FEBRUARY 18, 2025|
Photo – Hanna Marshal’s Office – by Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
Last week, officials in Hanna discussed the possibility of hiring a full-time marshal.
During the February 11th Hanna town council meeting, Mayor Charlie George asked the council to consider appointing one full-time marshal to replace the town’s existing three part-time officers.
Councilman Sam Sikes asked Mayor George if the town’s budget can accommodate a full-time marshal. The mayor explained this was the purpose of the discussion.
Councilwoman Ellen Freeman said the governing body must determine the financial impact of a single full-time marshal when compared to three part-time officers. Mayor George explained that the town will need to retain one part-time deputy.
The town of Hanna lacked a dedicated in-town law enforcement officer for roughly a year and a half. The previous marshal, Ted Kranenberg left the Hanna Marshal’s Department to join the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2023.
The town began searching for a replacement to Marshal Kranenberg but was unable to settle on a qualified applicant. Hanna’s governing body blamed the lack of candidates on the town’s remote location and the job’s admittedly low wages by law enforcement standards.
The search for a new marshal came to an end last June when the town council swore in Memorial Hospital of Carbon County Emergency Department Manager Dan Starr as the part-time marshal.
Marshal Starr quickly selected former Medicine Bow Marshal and Hanna town council member Roger Hawks as his first part-time deputy.
Four months later, in October of last year, Marshal Starr brought Carbon County Sheriff’s Deputy Trent Wozniak on board as his second part-time deputy.
At the February 11th Hanna town council meeting, the governing body reminded residents that neither Marshal Starr nor Deputy Wozniak live in Hanna, which limits their ability to spend time patrolling the town. Additionally, all three officers have jobs outside the Hanna Marshal’s Department, restricting patrol duties to their off hours.
Councilwoman Freeman said that the governing body must determine if the budget can support a single full-time marshal, and the benefits associated with the position. Town Treasurer Ann Calvert offered to review the budget if the council chooses to pursue that option. However, Treasurer Calvert mentioned that due to budget overruns, the town is unlikely to be able to afford a full-time marshal position this fiscal year.
Treasurer Calvert said the cost of benefits for a full-time marshal can vary greatly, depending on the person’s age and physical condition. The treasurer said any numbers she presents to the council will be rough estimates at best.
Deputy Roger Hawks informed the council that grants can be used to supplement the proposed marshal’s salary. Treasurer Calvert explained that due to the novelty of reestablishing the Marshal’s Department and the reliance on part-time officers, she chose not to apply for a law enforcement salary grant last year.
A resident asked which of the three part-time officers would be chosen to serve as the full-time marshal. The council explained that they will need to advertise the position, meaning the best candidate will be hired, whether that person is one of the existing marshals or someone new.
Another resident pointed out that the town chose to employ part-time officers because it searched for a full-time marshal for a year and a half with no success. Deputy Hawks explained that law enforcement agencies across the country, including here in Carbon County, are having trouble recruiting new officers.
Treasurer Calvert said she will soon begin holding budget talks with department heads. Once the town knows how much tax revenue it will receive from the state, she will have a better idea of how much money will be available for a new marshal.
The council agreed that they would prefer to have a full-time marshal, but only if the town can find the money to pay for the position. The matter will be discussed again at a future Hanna town council meeting.
