our surrounding agricultural landscape features wide-open spaces with panoramic views of irrigated corn and alfalfa fields, as well as dryland wheat fields. This semi-arid climate is very favorable to livestock production and offers an average of 340 days of sunshine annually.

Colorado Green (Shell WindEnergy and PPM Energy) has located the fifth largest wind farm in the world in the southern part of Prowers County. Northern Prowers County is the location of Excel Energy’s AC/DC Electricity Converter Station, one of the seven in the nation. Plans are underway to make southeast Colorado the northern hemisphere location of an observatory of high energy cosmic rays, which have strong potential as a renewable energy source. The entire region of Prowers County and Southeastern Colorado is connected with high speed redundant fiber optic networks providing T-1,DS-3 & OC-3+ speeds.

LOCATION

Southeaster Colorado

Latitude: 38º 40’ N

Longitude: 102º 32’ W

Elevation: 3,622

DISTANCE TO MAJOR CITIES

Population

Miles

City

5,000 – 9,999

60

La Junta, CO

10,000 – 49,999

103

Garden City, KS

 

126

Pueblo, CO

100,000 – 1 Million

150

Colorado Springs, CO

 

237

Amarillo, TX

Over 1 Million

200

Denver, CO

POPULATION

 

1998

1999

2000

2002

2010 projected

City of Lamar

8,748

8,841

8,869

8,724

9,668

Prowers County

14,003

14,122

14,483

14,237

15.374

CLIMATE

Average January Temperature

36° F

Avg. Annual Snowfall

27.0 in.

Average July Temperature

83° F

Climate

Semi-Arid/Mild

Average Annual Precipitation

14.8 in.

Topography

High Plains

 


HOUSING

 

1998

1999

2000

2002

2003

2004

Houses Sold

186

165

50

144

50

86

Average Price

$59,370

$60,922

$69,994

$74,730

$69,765

$86,610

Average Rent Estimate for single family dwelling $680.00/month

INCOME (Per Captita Personal Income)

 

1997

1998

1999

2000

2002

2004

Prowers CO

$20,566*

$22,853*

$25,046*

$28,660*

$23,856

$24,406

Colorado

$27,015

$27,203*

$31,533*

$38,446*

$34,228

$34,561

Source: U.S. Dept of Commerce; (8) provided by SECED, INC.

TAXES

Sales Tax

%

 

 

Property Tax Mill Levies

%

Municipal

3.25

 

 

Municipal

1.000

County

1.00

 

 

Average Municipal Levy

1.000

Reg. Trans. Dist.

0.00

 

 

Range – Lowest

10.304

State

2.90

 

 

Range – Highest

26.570

Total Sales Tax

7.15

 

 

County

27.170

 

 

 

 

School District (Avg. in County)

37.661

 

 

 

 

Special Districts (Avg. in County)

4.500

 

 

 

 

Total Avg. Mill in County

82.133

County figures reflect those of Prowers County

2005 Assessed Value of Jurisdiction                 $127,091.340

2006 Total Property Tax Revenues                 $8,511,770

Sources: Sales Tax – Colorado Department of Revenue; Property Taxes – Prowers County Assessor, Andrew B. Wyatt • 719-336-2209

Information Current as of December, 2004©Prowers County Development, Inc.

 


GOVERNMENT

CITY OF LAMAR

City Complex, 102 East Parmenter Street, Lamar, CO 81052 • 719-336-4376 http://www.ci.lamar.co.us

Mayor — Nelva Heath

City Administrator — Position open

Type of Government – Home Rule City • City Council

·        Master Plan

·        City Zoning in Effect

·        Bond A Rating

Police Department Staff

26

Police Department Vehicles

13

Fire Department Staff

7

Fire Department Volunteers

30

Ambulances

4

Insurance Rating

5

 

Fire Chief

Richard Orndorff

336-4321

Police Chief

Dave Dougherty

336-4341

Colorado State Patrol

Scott Copley

336-7403

Prowers County Sheriff

Jim Faull

336-5234

Public Works Dept.

