July 13, 2023 |
Photo – Hanna Marshal patrol vehicle – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Town of Hanna is still without a marshal. The council blames the low salary for the lack of applicants.
U.S. Marshal Ted Kranenberg resigned his position and joined the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office. Despite advertising online and in local newspapers, the town still lacks a marshal.
During Tuesday night’s Hanna town council meeting, Councilman Sam Sikes asked for an update on the search for a new marshal. Town Clerk Vivian Gonzales said the position has been advertised extensively, but no one has applied.
Councilman Sikes said the scarcity of marshal applicants could be attributed to the position’s wages. He said Saratoga compensates their law enforcement officers much more. Town Treasurer Ann Calvert said Saratoga can afford to pay more because the town has a larger revenue stream. Councilman Sikes said increasing the marshal’s salary might encourage more people to apply.
Mayor Jon Ostling said the Hanna marshal would be paid somewhere between $50,000 and $55,000 a year, equating to around $25 an hour. Councilman Roger Hawks said the salary was similar to what the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office offers for new recruits. Councilman Hawks, who is also the marshal for Medicine Bow, said nearby cities are drawing qualified candidates away from the small town by offering more money. Hawks said Hanna isn’t unique in its search for applicants.
Councilman Hawks said the Wyoming Highway Patrol is also low on new recruits despite offering a decent starting salary. He said Hanna simply cannot provide a wage comparable with the state agency.
In the meantime, the Sheriff’s Office has offered to provide law enforcement to the town until a new marshal can be found. During the July 5th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Sheriff Alex Bakken said he would attend the next Hanna town council meeting to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding.
Speaking at the commissioners meeting, Sheriff Bakken said he can provide a resident deputy for the town beginning in August.
The latest information on the MOU was that the sheriff’s office would have a deputy patrol the town for 60 hours a month in exchange for a $55,000 yearly fee: approximately equaling what the town would pay its marshal.
At the July 5th Carbon County Commissioners, Chairwoman Sue Jones said she approves of having the town pay for the sheriff’s services. Chairwoman Jones said towns contracting with the sheriff’s office is a less expensive alternative than having their own law enforcement agencies.
Sheriff Bakken did not attend Tuesday night’s Hanna town council meeting. The sheriff did not immediately return calls seeking comment. During this week’s council meeting, Mayor Ostling said due to scheduling conflicts, he was unable to speak to Sheriff Bakken until Tuesday morning.
The mayor said County Attorney Ashley Davis was reviewing the sheriff’s proposed MOU. Mayor Ostling said the town should receive a copy within a few days. Afterward, Town Attorney Patrick Brady, of Sundahl, Powers, Kapp & Martin, L.L.C. in Cheyenne, would ensure the MOU met the town’s needs.
Attorney Brady said what he’s seen of the MOU with the sheriff’s office appears to be the best option for the town. The attorney said the contract can be ended once a marshal is hired.
Councilman Hawks said he thought the MOU, as it was written, is the best option for the town. Mayor Ostling disagreed. The mayor explained to the council that the contract states that when a deputy responds to a non-emergency call in Hanna, the time is deducted from the town’s promised 60 hours of sheriff’s coverage.
Attorney Brady said the MOU allows the town to request the deputy’s presence for a special event with a week’s notice. The council said they could use the special event clause to have the deputy come to town to perform non-emergency duties, such as vin checks.
Councilman Hawks said the MOU should state that the deputy’s patrol time is paused if they must leave town for an emergency call. He said the software system used by the county’s law enforcement agencies, called Spillman, would allow the deputy to accurately track their hours.
The council is waiting to receive the latest version of the contract from the county attorney’s office. The matter will be revisited during the next Hanna town council meeting.
