Buried by gophers

The Hanna Town Council met at 6 p.m. on June 9 at the Hanna Town Hall. In attendance Mayor Lois Buchanan, Councilmember Sammy Sikes and, by phone ,Councilmember Linda Schisel.

The agenda was approved first. The minutes from the regularly scheduled meeting on May 12 and special meeting on June 1 were approved next.

Marcia Beals, representative for Hanna to the High Country Joint Powers Board (HCJPB), said the last meeting went over the proposed budget (see “Landfill has new worker” on page 3 in the June 10 Saratoga Sun).

Buchanan said she had talked to Medicine Bow mayor Sharon Biamon earlier in the day and that Medicine Bow had rejected the HCJPB budget.

Public works said that gophers were becoming a problem throughout the town, especially at the recreation center.

Vivian Gonzales, Hanna Recreation said the gophers were everywhere.

“When we came out the door of our board meeting last Wednesday there must have been 15 or 20 running around the front and parking lot,” Gonzales said.

Poison rice balls had been purchased to try and contain the bursting gopher population. Smoke bombs had not been effective.

Buchanan said public works reported that truck traffic was getting heavier to get water for the nearby construction projects.

The water treatment plant was seeing an increase of water usage. Last month the town’s usage was 4.7 million gallons and this month it was closer to 6 million. The plant is now running five days a week.

Marshall Jeff Neimark said two misdemeanor citations had been written for domestic battery and property destruction. He said at municipal court a defendant who was charged with prohibitive shooting a weapon in town became belligerent with the judge. Judge Massey ordered the defendant in contempt in court. The defendant became physically and verbally combative with Deputy Marshall Patricia Gonzales. She took him into custody and took him to the Carbon County jail.

V. Gonzales said the Hanna Recreation Center will open June 16 (see “Hanna Recreation Center plans for reopening” on page 3 in the June 10 Saratoga Sun). She said reservations would be required to enter. Gonzales said the baseball fields would be fixed up since it was a sport that had social distancing built into it. Hanna recreation center has two baseball fields.

On the hot tub, Gonzales said it was impossible to find someone to come in and repair it. Buchanan said the hot tub should just be replaced and Gonzales agreed.

Carbon County Visitor Council listened to grants at the last meeting. It was done by teleconferencing, but the next meeting is scheduled to be in Hanna.

Beals, Director of the Hanna Housing Board, said speed bumps were needed at the housing projects because families with kids had moved in and Beals felt cars were going too fast through the community. Buchanan told Beals to order the speed bumps.

Pam Paulson said that the bonds for the Specific Purpose Tax 2019 were on track to be sold in July.

The council approved the board reports.

After the reports the financials were approved.

The second reading of Ordinance 388 was approved. This is an ordinance appropriating money for the annual budget of the town of Hanna, for the fiscal year 2020-2021.

The council approved Resolution 2020-524. The resolution changed the town council’s meeting time from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The council tabled the budget for HCJPB.

In citizen participation, resident Dale Brawley asked when ordinances about junk cars were going to be enforced.

“If you get into the old part of town, there are sorts of vehicles parks down there,” Brawley.

Buchanan said there was effort being put forth by the council and the Marshal. She explained it took time.

Brawley acknowledged that previous administrations had ignored the problem and he was happy to hear that she, the council and Marshal were making an effort to clean up the situation.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on July 14 at the Hanna Town Hall.