February 19, 2024 |
Photo – Medicine Bow Marshal logo – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Medicine Bow town council voted to dissolve its marshal’s department in a special meeting on Thursday.
During the third and final special budget workshop on February 15th, Medicine Bow Councilwoman Crystal Mayfield motioned to shutter the town’s cash-strapped marshal’s office. Councilwoman Mayfield said the decision was made with careful consideration.
The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer. Mayor Justin George called for a vote and Councilman Trevor Strauch was the lone dissenting voice.
Following the vote, Mayor George said the council combed through the budget to find a way to keep the marshal’s department open. The mayor said mistakes made by past administrations put the current council in the difficult position to fire three respected town employees.
During Monday’s Medicine Bow town council meeting, Mayor George said instead of closing the agency, the town was going to consider reducing the marshal’s department from two full-time officers and a full-time clerk of court down to one full-time officer and a part-time clerk. The mayor said at that rate, the marshal’s department could stay open for a few more years.
At Thursday’s special budget workshop, Mayor George said in its current form, the marshal’s department is spending over $22,000 a month. The mayor said the council decided not to let the marshal deplete his budget. Instead, Mayor George said the money left in the marshal’s budget would be better spent on other aspects of town governance.
Mayor George said the numbers presented at Monday’s meeting were just estimates. The mayor said after Town Clerk and Treasurer Karen Heath analyzed the actual budget, the marshal’s department only had a little over $200,000 left in its account. Mayor George said at the rate the marshal’s department is spending money, its budget will be empty in less than a year.
Mayor George said the decision to close a public safety department is never taken lightly. The mayor said he’s spoken to residents who say they would rather fund a fire department than a marshal’s office because Medicine Bow went decades without a dedicated in-town law enforcement agency. The town wouldn’t be entirely without a police presence, however. The mayor said in the future, he will consider entering a Memorandum of Understanding with the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office to provide law enforcement coverage.
The decision was made to begin dissolving the Medicine Bow Marshal’s Office immediately. Mayor George said he is working with Town Attorney Cameron Smith to ensure the process is being carried out legally.
