Miner monument gets attention

The Hanna Town Council had a busy agenda to get through as it started at 6:30 p.m. on April 12 at the Hanna Town Hall. Mayor Lois Buchanan, council members Sammy Sikes, Tracy Fowler and Jayson Nordquist were in attendance. Council member William Dys was absent.

Buchanan quickly went over the board reports because there were many guest speakers slated.

Hanna Parks and Recreation Director Vivian Gonzales said most winter activities were winding down. She said the yoga class was going well and in mid-May she was going to open the recreation center seven days a week. King Coal days is planned to be celebrated June 24 and 25. The pool passed its first of two inspections. Two life guards have been hired.

After Gonzales finished, all the board and department reports were approved.

Financials were ratified.

Loretta Hansen and Dawnette Spaulding with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Victim/Witness Program were present to have the town read a proclamation for the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

“We are asking the town of Hanna to recommit to people’s safety and not just the victim/witness program, but all the allied professionals such as law enforcement, EMS and anyone who assists victims of all crimes,” Hensen said. “We also came to answer questions from the public or the council because we are sort of invisible until a crime happens to you.”

Hansen said they served victims of all crimes from the beginning to the court proccesses.

“In some of cases, we are working with victims years,” Hansen said. “So sometimes we know people for a very long time. The Sheriff’s philosophy is that anyone who comes thru the door, whether they are a crime victim or not, we take care of them.”

Carbon County Sheriff Archie Roybal was present for Hansen’s and Spaulding’s talk.

Once the ladies were done, Buchanan read the proclamation for National Crime Victims Right’s Week.

When Buchanan finished reading the proclamation, the council approved Resolution 2022-552 which was a resolution that reaffirmed the town’s commitment to creating a a victim service and criminal justice response victims of a crime throughout the year.

The council went back to guest speakers once the resolution was passed.

It turned out many of the speakers sceduled were not in attendance.

Alex Bakken was there and he went before the audience and council to announce being a candidate for the position of Carbon County Sheriff on the Republican ticket. He had been invited by Fowler and Sikes. He is a patrol deputy with Sheriff’s office.

“I want to second everything Loretta and Dawnette said how important their program is,” Bakken said. “I don’t think they get quite the recognition they deserve for what they offer the public.”

Bakken acknowledged Roybal.

“With all due respect to Sheriff Roybal, I am running for Sheriff on the Republican ticket and the reason I came here was twofold,” Bakken said. “I wanted to get an idea how the town of Hanna functions and what your concerns and needs are. I believe an elected official should tailor the needs of the community that they represent and held accountable.”

The council approved a logo for the Hanna recreation center from a contest held by the center.

Carlee Woody was approved for a fowl permit.

“At least you asked for the permit before you got the chickens,” Nordquist joked.

There have been instances the council had applications for permits after the chickens were already secured which has not pleased the council.

Resolution 2022-550 which is an open container waiver permit for the recreation center for the days of May 20 and June 17 for when the painting and drinks parties will be held. This monthly party started back in December and have been successful according to Gonzales.

Another resolution concerning an open container waiver for King Coal Days on June 24 and 25 was presented. The council approved 2022-551 allowing open containers those days designated. Gonzales said many of the activities would be inside the recreation center because the town’s large tent had been destroyed by wind last year. She said having it indoors had worked well.

The Carbon County Visitor Council (CCVC) rep for Hanna, Mike Armstrong asked the council to approve the nomination of Alex Gruenhagen for the position member-at-large. It is a position every CCVC participating municipality must approve for him to get the position.

“After looking at his resume, he is extremely qualified,” Buchanan said. “They would be crazy not to want him on the board.”

Gruenhagen was approved by the council.

Fowler was approved to continue as the voting delegate for the Wyoming Association of Municipalities (WAM) for the town.

The second reading of Ordinance 394 designating the amount of general tax to be assessed, levied and collected for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 on all taxable real and personal property with the town of Hanna.

Pam Paulson, chairman of the Hanna Basin Museum came before the council to say she and former Hanna resident Bob Leathers are working on the Miner Monument that is on a hill when first entering the town from Hanna junction.

“For those who don’t know about the monument, it is there because we had an explosion in 1903 at Mine Number One that had an explosion that killed a 169 miners,” Paulson started. “It took a 172 days to get all the bodies out and there was one body they couldn’t get out and it is still entombed in the mine.”

Paulson said it was not the last tragedy to hit the town that decade.

“In 1908 we had more explosions at the same mine and 59 more miners, rescue people and firemen were killed,” Paulson said. “They were able to recover all but 27 of the bodies. Those bodies are still entombed.”

She said some of the rescuers belonged to the Knights of Pythias and in 1932 they put up the existing monument. The organization does not exist any longer. It is dedicated to the miners who lost their lives.

“What we would like to do is get the permission to put a new stone with miners names on it and possibly a bronze plaque which would have a brief description of why the monument is there,” Paulson said. “The current monument is sitting directly on the mine. We are keeping the original monument but want to add the new one.”

She said the monument is on land owned by Aggie Grazing LLC. out of Colorado. She said there was ongoing research to see if there was documentation about the monument being on the land and possibly donated to the town by-the-then owners, Union Pacific Railroad.

“I didn’t want to start to put the stone up without the town’s permission when I reach out to Aggie Grazing,” Paulson said. “I just want you to be aware what I am doing. We also want to put up another larger sign indicating where the monument is. The small wooden there won’t be replaced because it is historical.”

“We certainly would not stop you, but we are not sure we have the authority,” Buchanan said. “But this sounds like a worthwhile project.”

Paulson thanked the town the town for their support.

The next scheduled meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on May 10 at the Hanna Town Hall.