Wednesday, OCTOBER 8, 2025 |
Photo – Hanna Marshal’s Office – Bigfoot99 file photo
Budget concerns delay the hiring of a third part-time member for the Hanna Marshal’s Department.
During the September 9th Hanna Town Council meeting, Deputy Marshal Roger Hawks announced that Trent Wozniak had left the department. Deputy Wozniak began working as a part-time Hanna Marshal’s deputy last October. However, it was announced at the June 24th Town Council meeting that Deputy Wozniak was relocating to Cheyenne after being offered a position in Colorado.
At the September 9th meeting, Deputy Hawks said he has a candidate in mind to replace Wozniak, should the governing body choose to move in that direction.
With Wozniak’s departure, the Hanna Marshal’s Department is down to two part-time officers, Marshal Dan Starr and Deputy Hawks.
After former Hanna Marshal Ted Kranenberg left to join the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2023, town officials had a difficult time finding a replacement. The governing body blamed the lack of qualified candidates on the town’s remote location and the job’s admittedly low wages. To attract more applicants, the town allowed the Marshal and his deputies to take their town-supplied vehicles home.
Back at the September 9th meeting, Town Clerk Vivian Gonzales informed Deputy Hawks that Wozniak’s former position must be publicly advertised before a replacement can be hired. Hawks acknowledged the requirement and added that the candidate understands he’s unlikely to be allowed to take his Marshal’s vehicle home.
Mayor Charlie George said Marshal Dan Starr believes he and Deputy Hawks can adequately patrol the Town of Hanna. Mayor George said he wants to hold off on hiring a third part-time marshal until he’s certain the town can afford the position.
Town Treasurer Ann Calvert said she has enough money in the current annual budget to cover the $22-per-hour wage for a third part-time marshal.
Deputy Roger Hawks said he believes employing three part-time Marshals is a more efficient use of Hanna’s limited finances than hiring a single full-time officer, at least until the town can secure federal grant funding.
Treasurer Calvert said in the past, the town used a Department of Justice grant to supplement wages at the Hanna Marshal’s Office. However, after Marshal Kranenberg quit, the town was unable to use the funding for its intended purpose and had to return the money to the government, which may make Hanna less likely to receive federal grants in the future.
The governing body said they were hopeful that the Trump Administration will release additional law enforcement grants. Until then, the town will wait to hire a new part-time Marshal.
