NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES Monday, August 17, 2026
Mayor Tyrel Owens called this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Council members John Butts, Daren Downs, Chris Kenney, Ann McColley, Don Steveson, and Thomas Voss. Also, present were Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff, Engineer Steven Dietrich, Police Chief Derek Thompson, Attorney Dublin Hughes and Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mayor Owens amended the agenda to add Bruce Perkins under Citizens Business Verbal. Chris Kenney moved; Don Steveson seconded, to approve the agenda as amended. MOTION CARRIED.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Ann McColley moved; Don Steveson seconded, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday August 3, 2026. MOTION CARRIED.
NOMINATION FOR RECOGNITION: Arnold Reality for updates to their building and Sage Motel for outdoor flowers.
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: Jen Womack for her work on the Community Yard Sale, Newcastle Arts Council for promoting new businesses: Every When Art Gallery and Newcastle Martial Arts.
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS VERBAL:
• Bruce Perkins reported that rally numbers were down this year. Mr. Perkins also stated that he appreciated the enforcement that was provided by the Police Chief and Community Service Officer for recent bike traffic on the sidewalks.
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS IN WRITING:
• Mayor Owens read a letter submitted by Linda Hunt regarding the speed limit on S. Summit Ave. Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff referenced the speed study report which supported leaving the speed limit at 30 MPH. John Butts moved; Thomas Voss seconded to leave the speed limit as is. There was discussion regarding the residential neighborhood, mailboxes, the pathway project, speed enforcement, other streets and additional data. MOTION CARRIED.
OLD BUSINESS:
• Mayor Owens read Ordinance No. 6, Series 2026, the heading reads: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 11-1, ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION OF VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT; APPOINTMENT OF FIRE CHIEF; ELECTION AND TERM OF OTHER OFFICERS AND MEMBERS. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to pass Ordinance No. 6, Series 2026 on the second reading. MOTION CARRIED.
• Mayor Owens read Ordinance No. 7, Series 2026, the heading reads: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 11-5, MONTHLY REPORT; BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWCASTLE, WESTON COUNTY, WYOMING; SECTION 11.5 OF THE NEWCASTLE, WYOMING MUNICIPAL CODE BE AMENDED. Monthly Report. Ann McColley moved; John Butts seconded to pass Ordinance No. 7, Series 2026 on the second reading. MOTION CARRIED.
• Mayor Owens reported on the American Legal Publishing recodification workshop.
NEW BUSINESS:
• RCAC Community Coordinator, Vera Huber reported on the following: meetings and site visit with Liz and V, plan for Recharge Our Community Economy (ROCE), equipment setup, plan for recruitment and reporting. Ms. Huber will share the ROCE plan when it is available.
• Mayor Owens reported on the steering committee meeting for the Pocket Park, designs are being considered.
• Mayor Owens stated that there were numerous community volunteers that supported and protected the Moving Vietnam Wall making the event a great success.
• Mayor Owens referenced a letter supporting expiration of rare earth mining. Thomas Voss moved; John Butts seconded to signing and sending the letter. There was discussion regarding the importance of rare earth mining to the community. MOTION CARRIED.
COMMITTEE/COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS: None
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
• Engineer Steven Dietrich referenced his report, 10 new active residential construction projects and 4 new commercial projects; Total construction cost of $219,250 and $2,852 in permit fees were collected between August 3rd – 14th. He then reported that due to the Vietnam Wall the previous Planning and Zoning meeting had been rescheduled for September 10th. An inquiry was made about the address for the new optometric building; the assigned address is on Washington Blvd. because the building faces the boulevard. There was discussion about the renovation of Cap N Bottle along with possible updates and uses for Girl Scout Park.
• Police Chief Derek Thompson reported on calls of service between July 31st – August 14th, NPD 160 with 7 arrest, and 18 criminal citations, WCSO 147, UPD 60, NVFD 9, WCFP 5, UVFD 6, Newcastle Ambulance 28, Upton Ambulance 7, he provided a handout for the breakdown of NPD calls. He then reported that they are working on rehandling K9, Buster; training will begin September 14th in Gillette. There was nothing to report on the Combined Communications Dispatch Joint Powers Board.
