Water is rising

Sammy Sikes was mayor pro tem in Mayor Lois Buchanan’s absence at the Hanna Town Council on August 9, 2022. Councilmember Bill Dys was also not in attendance. Councilmembers Tracy Fowler and Jayson Nordquist were present.

Sikes said AML had not finished working on the county road on the outside of Hanna and it will stay closed for the winter. It will also not be plowed.

Public works has been working on fixing Jade Street’s water issues.

David Sutter, Water Treatment Director, said the town is using about 1 million gallons more than the previous month which he attributed to residents watering their lawns. Other than the increased water usage, Sutter said all was well with the treatment plant.

Hanna Marshal, Ted Kranenberg, said Howard Construction had been instrumental in helping in getting down a narrow stairwell to assist an individual who was having health issues and he was appreciative of their help.

The Hanna Recreation Center had the baseball dugouts painted along with the baseball field’s scoreboard.

There is a serious lifeguard shortage at the Rec Center which limits the pool’s hours.

New employees for the front desk were hired and are working out fine.

The pool has been rid of the rust that had been developing along the edges.

The Vanguard Percussion and Brass band stayed at the Recreation Center August 1. The band consisted of 150 members and 50 staff and chaperones. Summer workers will be gone by August 15.

Carey Lake, South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services (SCWEMS) Hanna representative, told the Council that a representative position in Saratoga had not been filled. Sikes asked for the financials which Lake provided.

Pam Paulson, chairman of the Hanna Basin Museum said the unknown grave markers were being fixed and shined. Eventually, there will be a monument listing all the miners killed in the mine disaster of 1903 and 1908. The Hanna Basin Museum is searching for a new director.

Ann Cavert, Town Treasurer, presented the financials which the Council ratified.

Shawn Kelly, a candidate for Carbon County Sheriff, spoke next. Kelly is the current under-sheriff for Carbon County. He is a fourth generation Carbon County resident. He started at the penitentiary and worked there for eight years as a training coordinator.

Kelly said he would like the Sheriff Department to have a stronger presence in the county.

He has been involved with budgets and believes his experience will help him if he is elected sheriff.

Kelly said the northern Carbon County area was probably the most difficult to have staff. “There is an apartment style room in Medicine Bow we have for officers to stay in, when out here, but we have not had any candidates willing,” Kelly said. “We have to compete for law enforcement jobs all over the country and that makes things difficult. As the under-sheriff I see how difficult it is to get candidates here and also Baggs. What do you do? Try and try and try or you increase your staff to get people there.”

The Council approved the Resolution 2022-565 which updated Ordinance 355 Section 13.04, to reflect a 2.5 percent yearly water usage fee increase that will go into effect every July.

Calvert explained the annual increase was to raise the town’s water funds up from the current $85,000 for water projects to $250,000. Sikes said the $250,000 had been a goal set by previous Councils and the current Council was trying to hit the benchmark.

Resolution 2022-566 amended the budget for the year 2021 to 2022.

Resolution 2022-567 issued an open container waiver permit for the dates September 16 and October 20. The permits were granted to Parks and Recreation for the Sip-n-Paint parties.

The Council was interrupted by an emergency call for ambulance service. Fowler had to depart.  With her absence, there was no quorum, and the Council had to adjourn.

The next scheduled meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on September 13 at the Hanna Town Hall.