JANUARY 16, 2025|
Photo – Hanna Cemetery – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Hanna town council voted this week to spend the 2025 Wyoming Community Gas grant on a machine that lowers a casket safely into its final resting place in a grave.
Wyoming Community Gas is a not-for-profit natural gas supplier that offers participating municipalities grant opportunities. Every year, the gas supplier reinvests a portion of its profits into local communities to be used for improvement projects.
Rawlins, Saratoga, Sinclair, and Hanna all participate in the Wyoming Community Gas grant program.
At Tuesday night’s Hanna town council meeting, the governing body debated on how to use this year’s grant, which totals $4,311.54. Town Clerk Vivian Gonzales explained that Hanna participates in the program. Clerk Gonzales added that over the years, Hanna has received steadily increasing amounts of grant money from the gas supplier.
Clerk Gonzales said the town has used roughly $15,000 of Wyoming Community Gas grant funding over the years. While the money is always earmarked for a specific project, it hasn’t always been utilized for its intended purpose.
Clerk Gonzales reminded the council that they do not have to designate the entire $4,311 grant to a single project.
Newly elected Mayor Charlie George suggested using the money to either purchase a new casket lowering device for the town cemetery or for improvements to Energy Park, on the southwest side of town. The mayor said that Public Works Director Larry Korkow believes the current lowering device, which is nearing the end of its operational lifespan, may continue to be used after repairs.
Councilman Sam Sikes asked if the towns of Hanna, Elk Mountain, and Medicine Bow could split the cost of a casket lowering device. Councilman Sikes said the device wouldn’t see enough use in any single town to justify the expense.
Town Clerk Gonzales estimated the cost of a basic casket lowering device at $3,000.
The town clerk explained that the council could not postpone a decision on how to use the Wyoming Community Gas grant. However, Clerk Gonzales mentioned that, similar to the town’s new LED sign, the natural gas supplier will allow the funds to be reallocated to another project, provided the company is informed and credited for the purchase.
Councilwoman Ellen Freeman suggested using the grant money for improvements at Energy Park instead of a casket lowering device.
Mayor George directed Councilwoman Freeman to officially propose using the funds for that purpose, noting that the town can change the designation later if needed.
Councilman David Felix agreed that the play equipment at Energy Park needs to be upgraded.
Instead, Town Treasurer Ann Calvert suggested using the Wyoming Community Gas grant to purchase a new casket lowering device. The council agreed that the town did not want to become famous for its lowering device failing while placing a casket into the ground.
Treasurer Calvert’s reasoning was enough to persuade Councilman Felix to motion to use the $4,311 Wyoming Community Gas grant to purchase a new casket lowering device. The motion was seconded and passed.
