A new Marshal takes oath

The Medicine Bow Town Council met on August 8, for their regularly scheduled meeting. Mayor Sharon Biamon called the meeting to order and those present were Councilmembers Lucy Schofield, Cynthia Chace, Sharon Kahl, and Dawndee Yocom. Others present were Town Clerk/Treasurer Karen R. Heath, Public Works Director Hayden Bricker, Town Marshal David Redding, Town Attorney Robert Piper, and Fire Chief Robert Maddox,

Mike Morris, a candidate for Carbon County Sheriff introduced himself and said he wasn't there to campaign. He just wanted to know what plan people wanted to move forward for all municipalities.  He said he would answer any questions. Biamon asked if he was still P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer Standard and Training) certified. Morris said he had to pass an examination and firearms proficiency test this year. He thanked the Council for their time, and the Council thanked him for coming.

Braeden Hyde, Sunrise Engineering, said the project was going well but with a few bumps in the road.  Robert Short, of Oftedal, informed the Council of the sub-grade prep work that had been done and said they were working on laying the gravel. Some of the polymer base coat had been laid on Oregon Street and West Cottonwood Street, but it had rained substantially after the polymer was applied, and it didn't get a chance to dry well. Chace asked if it could be pulled up and replaced.  Short said they were going to wait and see what happened over the next couple days. Schofield asked what was done with the dirt which had been removed from the streets. Hyde said they were going to put it back on the streets. Sunrise Engineering will finish laying gravel, grade the streets and put the base coat on street by street. It will then be sealed with the top coat all at once. They will try to apply it in the evenings and let it dry overnight.  Resident Frank Fisher asked if the finished grade on West Cottonwood was the final finish. Short said there was some drainage material present they had been asked not to remove.

Biamon said that there was a dip in the curve of Oregon Street and West Spruce Street. Short said they would work on that.

Marshal Dave Redding asked the mayor if he could proceed with the promotion of Deputy Marshal Roger Hawks next. Biamon administered the oath of office to Hawks, and his wife, April Hawks, pinned on his stars.

Ordinance 3-2022 Water Shut-off Procedure, first reading was tabled by Biamon who said the ordinance was not finished.

Resolution 2022-8 Water Rates was read in its entirety. The first 8,000 gallons of water would now cost $36.50, up from $31.50, with any part of a 1,000 gallons over will cost $2.00. The water reserve fee would also go up to $2.00 from $1.50. The resolution was approved.

Biamon said Piper had revised the Breach of Peace ordinance to comply with state statutes and make them more enforceable. The ordinance was approved.

Heath requested going to the Caselle training in Lander in November. It would cover all modules, updates and since it was not out of state, it would cost less. Schofield asked about the cost. Heath said it was $335.00. The training was approved.

Heath also presented a request to amend the budget to include the revenue from the water rates now that the resolution had passed and to allocate it to the equipment, supplies and maintenance budget line for the water fund. Biamon asked how much that would bring that line up. She said $7,150 would be added to bring the line to $7,713.00.  She also requested to amend the budget to include the revenue from the increased water reserve fee in the amount of $715.00 and allocate it to the water reserve account line.  A request was made to move the water reserve fees collected in the previous fiscal year to the water reserve savings account, in the amount of $2,725.13.  

Public Works Director, Bricker, said the bulk station was put together but they were waiting to get the SIM card to operate it. The street project was progressing and things would be a little rough for a while. Meter parts were still delayed and a liner was needed beneath the fuel tanks.  

Retiring Town Marshal, David Redding, reported there were 113 incidents to which the department responded to in July with 89 traffic stops and 65 citations issued. The total of citations written since he started in March 2020 was $353,392.00. Biamon thanked him for his service.  Redding thanked the mayor and council for their support and Heath for help with the finances. He also thanked his deputies, Hawks and Piper, for all their hard work under his leadership.Redding said it was a team effort to get the department up and running, and he said it was a pleasure working in Medicine Bow. Redding thanked everyone for their help and support. 

He was given a standing ovation by all.

"It will be a special memory I will have for the rest of my life," Redding said.

Medicine Bow Volunteer Fire Department Chief Maddox said there had been a couple fires this month and the public needs to clean up the tall brush around their house and buildings.  A lot of land in the town isn't being taken care of according to Bricker. The road project is hindering everyone and Maddox said better communications were needed between the contractors and the Town. It is a safety issue when roads were blocked.  Better traffic control is also needed.  A four-foot-high berm was blocking roads and a fire truck could not get through.  

Hyde said the berms should only be in the middle of the road and should only be two inches high, leaving a driving lane on both sides. Chief Maddox said the issue was making a turn on the cross street across the berm. Hyde said their contract was with the Town and they were communicating with PWD Bricker.  Maddox asked if PWD Bricker had been notified of where they were working and PWD Bricker said not lately. He would do a better job of getting plans to the Fire Department.

Alice Clark asked if the Fire Department would be having any more dinners and Frank Fisher said yes but not while the road work was going on.   

Medicine Bow Clinic is in the process of procuring an ultrasound machine and an X-ray machine which could take care of most people. A mental health counselor is coming a few days a week as well as a massage therapist. The clinic is still working on getting a dentist and the clinic is seeing four to eight people a day. Adam Barron was working on billing and Casey Federer was doing a great job in the office.  

Planning and Zoning Chairman, Trevor Strauch, said they have one building permit for a deck, and only received one reply for permits for small buildings.  One small town that replied said permits were not required for buildings 8 x 10 and smaller. Planning and Zoning is working with Piper to shorten the announcement times for special meetings to two days so they can have a quicker response to building permits.

Schofield said they had served 63 people since opening at the new Food Pantry located in the Community Hall. Trucks come the last Thursday of the month to deliver their order. Biamon noted vegetables and fruits ran out fast.

Resident Frank Fisher asked for a copy of the revised breach of peace procedures. Heath gave him a copy and said the previous breach of peace was in conflict with first amendment rights and some other items had been clarified. Quiet hours were set from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., with an exemption for industrial zones. Ed Standish asked if there was language in there with decibel limits. Piper said no, but it reads "a noise that is unreasonable such that it disturbs the quiet enjoyment of adjourning parcel owners."