Full house in Hanna

The Hanna Town Council met at 6 p.m. on Feb. 12 at the Hanna Town Hall with all council members and mayor in attendance. There was also a public hearing for a special use permit application submitted by Hanna resident Michael Zedicker for 201 North Harrison St.

Mayor Lois Buchanan asked the large public audience, that filled the room to capacity, if there was any opposition. There was none and Buchanan closed the public hearing to go into the regular council meeting.

The agenda and Jan. 8 town council minutes were approved quickly and Buchanan had the different heads of boards and departments give their reports.

First up was council member Bob Patton reporting on Carbon County Council of Governments, who said, because of the weather, he had attempted to use a conference call system instead of attending the meeting on Jan. 16. He said he could not get through. Patton added the minutes had not been posted yet.

Leonard Gonzales, from the High Country Joint Powers Board (HCJPB), said there was a meeting on Thursday with Tryhydro Engineering at the landfill to discuss the design for the building to be constructed.

Public Works Director Larry Korkow said most of the work by the department had been trying to remove the snow from the streets. He said there was a chance more fuel for the plows would be needed.

“Not sure the $5,000 budgeted for this is going to be enough for this season,” Korkow said.

He also showed pictures of the new truck the town was looking at purchasing. There is enough money budgeted for the $36,000 vehicle.

David Sutter, chief operator at the water treatment plant, said all was going well.

Craig Kopasz, the town’s engineer, said there was not much going on except the approval of the Mineral Royalty Grant (MRG) application that was before the council later in the meeting.

Hanna Marshal Jeff Neimark said five citations to juveniles had been given out over the month. Two were given to the same individual.

“Some of these juveniles might be put in the diversion program,” Neimark said. “It can be really helpful to some of these juveniles.”

A diversion program in the criminal justice system is a form of sentence in which the criminal offender joins a rehabilitation program which is designed to help remedy the behavior leading to the original arrest and avoid conviction and a criminal record.

Neimark said he was working closely with Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). He said he was developing new procedures and policies before body cameras come to the department. Neimark said the policies he has written are before the town attorney for review.

Hanna Recreation Center Director Vivian Gonzales said the Food Bank of the Rockies was coming to the recreation center at 10 a.m. on March 8. She said they had approached her to be the place of distribution and she had agreed. V. Gonzales said there were volunteers, but more would be appreciated.

V. Gonzales said there was a father/daughter dance on Saturday at the recreation center between 4-8 p.m. and basketball programs would start in March. V. Gonzales said Kopasz is helping her in trying to implement a soccer program.

She said that if recreation members wanted to listen to music, a policy has been implemented that headphones must used while in the center.

She also said the pool needed to purchase new filters.

Buchanan asked if there had been any further developments in getting a disc golf course put at the center. V. Gonzales said she would get in touch with Mother Mountain Anglers out of Encampment in the near future.

Marcia Beals from the Housing Board said there were three vacant units. There was work being done on one. The Housing Board is reviewing policies and procedures for applicants.

Pam Paulson, from the Museum Board, said local historian Nancy Anderson was revising the master plan because of funds coming for grants concerning the Lincoln Highway Memorial to be housed at the Hanna museum. Paulson said there was continuing research on getting the World War I Monument fixed.

Town Clerk Ann Calvert said the water meter reads were going well. She said they caught some leaks and they were repaired.

The financials were approved at $32,648.82.

Buchanan reappointed Neimark to Marshal. After Neimark was appointed, Calvert, Paulson, Korkow and V. Gonzales were reappointed to their positions.

The council approved the special use permit by Michael Zediker for 201 North Harrison St.

The auditor of the town, Dennis Tschacher, was called and he went over by phone the 2018 audit of the town.

Resolution 2019-496 was approved. The resolution approves the application for a MRG for the South Jefferson water project.

Resolution 2019-497 was approved allowing an application to Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) for a grant for the Recreation Board to purchase supplies for the recreation center.

Resolution 2019-498 was approved to allow a grant application to CCSD2 for King Coal Days.

Jamie Bridge was approved to the Cemetery Board. The board is now complete.

Carey Lake was approved as the Hanna representative to the South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services Board.

Buchanan announced two vacancies to the HCJPB and asked anyone interested to apply.

In citizen participation, Hanna resident Jon Osling asked why, two months previous when he brought concerns to the council, nothing was mentioned in the town council minutes. He was concerned that his recommendations and thoughts might slip through the cracks.

Buchanan and Calvert agreed that Osling’s thoughts or any citizen should be documented in the minutes.

The town council adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

The next Hanna Town Council meeting is 6 p.m. on March 12 at the Hanna Town Hall.