Delinquent accounts in hot water

Delinquent water accounts were the hot topic for Hanna Town Council at their first meeting of 2021.

While the outstanding amounts owed to the Town of Hanna has drastically reduced since last February, the governing body is moving forward with trying to collect the remaining amount owed to the Town.

Also, during the January 12 meeting, the council discussed the ongoing steps for the landfill closure process and received year-end reports from the Department of Public Works and the Hanna Volunteer Fire Department.

Delinquent Accounts

The topic that generated the most conversation of the evening was the discussion of the delinquent water accounts.

"At one point these accounts were $108,000 in arrears," Mayor Lois Buchanan said. 

Ann Calvert, town treasurer, said the figure was now close to $69,000. She added there were four accounts in major default.

Councilmember Sam Sikes asked if all legal avenues had been followed to get the water turned off and Calvert said the town had done so.

Public Works Director Larry Korkow said turning off the water in winter could endanger the meter pits and possibly the pipes. 

"It should have been done when it was warm, but meters are inside and the COVID prevented us from safely going into houses," Korkow said.

Calvert backed up Korkow about COVID stopping workers from going into houses. 

"The attorney for the Town told us it was not a good time to be entering homes," Calvert said. "That is why we didn't turn off the water. It is not anybody's fault."

Buchanan said since the town started working on the deliquent accounts in February 2020, there has been success in getting some paid off.

Sikes said he was frustrated enough to turn off the water now.

"These people that haven't paid for years makes it hard to justify to the residents that pay," Sikes said. 

Calvert said the Town is willing to work with them, but the high delinquent accounts have stopped communication.

Hanna Marshal Jeff Neimark said when public works goes out to deliver the shut off notice, law enforcement should be there to emphasize the importance of paying these bills.

Buchanan said Neimark's suggestion was constructive and agreed law enforcement should be involved.

The council approved April 1 as the date for the delinquent accounts to either pay or talk to the town about a payment arrangement. In the motion, the Hanna Marshal's office would help serve the paperwork.

Water Usage

The Hanna Water Treatment plant was operating well, according to Korkow.

"We used 3.9 million gallons of water this last month and, for the year, we used 69 million gallons which is consistent since the pipes got fixed," Korkow said. "Before they got fixed, we were going through 110 million gallons a year."

Talking Trash

Buchanan reported the High Country Joint Powers Board (HCJPB) said the board was still meeting monthly, although in the future, the meetings will be quarterly. She said bids are still being taken for the monitoring of the landfill and said final payouts had been made to construction companies. HCJPB is waiting for the Town of Hanna to complete their survey of land acquired for the closure. 

"It is going to cost the town approximately $10,000," Buchanan said. "The survey will take several months because once they survey, it goes to the Carbon County Planning and Zoning and then the Carbon County Commissioners.

Korkow said some residents are leaving trash by the dumpsters instead of taking it to the landfill. Signs are posted informing the landfill is open for large items on certain days.

Ordinance 389 was approved in its final third reading. The ordinance, amending section 8.04 of the Town of Hanna Municipal Code, establishes the Town of Hanna as responsible for the municipal waste, to increase the fees for business garbage rates and accessibility of dumpsters. It also establishes fees for the Hanna Municipal Waste Station.

A Mutual Aid Agreement for Refuse Operations between the towns of Medicine Bow, Elk Mountain and Hanna was also approved. The agreement allows the towns to help each other in case of refuse equipment breaking down.

Fire Department

Fire Chief Mark Kostovny said, for 2020, the fire department answered 80 calls; 31 fire calls, 31 extercation calls, one search and rescue and 17 medical calls that assisted the ambulances. Kostovny said volunteers had put in about 1200 hours of call time, 400 hours of in-house training and 100 hours of out-of-town training.

"It is a lot of hours for people to be giving up of their own time," Kostovny said. "They deserve a lot of credit."

Other Reports

Neimark said the year has started off quiet and not a lot to report. He said Buchanan had requested information on the grants the department had done in recent times.

"We are just shy of $300,000, which does include donation funding," Neimark said. "Sharon (Kahl) has done a great job getting the different grants ready and submitting them. We are going to continue to seek them out."

Buchanan said the pool at the Hanna Recreation Center might need to be replaced. 

South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services (SCWEMS) Director Melissa Sikes said the service has been extremely busy.

The Hanna Housing Board representatives said that a worker was needed to clear the sidewalks. A truck that has obstructed snow removal will be dealt with at an upcoming meeting.

The Hanna Basin Museum board needs to get a picture of the footbridge that Union Pacific owns before they can donate it. An aerial photograph needs to be included. Val Black has been added to the board. The World War I monument that was damaged some years back, has found a firm to repair it.

Sikes said another person was needed at the Hanna Recreation Center to help the current director, Vivian Gonzeles. After some discussion, the council approved a workshop for January 19 to come up with a job description for the position.

Korkow said the winter has not had as much snow as years before which he is grateful from a standpoint of keeping streets clear.

"We still have residents leaving cars on the streets we have to go around," Korkow said. "If we get a big storm, it will be a consideration on keeping the streets open."

New Council

Council members Jason Nordquist and Bill Dys, who have replaced Bob Patton and Linda Schisel, were sworn in and took their seats on the council. After Buchanan had the two members take their oaths, Schisel, who was on the telephone, wished the new councilmen good luck and thanked the town for opportunity to serve as council member.

Sykes was appointed Mayor Pro-Tem after the two new councilmembers took their seats.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on February 9 at the Hanna Town Hall.