Rick Akers

336-2002

Electric Department

Rick Rigel

336-7456

Town of Granada

Town Hall, 105 South Main, Granada, CO 81041 • 719-734-5411

Mayor — Glenda Tyree

Town of Holly

Town Hall, Tony Garcia Drive, Holly, CO 81047 • 719-537-6633

Mayor — Tom Crum

Administrator — Marsha Willhite

Town of Wiley

Town Hall, 304 Main Street, Wiley, CO 81092 • 719-829-4974

Mayor — George Gotto


UTILITIES – City of Lamar

Water

Provider                                        City of Lamar Municipal

Average Demand – MGD               2.600

Peak Demand – MGD                    6.00

Total Fees (in city)                         $1,020 – $10,050 Residential and Commercial

                                                     (Varies according to meter size)

User Rates (Monthly)

¾” meter                                 $8.77 – 500 cf min. • $11.43 per 1000 cf above min.

3” meter                                   $61.42 – 5,000 cf min • $11.31 per 1000 cf above min.

Fees outside City Limits are doubled

Excess Cap – MGD                       2.000

Capacity – MGD                            7.500

Hardness                                       600 ppmm

Sewer

Provider                                        City of Lamar Municipal

Capacity

Average Demand – MGD               1.250

Peak Demand – MGD                   

User Rates (Monthly)

Residential – all sizes                $7.89

Commercial – all sizes               $7.89 • $4.22/1000 cf for usage exceeding 900 cf

Gas

Provider                                                  Atmos Energy, Robert McEndree, Local Manager
      719-336-7767

Capacity                                        11 MMCFD

Demand                                        2.25 MMCFD

Excess Cap                                   9 MMCFD

Electricity

Provider                                       Lamar Utilities Board (Municipal), Rick Rigel, Supt. 719-336-7456

Capacity                                        60 MW

Demand                                        25 MW

Excess Capacity                            6 MW

Wind Energy                                  6 MW

Source: Lamar Light & Power

Information Current as of December, 2004

©Prowers County Development, Inc.


TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION

Highways

East to West                       U.S. Highway 50

North to South                     U. S. Highway 287 and U. S. Highway 385, Ports to Plains

Trains

Burlington Northern Santa Fe — Freight only — 800-795-2673

Amtrak – scheduled passenger stops — 109 East Beech Street — 800-USA-RAIL

Bus Lines

TNM&O Coaches — 401 East Olive Street — 719-336-5291

Private and Public Transportation Systems

Prowers Area Transit (PAT) — 210 South 3rd Street — 719-336-8034

Country Acres RV & Motel Limousine Service — 29151 U.S. Highway 287/385 —719-336-1031

Trucking Companies

Alonzo Trucking LLC — 518 East Elm Street, Lamar — 719-336-9474

HVH Transportation — 209 East Poplar Street, Lamar — 719-336-7401

Heath & Son & Turpin Trucking, Inc. — 313 South 5th Street, Lamar — 719-336-2273

Larry E. Beckett, Inc. — 302 Main, Wiley — 719-829-4688

Western Transportation, Inc. —708 North Main Street, Lamar — 719-336-2221

Package Delivery

U. S. Postal Service http://www.usps.com

                                          300 South 5th Street, Lamar 719-336-8720

                                          111 S. Main, Granada 719-734-5358

                                          100 East Santa Fe, Holly 719-537-6434

                                          301 Main, Wiley 719-829-4953

United Parcel Service North of Lamar http://www.ups.com 800-742-5877

Federal Express http://www.federalexpress.com 800-GOFEDEX

Purolator Courier http://www.purolator.com 888-SHIP123

Air Service

Lamar Municipal Airport     3652 County Road GG.2 719- 336-3325 http://www.ci.lamar.co.us/airport

                                          4 miles West of Lamar on Oak Street

Fixed Base Operator Lamar Flying Service 719-336-7701

Elevation – 3,703       Runway Length – 6,384

Uncontrolled services: Lighted Runway · VASI · ASOS · VOR · Flight Instruction · Charter Service · Rental Planes · Private aircraft storage and maintenance available

Air service available to Front Range Airport, Denver — Lamar Flying Service — 719-336-7701, http://www.lamarflyingservice.com


