Neimark Commended

The Hanna Town Council met at 6 p.m. on Dec. 11 at the Hanna Town Hall. The meeting was scheduled a day later than the usual meeting day of Tuesday due to the Hanna Elementary School Concert on Dec. 10.

Mayor Lois Buchanan and council members Tracy Fowler, Bob Patton, Sammy Sikes and Linda Schisel were present.

The agenda and Nov. 12 regular meeting minutes were quickly approved. Buchanan said the High Country Joint Powers Board had met on Dec. 5 and talked about getting the landfill ready for closure (See “Talking trash” on page 1 of the Dec. 11 Saratoga Sun).

Pubic Works Director Larry Korkow said the weather had his employees out on the streets trying to keep up with snow fall from the past few weeks. He said Summit Construction wanted 3 million more gallons of water on top of the 4 million they had already used this summer. Korkow said the town had enough in its reservoir to handle this.

“We get two dollars a thousand gallons and they bring their own pumps and it is a pretty good deal,” Korkow explained.

He said the loader’s water pump had been replaced.

Korkow said the water treatment plant had produced 3.2 million gallons in November. He said this was down from 4.3 million gallons in October.

Korkow pointed out the construction on the pipes in the past year were making impact.

“Two years ago in November we were looking at pumping 14 to 15 million gallons,” Korkow said. “It has made a big difference.”

Before Hanna Marshall Jeff Neimark stood to give his report, Buchanan made a comment.

“Before we get started, I would like to, on behalf of the Town of Hanna, extend my appreciation and gratitude for all the people that have reached out and commented on Jeff’s actions for this big episode in Medicine Bow,” Buchanan said. “He got a letter from the Sheriff’s office that was positive as were the stories in newspapers. This was just great for people to see how less-than-lethal is good for a situation like this (See “An appropriate response” on page 4 of the Dec. 11 Saratoga Sun). Good job.”

After thanking Buchanan for her words, Neimark gave his report on his actions in Medicine Bow on Nov. 26. (See page 1 of the Dec. 4 Saratoga Sun).

Neimark told of his drive on roads that were closed, the lockdown of the Medicine Bow Elementary School he requested and the calls coming in apprising him of the situation. He said when he encountered the individual, he made the decision to use less-than-lethal.

“Receiving the training really made a difference,” Neimark said. “It gave me a different perspective I didn’t have before.”

Neimark said timing was everything.

“I looked on the video later and it was interesting,” Neimark started. “If I would have walked in 45 seconds earlier, I would have actually have seen him pointing a gun at this guy’s head and that would have changed the dynamics of everything.”

Neimark gave thanks to all the Medicine Bow citizens that helped him during the incident.

The Hanna Marshall said thousands of dollars of damage had occurred and there were people hurt.

“I am thankful for all the support this mayor and council, plus past officials, have given the department in going to these programs,” Neimark said. “This incident shows it was justified.”

Neimark said he is on the hiring board for the Medicine Bow law enforcement department and they had narrowed it down to five candidates. The interviews would be done in the upcoming weeks.

Buchanan said the Parks and Recreation Board was looking to hire an assistant front desk individual who would become certified in life saving.

The mayor gave a quick report on South Central Wyoming Emergency Services (SCWEMS). She said two ambulances had been purchased.

“I submitted a letter in conjunction with Jeff (Neimark) about the shortage of help to them,” Buchanan said. “I took the step that if there is an emergency that comes in a second time without a response, any employee of our town in SCWEMS can go on the ambulance with pay. I figure the money is well spent if it saves a life.”

Patton said the board meeting for Carbon County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) was a conference call. He said an hour topic of conversation was sprinklers mandated for new single family housing. Patton said the CCEDC director said she felt the mandatory nature of this law might hinder economic development.

He said CCEDC was going to try and get leadership classes going.

The Hanna Housing Board reported the four units that had been renovated were almost ready to be inhabited.

Hanna Basin Museum representative Pam Paulson said the board would be meeting on Dec. 12. It had been pushed back a week. Buchanan said that she had talked to Black Hills Energy and that one meter could be used with the gas line. The mayor said she was still waiting for information about signage to give directions to museum from WY 72. It was announced there would be an old time Christmas celebration at the museum on Dec. 22 between 2-5 p.m. geared towards families.

Paulson, the town treasurer, said the audit had been completed and she was waiting for the final report.

After the town reports were concluded and approved by the council, the financials were approved.

Under new business the first order of action was to approve Pay Application 2 from Six Point Construction on the South Jefferson Water Line Replacement Project.

Next the council approved the Certificate of Substantial Completion for Six Point Construction on the South Jefferson Water Line Replacement Project.

The 41 day advertisement publication on South Jefferson Water Line Replacement Project was approved as was the 41 day advertisement on the Elmo, Old Town Water Line Replacement Project.

The Certificate of Final Substantial Completion for 71 Construction in the Elmo, Old Town Water Line Replacement Project was approved.

For the Town of Hanna’s Christmas party on Dec. 14, an open container permit was approved. After the permit was ratified, Resolution 2019-516, a resolution issuing an open container waiver permit to allow open containers at the Hanna Recreation Center on Dec 14 for the private Town of Hanna Christmas party was approved.

The Bank of Commerce and RNB State Bank were both approved to be depositories to the Town of Hanna.

The council approved Pam Paulson’s resignation from the Hanna Housing Authority Board and announced a vacancy to the board.

The next schedule meeting is at 6 p.m. on Jan. 14 at the Hanna Town Hall.