Amending budgets

The Medicine Bow Town Council held their regularly monthly scheduled meeting on April 11 at the Medicine Bow Community Hall.

Mayor Sharon Biamon was present along with council members Cindy Chace, Sharon Kahl and Dawndee Yocum. Councilmember Lucy Schofield was absent.

The council listened to Town Clerk/Treasurer Karen Heath review the financials. The total to pay out was $151,884.65, which the council approved.

The meeting went into a public hearing at 7:12 p.m. for a resolution amending the 2021-2022 fiscal year budget for the town.

“We have to amend the budget because some of the line items in that budget were over,” Heath answered when asked why the budget had to be amended. “The good news is some of them were revenue lines, the bad news is some of them were not.”

“At the end of the year everything has to jive,” Biamon said. “So we have to have amendments to do that.”

“Does that mean we are going to have to cut budgets in departments?” Frank Fisher with the Medicine Bow Fire Department asked.

Biamon joked when she told him not to spend any more.

“Your department is way over,” Biamon laughed.

“We are way under in my eyes,” Maddox said. “But we will agree to disagree.”

Heath said two industrial projects which had been expected to begin had not started and monies anticipated had not been received.

Fisher joked again that all departments in the black should donate to the fire department.

The public hearing closed and the regular scheduled meeting went back into session at 7:25 p.m.

Biamon asked for a motion to approve Resolution 2022-4 which amended the 2021-2022 fiscal year budget. She received a motion and a second. There was no discussion and the resolution was approved. 

Medicine Bow’s Carbon County Visitor Council representative, Mike Armstrong, requested the council approve Alex Gruenhagen for the open member at large seat on the board.

He explained the seat had been open for 15 years and every municipality represented on the board needed to approve the candidate. Armstrong answered questions about Gruenhagen’s background. The council approved the candidate.

Lorretta Hansen and Dawnette Spaulding with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Victim/Witness Program were at the meeting to have the town read a proclamation for the National Crime Victims Rights Week. (see “National Crime Victims Rights Week proclaimed” on page 5 of the April 21 Saratoga Sun).

Hansen went over the program and its merit. Carbon County Sheriff Archie Roybal was in attendance and reinforced how important the role of the program was to the department. After Hansen’s presentation, Biamon read a proclamation of support from the Town of Medicine Bow for the program.

The first reading of Ordinance 1-2022 B for fiscal appropriations for the town was approved. 

Next, Biamon read a proclamation recognizing April as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention month.

The council approved paying $363,648.40 to pay off all the town’s equipment for the public works department.

Town attorney Robert Pipher told the council insurance could no longer be attained for private residents to rent equipment from public works. Pipher said he looked into having residents sign a liability waiver, but his research found no waiver would be effective.

The council approved stopping the practice of renting out town equipment.

Heath recommended the bulk water rate be raised from $8.50 to $10 per 1,000 gallons for individuals and $10 to $12 per 1,000 gallons for commercial use.

Troy Maddox questioned if the town had enough water and what the actual cost was to produce 1,000 gallons. The council decided more research was needed and the item was tabled.

All board and director reports were approved.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be at 7 p.m. on May 9 at the Medicine Bow Community Hall.