Car Rental

Just Ask Rentals — 224 North Main Street — 719-336-7793

Car Palace, Inc. — 902 North Main Street — 719-336-9016

Tri-County Ford — 7240 Highway 50 West — 719-336-3268

Lamar Flying Service — 3652 Road GG.2 (at Airport) — 719-336-7701 http://www.lamarflyingservice.com

COMMUNICATION SERVICES

SECOM

SECOM is a telecommunication provider serving Southeastern Colorado. SECOM offers FTTB (Fiber To The Business) and provides numerous services including: Point to Point T1 Circuits; Native Ethernet Circuits; High quality bandwidth to the Internet; Internet to Businesses; and Dark Fiber leases. Contact SECOM at P.O. Box 521, 901 W. 3rd St., La Junta, CO 81050; telephone (719) 384-2551 or (800) 332-8634; web page: http://www.secom.net

Newspapers

Lamar Daily News Circulation – 5 Days per Week — P.O. Box 1217, Lamar — 336-2266 — http://www.lamardaily.com

Tri-State Trader Circulation – Weekly — P.O. Box 1217, Lamar — 336-2266

Tri-State Exchange Circulation – Weekly — P.O. Box 552, Lamar — 336-5515

Radio Stations

KLMR – AM 920 — Classic Country — 336-2206

KLMR – FM 93.3 — Classic Hits — 336-2206

KVAY – FM 105.7 — Country — 336-8734

KANZ – FM 90.7 — Public Radio — 800-678-7444

KJIL – FM 99.1 — Christian Radio — 316-873-2991

Cable / Satellite TV

Bresnan Communications — Cable — 719-546-1090

DISH Network — Satellite — 800-333-3474

Direct TV — Satellite — 800-238-7177

Telephone Services

Century Tel        Local and Long Distance Phone Service       }

AT&T Communications         Amateur Radio Repeater            } Enhanced 911 Service

Cellular One       Digital / Analog Cellular Service                   800-635-0304

Verizon Wireless          Digital / Analog Cellular Service         800-922-0204

Nextel                Digital / 2-way Cellular Service                    800-639-8359

Local Internet Services

Bresnan Communications      Cable / Dialup          800-333-3474

Century Tel                          DSL / T1 / Dialup     719-546-1090

Colorado Mobile, Inc.           Wireless / Dialup     800-238-7177

Earthlink                              Dialup                     800-327-8454

Rural-Com                           Wireless / Dialup     888-925-7695

Information Current as of December, 2004              ©Prowers County Development, Inc.


EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, LOCAL AMENITIES

EDUCATION

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Lamar School District RE-2 Administration Office — 210 West Pearl Street — 719-336-3251 http://www.lamar.k12.co.us

Current Enrollment (Sept. 2006) 1604, (K-12)

Number of Schools in Jurisdiction: 9

3 Preschools, 4 Elementary (K-6), 1 Middle School (7-8), 1 High School (9-12)

Number of Teachers in Jurisdiction: 113, (K-12)

Student / Teacher Ratio 14/1

Average Funding Per Student $6,408

COLLEGE / VO-TECH SCHOOLS

Lamar Community College Administration Office — 2401 South Main Street — 719-336-2248 — http://www.lamarcc.edu

Certifications, Life-Long Learning, 2-year and 4-year degree programs available

PRIVATE AND STATE-FUNDED SCHOOLS

Pre-Schools                                Private                      3

Day Care Centers                        Private                      2

Head-Start Centers                      Private                      1

Charter Schools                           Private                      1

Handicapped / Developmental      State-Funded             1

HEALTH CARE AND ASSISTED LIVING

Facility:

Name:

Location and Phone Number:

 

