In the flood zone

All council members were in attendance at the Hanna Town Council held at 6 p.m. on July 9 at the Hanna Town Hall. Mayor Lois Buchanan was not present due to illness. Council member Bob Patton was mayor pro tem.

The agenda and minutes from the June 11 regular meeting were approved in a timely manner.

Public Works Director Larry Korkow told the council grounds keeping was much of the work being done in the town. He said water usage was up, compared to the wet month of June.

“It may be up, but nothing like before,” Korkow said, referring to the leaks before that many of the pipes had before being replaced.

Craig Kopasz, Engineering Associates, said the company 71 Construction was finishing their work.

Hanna Marshal Jeff Neimark said a new TV had been installed in the Hanna Town Hall’s meeting room. He said it would be helpful during circuit court.

“With us wearing video cameras now, it makes a difference for us to be able to show on screen,” Neimark said. “It can also be used for training.”

He said Tricia Gonzales had been hired for the position of deputy marshal and she would be sworn in on Friday.

“The training for Hanna will go for several months,” Neimark said.

Neimark surprised many people in attendance by saying several areas of Hanna were in a flood plain.

“Last week I attended a hazard mitigation meeting and I learned parts of Hanna were in a high flood area according to maps,” Neimark said. “According to FEMA, they completed an extensive study the past several years to show why.”

Neimark had maps ready for presentation to the council.

He said the areas around the Hanna Basin Museum, the fire department building and the Hanna Recreation Center were considered a high risk for flooding. Neimark said the majority of the town was not in danger, although, along Front Street, there was a chance.

Neimark said there might be grant opportunities to mitigate these flooding hazards by FEMA.

“I am looking into this in more detail,” Neimark said.

Vivian Gonzales, recreation and parks director, said most of the concentration the past month is getting ready for King Coal Day to be held on July 27.

She said soccer season was coming to a close on Friday with a celebration in Saratoga.

Carbon County Visitor Council representative Mike Armstrong told the council that there was a press release in the Saratoga Sun (see CCVC announces new grant policy, page 14 on July 10 in Saratoga Sun).

“I want to make clear, after three years, advertising doesn’t end for events,” Armstrong said.

Patton asked V. Gonzales if the pool was of competition size. She said she was not sure, but thought so. V. Gonzales said she would do research.

The Hanna Housing Board said it had completed refurbishing six units.

The museum board announced the appointment of Sunshine Solaas as the new director and Armstrong into the position of public relations director.

Ann Calvert, the town clerk, said that the antenna to read meters had to replaced and was on order.

The council approved the board and department reports

Next the council approved the financials.

Ordinance 384 was approved on its 2nd reading. The ordinance amends Title 6.08.130 titled Kennels. Calvert suggested a workshop to go over fees before the 3rd reading.

Jon Nelson from North Fork Engineering came before the council to explain the steps of Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) grants.

After he talked, the council approved Resolution 2019-510, a resolution authorizing submission of an AML facility grant application to the State Loan and Investment Board on behalf of the governing body for Hanna, the purpose being for waterline replacements in projects in Old Town.

The council after much discussion tabled the 2019-2020 budget for the High Country Joint Powers Board. The main reason was because the municipalities of Elk Mountain and Medicine Bow, have not approved the budget either.

The council approved RNB State Bank as a depository and a resolution designating Calvert as the public records contact, per the Public Records Act.

Robert Nelsen’s permit for fowl/chicken was denied. The justification was Nelson wanted more space for his chickens and the council decided the current space allowed sufficed.

The next scheduled regular meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Aug. 13 at the Hanna Town Hall.