Lockdowns and catering

Hanna council hears CCCOG catering, engineering updates, tourism info, school lockdowns and police equipment

The Hanna Town Council met at 6 p.m. on Sept. 11 at the Hanna Town Hall. Traci Fowler, council member, was absent. After saying the pledge of allegiance, Tony Poulos asked for a two minute silence for the victims of 9/11. Once the commemorative silence was over, it was business as usual. The agenda and minutes from the Aug. 14 meeting were quickly approved.

The Carbon County Council of Governments is coming to Hanna on Sept. 19. Dinner is served at these meetings and Lois Buchanan was selected to cater the event. Tony Poulos, mayor, said he wished more food places had been contacted.

Buchanan said she understood and if another service could be found, she was fine about turning the event over to them. Poulos said he was good about her catering the event, but the next time a similar event happened the procedure could have more steps.

It was noted Vet Chefs had been contacted before the job went to Buchanan, but there was no response.

Craig Kopasz, Engineering Associates, gave an update of the work being done on the pipes around town.

“All the lines on Main and Madison are done, Third street is paved and there is general cleanup that still needs to be done,” Kopasz said. “Elmo is being done and there were waivers given out and Fourth Street is getting done.”

He said a good thing was no lead pipes had been encountered as they continued to work on the lines. Kopasz said roto-millings were coming from Saratoga to help pave roads being worked on.

Jeff Neimark, Hanna Marshall, said the speed sign had been giving statistics that were encouraging as most residents were obeying the speed limit. He said he might move the speed sign closer to the high school in the near future.

Neimark said each patrol car now had Automated External Defibrillators (AED). There are also AEDs in the Hanna Town Hall and the Hanna Recreation Center.

Neimark reported there had been three lockdowns at the Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow High School since school had opened for the year.

“The good thing, the teachers and school knew what to do and did everything right,” Neimark said.

He said lockdowns have different statuses. There is a lockdown where all activity is stopped, doors are locked and everyone is quiet. Then, there is the “hold” status where everyone stays in the classroom but classes continue. Neimark said all three lockdowns were a hold status.

Neimark told the council Sharon Kahl, the dispatcher for the department, had taken a class on grant writing and he suggested the town utilize her.

Leslie Jefferson, Director of the Carbon County Visitors Council (CCVC), came before the council to give an update of tourism in Wyoming and Carbon County.

“Tourism is alive and well in Carbon County,” Jefferson said. “As a recap, Dean Runyan Associates compiled the Travel and Impact for the State of Wyoming.”

She said in 2017, Wyoming welcomed 8,700,000 overnight visitors who spent over $3.5 billion, generating $188 million in local and state taxes, supporting 45,690 jobs. Jefferson said in Carbon County, there were 761,000 overnight visitors who spent $170.6 million. These monies spent generated $9 million travel-generated taxes and supported jobs in Carbon County.

“This year Carbon County Visitors’ Council has made great strides in promoting Carbon County as a tourism destination all with the use of the 2 percent Local Lodging Tax,” Jefferson said. “The Carbon County Lodging Tax is a 2 percent sales tax that is paid for by guests using overnight lodging facilities within our county.”

Jefferson said the CCVC produced a new visitor guide that is not only smaller and less expensive to mail out to potential visitors, it is also useful for residents of Carbon County because it provides area attractions, restaurants and sample itineraries. She handed the guide out to each member of the council.

She next showed the Carbon County Recreation and Trail map, a project she said the council had been working on for the past year. The map costs $5. The map can be downloaded for free online at wyomingcarboncounty.com and on the phone app Avenza. The map is water resistant. Jefferson said she would leave several maps for the Hanna Town Hall to sell.

“Carbon County continues to support local organizations and events and as of the fiscal year end of June 30, 2018 the council has awarded 54 marketing and sponsorship grants totaling $151,000,” Jefferson said. “Please remember, the 2 percent Local Lodging Tax is a tax that Carbon County residents do not typically pay, but reap benefits from– and the tax will be on the Nov. 6 ballot.”

Garreth McDonald, representative of BluEarth, came before the council to tell of two new wind projects coming to Carbon and Albany Counties between the town of Rock River and Medicine Bow.

The Two Rivers Wind Energy project is looking to have 280 megawatts of generation capacity and this could mean up to 80 turbines, depending on what model was used. McDonald said Two Rivers was looking at construction during 2019-2020 and the estimated cost would be $364 million. Estimated local and state sales taxes were estimated at $15 million. He projected 169 jobs for construction and 10 jobs for operations and maintenance.

The Lucky Star Wind Energy project will have up to 500 megawatts that would likely mean up to 200 wind turbines. The construction time will be 2020-2022. The estimated cost is $650 million. The local and state taxes generated are expected to be $27 million. The estimated construction jobs is 249 and 14 jobs in operations and maintenance.

Pam Paulson, museum board member, told the town the monument dedicated after World War I was having research done on whether it should be under the auspices of the Wyoming historical society or other town boards.

The monument had been vandalized a few years before and is slated to be fixed, but due to its historical nature the job has to be carefully done.

The financials were approved by all members.

Resolution 2018-491 was approved. The resolution amends the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year Budget.

The next scheduled meeting is at 6 p.m. on Oct. 9 at the Hanna Town Hall.

 

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