June 21, 2024 |
Photo – Natural Gas ad – Courtesy wyogas.com
The town of Medicine Bow has agreed to join the Wyoming Community Gas Joint Powers Board.
In April, citing lower prices, the Medicine Bow town council voted to switch natural gas suppliers from Black Hills Energy to Wyoming Community Gas.
According to its website, Wyoming Community Gas is a not-for-profit consortium of municipalities that provides natural gas service. Every year, the gas provider reinvests a portion of its revenue back into the enrolled communities, supporting projects that enhance the quality of life for residents.
During the June 10th Medicine Bow town council meeting, Public Works Director Brian Lashley said for a $200 fee, the town can join the Wyoming Community Gas Joint Powers Board. Lashley said joint powers board members receive roughly $3,500 a year back from the gas supplier to be used for community improvement projects.
Town Clerk Karen Heath said in the past, Wyoming Community Gas would inform the town that they had not been awarded any grant money. Clerk Heath said she was unaware that the town needed to sign up with the natural gas supplier to receive the grant money.
Medicine Bow will begin receiving its natural gas through Wyoming Community Gas starting in July. Clerk Heath said she is unhappy with the service their previous natural gas supplier, Black Hills Energy, was providing the town. Heath said Black Hills made it difficult to pay the town’s five monthly natural gas bills.
Mayor Justin George said he was provided with a document listing the other municipalities that make up the Wyoming Community Gas Joint Powers Board. Public Works Director Lashley said he didn’t know if the gas supplier provided Mayor George with a complete list of joint powers board members.
Here in Carbon County, Rawlins, Sinclair, Saratoga, and Hanna are all members of the Wyoming Community Gas Joint Powers Board.
Lashley said joining the Wyoming Community Gas Joint Powers Board will not change the price of natural gas. The public works director said being a member of the board will allow Medicine Bow to receive yearly grant payments from the gas supplier.
Town Clerk Heath added that Wyoming Community Gas provided a lower natural gas rate than any of the other suppliers the governing body considered during its April meeting.
Councilman Trevor Strauch motioned to join the Wyoming Community Gas Joint Powers Board for $200. Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer seconded and the motion carried.
