Moving forward:

With the majority of participating agencies present, a consensus was reached to add Hanna to the South Central Wyoming Emergency Management Service (SCWEMS) Joint Powers Board (JPB).

At a special meeting on Sept. 22 in Elk Mountain the JPB sought direction from SCWEMS JPB participating agencies (Carbon County, Saratoga, Encampment, Medicine Bow, Elk Mountain and Riverside) as to whether Hanna should become a member of the JPB. All SCWEMS entities, except for Saratoga, were represented by mayors, county commissioners and in the case of Hanna and Encampment their town clerks. The treasurer of Hanna and the Carbon County Attorney’s office were also represented.

Hanna has been receiving ambulance service from SCWEMS since 2009 without being a member of the JPB.

This has been a contentious issue and Hanna presented their side of case with over 80 pages of documentation which, they argue, shows they were always slated to become a member of the JPB.

The issue has been raised that Hanna wants a “buy in” to the service, specifically, recognition of payment by the town of Hanna over and above what member entities have paid per capita for the ambulance service. The consensus was that Hanna should remain in service by SCWEMS and become a member of the JPB.

In a straw poll, called for by town of Elk Mountain Mayor Morgan Irene, none of the participating agencies present objected to adding the Hanna to the SCWEMS JPB.

Carbon County Commissioners Sue Jones and John Johnson have directed the county attorney’s office to draft an amended joint agreement of the SCWEMS JPB document adding Hanna as a JPB member, and addressing other potential entities joining or leaving the ambulance service JPB.

County commissioners Jones and Johnson both say they hope to have the amended JPB agreement before the member entities by the end of October. All commissioners and mayors interviewed said that the focus of SCWEMS should be on moving forward, not reflecting on the past.