Tuesday, DECEMBER 16, 2025 |
Photo – Badge of former Medicine Bow Marshal – Bigfoot99 file photo
Medicine Bow officials are looking at new ways to enforce local ordinances.
In 2019, the Town of Medicine Bow used $1 million of impact assistance funding from nearby wind projects to establish a marshal’s department. Until that point, the town depended on the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office to respond to every law enforcement call.
However, the money began to run out as the department’s expenses ballooned, with additional deputies and what the current Town Council later described as wasteful spending of more than $22,000 a month. In early 2024, the governing body made the difficult decision to close the department, returning law enforcement to the sheriff’s office.
At a special budget workshop in February 2024, Mayor Justin George explained that the marshal’s department had a little over $200,000 left in its account. Mayor George said at its current rate of spending, the budget would be depleted in less than a year.
Mayor George said the money left in the marshal’s budget would be better allocated to other town offices, and the governing body voted to dissolve the department.
The closure of the Medicine Bow Marshal’s Office has left the town without anyone authorized to enforce local ordinances, such as animal control laws and property maintenance codes. The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office can only issue citations for violations of state statutes.
During the December 8th Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, an attendee asked if the town had any provisions against barking dogs. Mayor George explained that while Medicine Bow lacks a specific noise ordinance, it does have nuisance regulations. However, none of the town’s ordinances can be enforced by the county sheriff. The mayor said he and Town Attorney Cameron Smith are working with Municipal Judge Daniel Massey to develop ways to enforce local codes.
The same person attending the meeting asked if a group of concerned citizens could report code violations they witness to town hall. Mayor George said the governing body had considered a similar idea but found that the council can perform the same function. The mayor added that he and Municipal Judge Massey are exploring how to make that process work.
The problem, Mayor George said, is that local ordinances were either not enforced or enforced unevenly in the past. The mayor said before enforcement can begin the governing body must ensure the ordinances apply equally to all residents.
In the meantime, Mayor George encouraged the attendee to speak to their neighbor about the barking dog.