Assisted Living

The Legacy at Lamar

650 Kendall Drive 719-336-7004

Dental Clinic

High Plains Community Health Clinic

200 Kendall Drive 719-336-8445

Dialysis Services

Fresenius Medical Care

West Lee Avenue 719-336-1170

Hospital

Prowers Medical Center

401 Kendall Drive 719-336-4343

Medical Clinic

High Plains Community Health Clinic

301 Kendall Drive 719-336-0261

Nursing Care Center

Holly Nursing Care Center

820 North 8th, Holly 719-537-6555

Nursing Care Center

Sandhaven Care Center

205 South 10th, Lamar 719-336-3434

V.A. Services

High Plains Community Health Clinic

301 Kendall Drive 719-336-0261

MEDICAL PERSONNEL

Dentists                       6

Chiropractors               3

Radiologists                 1

OB Gyn                       2

General Surgeon          1

Orthopedic Surgeon      1

Pediatrician                  1

Internist                       1

Family Practice            3

LOCAL AMENITIES AND ACTIVITIES

ART, HISTORY, AND CULTURE

Big Timbers Museum, 7515 U.S. Highway 50, Lamar, 719-336-2472

Open 7 days a week 1:30 – 4:30 pm

Camp Amache Japanese Relocation Memorial

Contact: Fred Dorenkamp, Bristol, CO 719-734-5226

Comanche National Historic Site, Springfield, CO 719-523-6591

Picture Canyon pictographs & Crack Cave, Equinox tours

Madonna of the Trail (DAR Historic Monument) 109 East Beech Street, Lamar

Prairie Sky Art Gallery (featuring local artists), Web Gallery at http://www.prairiesky.net

Prowers County Brush and Palette Club

Contact: Carol Demas, 1304 South Parkway Drive, Lamar 719-336-4772

Sand Creek Massacre Historic Site

National Park Service, Eads 719-438-5916

Sand Creek Tours http://www.sandcreektours.com

Contact: Chuck & Sheri Bowen, Lamar 719-336-5082

Southeast Colorado Arts Council

Contact: Rose Ann Yates, P.O. Box 1763, Lamar 719-336-2185

Southeast Colorado Art Guild (Autumn Art Show third week of October)

Contact: Robert Sloan, President, P.O. Box 389, Lamar — 719-336-2930 http://www.secag.org

“tHE ART gallery”

1006 South Main Street, Lamar

Open Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm Closed at Noon

CHURCHES

Apostolic

Episcopal

Assembly of God

Foursquare Gospel

Baptist

Friends

Brethren

Jehovah’s Witnesses

Catholic

Lutheran

Christian

Nazarene

Christian Family Fellowship Center

Presbyterian

Church of Christ

Redeeming Love

Church of God

Seventh-Day Adventist

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

United Methodist


EMPLOYMENT, COMMERCIAL INFORMATION

EMPLOYMENT

LABOR FORCE

 

2002

2003

2004

Prowers County Labor Force

6,908

6,891

6,847

Unemployment

245

336

284

Total Labor Force:

7,153

7,227

7,131

EMPLOYMENT BY SECTOR IN PROWERS COUNTY

 

2002

2003

2004

Avg. Wkly Wage

Agriculture, Forestry, Fish

729

512

463

$709

Construction

150

141

122

$410

Finance, Insurance, Real Estate

238

283

281

$462

Government, Govern. Enterprises

1,497

1,494

1,491

$563

Manufacturing

928

889

943

$539

Mining

89

72

77

$610

Retail Trade

796

762

790

$364

Services

716

1,068

1,037

$295

Transportation & Public Utilities

84

180

204

$596

Wholesale Trade

231

189

185

$553

Total

5,323

5,590

5,593

$510 Average Wage

 

MAJOR EMPLOYERS IN THE AREA

Name

Product/Service

Contact Information

Alco Discount Center

Discount /Retail

300 Savage Avenue 336-1340

All-Rite Paving & Redi-Mix, Inc.

