05.14.20 City Council Minutes

NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL

MEETING HELD VIA 

TELECONFERENCE (ZOOM)

MINUTES

MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020

Mayor Debra Piana called this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council to order at 7:00 p.m.  Those present were Mayor Piana; Council members Tom Voss, Pam Gualtieri, Ann McColley, Roger Hespe, Michael Alexander, and Don Steveson.  Also present were Department Heads City Police chief Jim Owens, City Engineer Mike Moore, City Attorney Jim Peck and City Clerk/Treasurer Greg James. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:  Ann McColley moved, seconded Roger Hespe to approve the agenda for Monday, May 4, 2020 as presented.  Motion carried.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  Roger Hespe moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday April 20, 2020 as presented.  Motion carried.

NOMINATIONS FOR RECOGNITION:

Kristen Kohlbrand and Gilbert Nelson for their efforts to keep the public informed during this COVID 19 pandemic.

CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION:

Mailed to 21 Electric for their new shop and office and for removing the old block building.

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—IN WRITING:

Request for summer sewer averaging from Weston County Museum District Anna Miller Museum.  Roger Hespe moved, seconded Michael Alexander to approve this request.  Motion carried.

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—VERBAL: None

BID OPENING: as advertised at 7:15 p.m. for concrete crushing and grinding. Three bids were received, all three were identified as resident bidders and all three had bid bonds included.  

Melguard Construction, bid $94,500.00

Dan Hart Patrol Service, bid $96,500.00

Timberline Services, Inc., bid $89,326.00

After review, City Engineer Mike Moore recommended awarding the bid to Timberline Service, Inc. in the amount bid.  Don Steveson moved, seconded Roger Hespe to award the bid as recommended. Motion carried.

MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORTS: None

DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:

City Attorney Jim Peck reported on continued efforts to negotiate for an easement into the orange water tank. He also noted notices have been sent to the apparent heirs of the trailer parked on City property on Axe Court.

City Clerk/Treasurer Greg James asked to set the budget workshop meeting.  Date and time set were Monday, May 11, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council room. 

City Engineer Mike Moore reported the landfill closure for Landfill #2 is moving forward, planning to use a clay cap as recommended by the engineering analysis from Inberg-Miller.

City Police Chief Jim Owens noted the calls for service for April were 246 and the security audit passed with no faults or deficiencies.  Chief Owens asked to surplus the 2008 Crown Victoria police car.  Don Steveson moved, seconded Pam Gualtieri to approve this request.  Chief Owens then suggested donating the vehicle to Niobrara County as they are in need of a vehicle and this one is still serviceable, but the extra components are outdated and of no use to our department.  Consensus was to give this vehicle to Niobrara County for their use.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Mayor Piana noted the consensus of the Personnel Committee who met to discuss a proposed bonus for the police officers and dispatchers for the COVID19.  The recommendation was to give them 40 hours of pay.  Pam Gualtieri moved, seconded Ann McColley to grant this request.  Motion carried.  This will be a separate check.

Don Steveson reported on the community committee that met to discuss more re-opening of the businesses in the town.  A variance had been sent requesting this but no action taken yet.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS: None

CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Ann McColley moved, seconded Pam Gualtieri to pay the claims against the City dated May 4, 2020.  Motion carried.  Don Steveson moved, seconded Pam Gualtieri to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 7:36 p.m.  Meeting adjourned.

Claims: American Business Software, website design, $263.73; American Solutions for Business, voucher checks, $432.32; Kevin Armbruster, water deposit refund, $79.68; Black Hills Energy, electric service, $2567.63; Bomgaar’s Supply, supplies/materials, $1908.21; Century Link, E-911 service, $942.51; City of Newcastle, WA/SW/GA services, $502.96; Joe & Lila D’Orio, water deposit refund, $33.53; Derek’s Field Service, landfill machinery repair, $636.00; Dry Beaver, Inc., power for lagoon discharge, $588.23; R. Douglas Dumbrill, May 2020 municipal judge. $1076.30; Farnsworth Services, portable sanitation, $250.00; Fisher Sand & Gravel, base course, $1159.57; Tabitha Foote, reimburse CDL, $80.00; Front Range Fire Apparatus, truck parts, $582.20; Betty Henderson, water deposit refund, $135.94; Betty Jensen, sew patches, FD, $7.50; Mastercard, fuel purchases & supplies, $2294.55; Modern Marketing, hand sanitizer, PD, $1527.88; Newcastle Ambulance Service, May 2020 ambulance, $8333.33; James. M. Peck, May 2020 attorney fee, $2800.00; Regional Health, PD medical, $139.00; Genell Rothleutner, PD cleaning, $200.00; RT Communications, Inc., phone service, $782.67; Salt Creek Water District, sewer charge, $555.00; Zan Sine, water deposit refund, $66.73; Mary & Shawn Steward, water deposit refund, $59.52; Bryand Streeter, May 2020 airport wages, $1158.75; Top Office Products, Inc., PD copy charge, $119.59; Trugreen-Chemlawn, FD yard fertilizer, $119.00; Two-Way Radio Service, Inc., radio chargers, $157.50; Uber Geek Computers, printer ink, $210.90; Verizon, cell phones, $543.81; Becky Vodopich, City office cleaning, $300.00; Weston County Health Services, DOT testing, $146.00; Weston County Treasurer, Heat/lights/phone & airport expenses, $1678.69; Karen Zerbst, water deposit refund, $93.22. 

Deb Piana, Mayor

ATTEST: City Clerk/Treasurer, Greg James

(Publish May 14, 2020)