MARCH 5, 2025|
Photo – Hanna’s WWI Monument that is on CCSD#2 property – by Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services is closer to constructing a new ambulance garage in Hanna. However, residents demanded changes to ensure continued access to the town’s war memorial.
South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services, better known as SCWEMS, has been trying to build a stand-alone structure to house its fleet of ambulances on the northern end of Carbon County. Currently, the organization’s ambulances are stored in the Hanna Fire Station, which does not give the medical service enough room to properly maintain its vehicles.
Officials from Carbon County School District Number Two offered SCWEMS a parcel of land on property formally occupied by the Hanna Elementary School. Underground coal mine collapses beneath the site forced the district to demolish the existing structure and construct a new school two blocks to the north.
Several years ago, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality’s Abandoned Mine Lands Division conducted extensive grouting operations in the area, ensuring the site is now safe for construction.
Carbon County School District Number Two still owns the vacant property at the corner of 2nd and School Streets, where Hanna Elementary School once stood. The school board decided to deed a large parcel on the northern end of the land to SCWEMS for an ambulance barn.
Speaking at the Hanna Town Council meeting on February 11th, WLC Engineering Rawlins Office Project Manager Doug Boyd informed the governing body that the school district hired his firm to develop a plan for the remaining property. After inspecting the site, Boyd discovered that the plot of land was larger than District Two Superintendent Darrin Jennings had estimated.
Boyd asked the town to allow the school district to subdivide the remaining land into smaller parcels. Additionally, the WLC engineer stated the school intends to convey School Street to the town of Hanna. Boyd mentioned that a clerical error resulted in School District Two continuing to own the street, even though the town was maintaining it.
Hanna Basin Museum Board of Trustees President Pam Paulson asked if the subdivision would interfere with access to the World War One monument on the south end of the parcel. WLC Engineer Boyd said his plan was to leave a 50 by 65-foot area around the monument for the town to oversee.
Museum Board President Paulson said the museum has an existing agreement with the school district to maintain the monument. Paulson expressed her concern that the new subdivision will prevent access to the monument during special events.
WLC Engineer Boyd stated that the proposed street adjacent to the war memorial will be wide enough to allow vehicles to park on the side of the road without obstructing traffic. Boyd noted that before being finalized, the design is subject to change.
Town Attorney Patrick Brady said normally, the town would not be able to authorize School District Two’s subdivision request. However, town ordinances allow for exemptions if the property is used by a state entity. If the school district agrees to those terms, Attorney Brady said the project may move forward.
Attorney Brady explained that the term “governmental entities” applies to public companies, such as SCWEMS. The property may not be conveyed to a corporation or single person.
WLC Engineer Doug Boyd asked the council to approve the school district’s request at that time. With a signed agreement, the District Two School Board can make any changes requested by the town. Boyd said the school simply wants to allow SCWEMS, and other potential agencies, to develop the unused land.
Hanna Mayor Charlie George asked Boyd to add an additional 25 feet of parking around the World War One monument. The WLC engineer agreed to incorporate Mayor George’s suggestion into his proposal.
The Hanna town council voted to approve Carbon County School District Two’s request to subdivide the former elementary school land with the town’s request for increased parking around the war memorial.
With the town’s approval, SCWEMS has secured the land needed to build a new ambulance barn. The next step is funding.