Concrete Sales & Delivery

200 Speculator Avenue 336-2451

Altek Systems Electrical

Harnesses

7776 U.S. Highway 50 336-3403

Big R of Lamar

Retail

8625 Highway 50 336-7728

Pioneer Pork

Pork Production

308 South Main Street 336-3070

C.F. Maier

Custom Fiberglass Containers/Molds

500 East Crystal Street 336-8745

City of Lamar

Government

102 East Parmenter Street 336-4376

Heritage Farms

Pork Production

36053 U.S. Highway 287 829-4730

Lamar Community College

College

2401 South Main Street 336-2248

Prowers County

Nursing Service, Day Care, Social Service, Government

1001 South Main Street 336-7486

Prowers Medical Center

Hospital

401 Kendall Drive 336-4343

Ranch Manufacturing

Bottom Dump Trailers

P.O. Box 856 336-9041

School District Re-2

Schools

210 West Pearl Street 336-3251

Wal-Mart Super Center

Grocery & Discount / Retail

1432 East Olive Street 336-0530

WHO Manufacturing

Tub Grinders

P.O. Box 1153 336-7433

VALCO

Concrete Sales & Delivery

P.O. Box 591 336-2223


LAND USE, PLANNING AND ZONING INFORMATION

Southeast Land and Environment Office

1006 South 4th Street, 336-8988

Contact: Kellie Gaines

City of Lamar, Planning and Zoning Office

102 East Parmenter Street, 336-2085

Contact: Bob Ward

ENTERPRIZE ZONE INCENTIVES AND TAX CREDITS

Southeast Colorado Enterprise Development, Inc. (SECED)

112 West Elm Street 336-3850

Contact: Dan Tate — seced@seced.netP.O. Box 1600

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

 

2002

2003

2004

Fiscal Year Gross Retail for Lamar ($ million)

$330.3

$298.3

287.5

Fiscal Year Gross Retail Sales for County ($ million)

$377.7

$340.5

$336.7

Source: Colorado Department of Revenue – 2004

AVAILABLE BUSINESS SITES

Airport Industrial Park

50 acres, zoned industrial, 4 miles West of Lamar

Lamar Industrial Park

Zoned industrial sites available, Northeast Lamar near Crystal Street

Willow Creek Development

I-1 Industrial sites approximately 70 acres total, streets and utilities ready for immediate occupancy. Forty (40) available lots, average size 1 acre.

Source: Local Government Survey – 2001 Data

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

Small Business Loans

Revolving Loan Funds

Industrial Revenue Bonds

Venture Capital

Tax Free Leasing

Land Concessions

Local Financing

Community Lending Institutions

Enterprise Zone – Tax Credit Programs

 

Source: Local Government Survey – 2002 Data

CONTACTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Prowers County Development, Inc.

201 South Main Street 719-336-2384

Contact: Roger Jones, pcdi@procolorado.org

Lamar Chamber of Commerce

109 A East Beech Street 719-336-4379

Contact: Chana Reed, lamarchamber@bresnan.net

City of Lamar — City Hall

102 East Parmenter Street, 719-336-4376

Contact: Nelva Heath http://www.ci.lamar.co.us

Small Business Development Center

2401 South Main Street 719-336-1586

Lamar Community College Contact: Cheryl Sanchez Cheryl.Sanchez@lamarcc.edu

Information Current as of January, 2007

©Prowers County Development, Inc.

LODGING, SHOPPING, RECREATION, ORGANIZATIONS

LODGING

Type

Quantity

Rooms Available

Motels and Hotels

10

410

Bed & Breakfast

1

3

RV Park

2

40

A variety of restaurants and banquet facilities are also available.

RETAIL SHOPPING AREAS

Our Main Street area offers a unique “hometown” experience, with shops you won’t find anywhere else. Scattered throughout the city are other shopping centers, convenience stores and retailers.

MAJOR RETAIL GROCERY AND SUPPLY

Wal-Mart Super Center

Safeway

ALCO Discount Center

Family Dollar

Guihen’s Lumber and Landscapes

Building Material Supply

RECREATION

Big Timbers Motosports Park

9053 Highway 196 – 1 mile East of Big Timbers Museum. Contact:  Dean Reed

688-4823

Colorado Welcome Center

109B East Beech Street 

336-3483

Open 7 days a week: 

Winter  8 am-  5 pm  Summer  8 am-  6 pm

Great Plains Reservoirs

Division of Wildlife

336-6600

Camping / Fishing / Boating / Hunting

John Martin Reservoir

Corps of Engineers Office

336-3476

Camping / Fishing / Boating / Swimming

Lamar City Parks

Willow Creek Park — 3rd Street & Parkway Avenue

336-2774

 

