Slow water flow, metering, subsidence, radios and grants

Tuesday the Hanna Town Council met to approve the new hours of the Hanna Recreation Center, discussed ways to find out how to get the water meters to read data currently not being collected and the Marshal reported the status of the recently purchased police vehicles.

Larry Korkell, public works director, told the council he was working to find the reason why the water was running slower. He said it might be algae in the reservoir and he was looking at putting a siphon pipe in the water plant to alleviate the flooding that has been occurring the past few months.

Korkell said Sean Sundermann from Brierly Associates would be drilling in the week to come to check for subsidence, the gradual caving in or sinking of land, in Old Town.

Craig Kopasz, from Engineering Assoiciates in Saratoga, told the council the second part of the Mineral Royalties Grant (MRG) looks likely to be funded. On Thursday, a MRG meeting in Cheyenne will convene and the board is looking to recommend the town get the full amount requested.

Marshal Jeff Neimark gave a report on the success of the Bike Rodeo on May 12 and told the council Walmart had been sent a letter of thanks for the donation of two bikes. Neimark informed the council two Motorola portable radios purchased at the price of $6,200 together (normally priced $4,000 individually) had arrived and the next day were being taken to be programed at Ryan Electric. The current radios will be used for backup. The recent purchase of police vehicles had the Crown Victoria develop transmission issues. The Sinclair Refinery, which had set up the purchase, has told the town it will pay for the cost to fix the car. Neimark reported dog licenses have had the best year for compliance. Residents who still need to comply have until June 21.

Vivian Gonzales, Park and Recreation director, asked the town to approve new hours for the Hanna Recreation Center. The council approved the recommendation of Gonzales’ hours of closing Mondays and opening 6-10 a.m. and 3-8 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday. The recreation center will now open on Saturday 1-5 p.m. She announced the pool was fixed and would open on Wednesday morning at 6 am. The roof was still being repaired with most work being done on the drain pipes. The gazebo for the outside has been ordered. Gonzales said Utah Bee’s sponsored baseball program would begin registration on June 23 and the final game was scheduled July 21.

The council was informed the Carbon County Visitors Council (CCVC) approved block grants of $4,000 for municipalities that did not want to write many individual grants at its May 17 meeting. The council was also told grant money would be distributed by attendance. The King Coal Days grant was approved.

Marcia Beals, director of the Housing Board, told the council she was basing her budget on past audits.

The council approved the hiring of two individuals through the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.

Ann Calvert, the town clerk, told the council 177 water meters did not read. Calvert said the problem might be attributed to the old software not being able to adapt to the recent water system installed. Calvert is in touch with Miquelle Bernard, representative from Fergusen Water Works, the company from which the town is considering buying new meters to help find the problem.

The next scheduled meeting of the Hanna Town Council is 6 p.m. July 11 at the Hanna Town Hall.