• Attorney Dublin Hughes referenced updates to Chapter 27 – Urban Forestry for the Council’s review. He will bring the ordinance to the next meeting.
• Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty reported that all invoices have been paid for FY25/26, and all funds remained within budgeted amounts. She then reminded the Council that in observance of Labor Day the next meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 8th.
• Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff requested to open the W. Railroad Street project up to bid. Thomas Voss moved; Don Steveson seconded to approve this request. Schedule was discussed. MOTION CARRIED.. He then requested that Mayor Owens sign the Emergency Generator Project Engineering agreement with Morrison-Maierle. Chris Kenney moved; Thomas Voss seconded to approve this request. There was discussion about estimated cost of $800,000 and whether the generators would support the City’s system. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Stumpff inquired about sending out a chlorination letter that had been presented to the Council a couple months ago. Chlorination levels and grass were discussed. Consensus was to send the letter. He reported the 2025 Improvements project is at substantial completion. There was also discussion on the following: the need for ongoing chlorination, out of service fire hydrant on Latigo, vandalism at the Ice Association container and Centennial Park.
Councilman Kenney recused himself. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to pay the claims against the City dated August 17, 2026. MOTION CARRIED.
ADJOURNMENT: Ann McColley moved; Daren Downs seconded to adjourn the regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 8:20 p.m. Meeting adjourned
Claims: 21 Electric, services, $568.13; Ad-Pro, supplies, $41.19; American Solutions for Business, bill cards, $1,834.95; Axon Enterprises, taser certifications, $6,080.64; Black Hills Energy, services, $13,932.85; Blakeman, propane, $142.80; Cambria Supply, supplies, $631.92, Campbell Co. EMS, services, $19,018.00; CNA Surety, bond, $307.20; Contractor’s Supply, supplies, $13.00; Decker’s, supplies, $8.98; DLT Solutions, AutoCAD, $2,258.20; Eastern Wy. Equip., supplies, $2,903.99; Energy Labs, services, $228.00; Fisher, Jbase, $2,198.95; Gateway Travel, fuel, $8,312.13; Heartland Kubota, parts, $197.79; Hot Iron, 2025 Imp. Project, $337,076.33; Kings Plumbing, services, $480.00; Lab. Corp., testing, $32.80; LinkTech, PD IT, $1,345.00; Marchant Resources, services, $1,000.00; Marco, copier fees, $1,163.33; Mastercard, supplies, postage, fuel, $3,869.43; Midstate’s Equip., rental fee, $9,295.00; Minuteman, tires, $301.00; Newcastle Ace Hardware, supplies, $949.14; Newcastle Equipment, parts, $279.30; Newcastle Motors, Super Duty & F150 pickups, $81,390.00; NVFD, travel/training, $704.20; News Letter Journal, legals/ads, $2,299.50; Northwest Pipe, supplies, $9,058.87; One Call of Wy., services, $416.85; Powder River Energy, services, $1,133.08; Range, phone/internet, $1,308.56; Roaming Raven, refund, $304.40; Sagebrush Marketing, website fees, $200.00; Servall, services, $54.36; Short Stop, fuel, $1,137.67; Sundance Extinguisher, annual inspection, $2,347.00; Uline, supplies, $1,842.76, USA Bluebook, tools, $6,407.90; Vernon Manufacturing, parts, $1,545.00, Becky Vodopich, cleaning, $300.00; WC Health Services, testing, $108.00; WC Road & Bridge, FD fuel, $388.61; WC Treasurer, airport expenses, handling fee, $745.11; WC Solid Waste Dist., tipping fees, $13,173.30; Woody’s, supplies, $142.16; Wy. Machinery, parts, $7,476.09.
ATTEST:
Mayor Tyrel Owens
Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty
(Publish August 27, 2026)