Escondido Park — 11th & Washington Streets

Northside Park — 5th & Maple Streets

Enchanted Forest — 4th & Beech Streets

Lamar Community Building

610 South 6th Street 

336-2774

Indoor Walking Track and Fitness Center

Open Monday - Friday  6 am -  9 pm

Saturday  9 am -  4 pm ·  Sunday 12- 4pm

Lamar Lanes Bowling

1704 South Main Street  

336-5781

Lamar Public Library & Cultural Events Center

104 E. Parmenter Street

336-4632

Lamar Theater

219 South Main Street

336-5737

Lamar Rollerblade Park

1107 Parkview Avenue by Swimming Pool  

 

Lamar Swimming Pool

Parkview Avenue & Cedar by Willow Creek Park 

336-7665

Lamar Tennis Courts

1107 Parkview Avenue by Swimming Pool

336-2774

May Valley Speedway

8 Miles North of Lamar on Highway 196

336-9407

Southeast Colorado Activities Area

Located at Savage Avenue & Main Street 

336-2774

Baseball, Softball, Rodeo Activities

 

Spreading Antlers Golf Course

1 mile South of Lamar on Highway 287

336-5274

ORGANIZATIONS

All the Right Moves Dance Studio

Contact: Lea Austin

336-5604

Ballet, Tap, Jazz lessons; Annual Recital

Arkansas Valley Wind & Percussion Ensemble

Contact: Trevor LaCost

336-4232

Community Band; Available for Events

Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks #1319

Contact:  Tom McKibbon

336-7886

Beta Sigma Phi

Contact:  Jean Shumate

336-5840

Big Timbers Historical Society

Contact:  Jim Farmer

336-2472

Bicycling Events

Lamar Parks & Recreation

336-2774

Bowling Leagues

Lamar Lanes Bowling Alley

336-5781

Boy Scouts

Contact:  Paul Westhoff

336-4061

Delta Kappa Gamma

Contact:  Melanie Lane

336-7818

Denim and Lace Square Dancing

Contact: Sharon Shinn or Teri Lira

336-5753        

Youth lessons; Annual Review

336-4547

DuVall’s Academy of Sports

Contact:  Joette DuVall

734-5560

Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #3898

Contact:  Gene Gant

336-7200

Prowers County 4-H Clubs

Contact:  Sheryl Holden, Co. Ext. Agent

336-7734

Friends of the Library

Contact:  Kay Hainer

336-3694

Girl Scouts

Contact:  Amy Montgomery

336-4926

Knights of Columbus

Contact:  Paul Westhoff

336-4061

Lamar Chamber of Commerce

Contact:  Chana Reed, Office Man.

336-4379

Lamar Dudes & Dames Square Dancing

Contact: Carla Scranton
Adult and Youth lessons; Annual Review

691-2109
688-3857

Lamar Jaycees

Contact:  Crissy Stegman
                Verna McDowell

688-1121
688-1877

Lamar Lodge #90 AF & AM Masonic Temple

Contact:  Clay Peacock

336-2234

Lamar Noon Lions

Contact:  Richard McGrath

336-2443

Lamar/Prowers County Volunteer Fire Dept.

Contact:  Staffon Warn

336-4701

Lamar Rebekah Lodge #55

Contact:  Louise Downing

336-2141

Lamar Rotary Club

Contact:  Cathy Buxton

336-5122

Lamarlins Swim Team

Contact:  Jeff Schemahorn

336-5450

P.E.O.

Contact:  Marilyn Pierson

336-5635

Phi Beta Lambda

Lamar Community College

336-2248

Prowers Co. Sheriff’s Posse

Contact:  Steve Buxton

336-4915

Red Hat Society

Contact:  Judy Douglass

336-2651

Running Events

Lamar Parks & Recreation

336-2774

Sorosis

Contact:  Karen Smith

336-1236

SE Colorado Shine Club of Al Kala Temple

Contact:  Barney Miller

336-5529

Vaqueros Saddle Club

Contact:  JoAnn Peterson

336-4149

Veterans of Foreign Wars

Contact:  Alfred Adame

734-5574

Zonta International

Contact:  Ileta Pierson

336-4422

Information Current as of December, 2004

©Prowers County Development, Inc.