NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES Monday, December 1, 2025
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: Daren Downs moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chris Kenney moved; Don Steveson seconded, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday, November 17, 2025. MOTION CARRIED.
NOMINATION FOR RECOGNITION: None
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: Newcastle Area Chamber of Commerce.
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS VERBAL: None
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS IN WRITING: Mayor Owens read a letter and resolution from First Northern Bank of Wyoming requesting to be recognized as a depository of public funds. Daren Downs moved; Thomas Voss seconded to approve this request. There was discussion regarding signatures. MOTION CARRIED.
OLD BUSINESS: None
NEW BUSINESS: None
COMMITTEE/COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS:
• Personnel Committee met to discuss the RCAC Community Coordinator position and provide a draft of the advertisement. Don Steveson moved; Chris Kenney seconded to advertise for the
Community Coordinator position. Wage was
discussed. MOTION CARRIED. The Committee had also discussed the Building Inspector
position.
• Streets Committee met to discuss chip and spray equipment, a roller is available in Denver, CO for $74,000. John Butts moved; Thomas Voss
seconded to allow someone to go to Denver to look at the roller. MOTION CARRIED. The Committee also discussed the South Summit retaining wall, they had concluded that the expense would be too great for the City and the property owners should be responsible for repairs. After further discussion was had, letters will be sent to the property owners requesting a meeting with the Streets Committee.
• Mayor Owens gave an update on American
Legal Publishing recodification; the application has been completed, and the current code will be sent to them.
• Mayor Owens stated that the WAM (Wyoming Association of Municipalities) conference will be
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held February 11th - 13th and encouraged others to attend.
• Mayor Owens reported on a meeting with the Wy. Business Council and Harvard Growth Lab. They had discussed pros and cons of Newcastle along with possible uses of coal and rare earth elements.
• Mayor Owens referenced a letter drafted by Beth Blackwell to the Legislature on behalf of the Town of Upton and City of Newcastle
regarding Rare Earth Elements and requesting support. John Butts moved; Thomas Voss seconded to have Mayor Owens sign the letter. Discussion was had about how this endeavor would help both communities and Weston County. MOTION CARRIED.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
• Police Chief Derek Thompson reported on calls of service from November 17, 2025; NPD 111, WCSO 100, UPD 95, NVFD 8, WCFP 22, UVFD 0, Newcastle Ambulance 20, Upton Ambulance 2, he provided a handout for the breakdown of NPD calls. He then reported on the following:
background checks for candidate Norris were almost complete, with hopes that he will start
employment soon; the department will begin using the Virtual Crisis Care program through WASCOP.
• Attorney Dublin Hughes reminded the Council that Hughes Law also represents the Town of
Upton and that there is the possibility of conflict when working with the Town of Upton on projects such as the Rare Earth Elements.
• Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty confirmed that Council members had received emails previously sent out containing minutes for the Mondell Airport, Children’s Center and the letter regarding interest rates from First Northern Bank.
• Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff requested approval to sign the final acceptance on the Highway 16 pathway design project. Chris Kenney moved; Thomas Voss seconded to approve this request. There was clarification on Highway 16. MOTION CARRIED. He then requested a Parks Committee meeting to discuss the pathway and the Backyard Park. He reported on the following: WWDO will be hosting a public hearing at 9:45 a.m. on December 10, 2025, at the WC Library for the Tank #2 rehab project; one (1) dilapidated
building had been taken to Landfill #2 at no charge, he hoped that this would help fill the hole at Landfill #2 and encourage the demolition of other dilapidated buildings. Ann McColley moved; Chris Kenney seconded to advertise the free disposal of dilapidated buildings at Landfill #2. Discussion was had regarding the number of buildings that would be allowed. MOTION CARRIED. Supervisor Stumpff requested to hire David Godoy for $18.00/hr. with one-year probation effective December 2, 2025. Thomas Voss moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve this request.
MOTION CARRIED.
• Engineer Steven Dietrich referenced his report on residential construction projects consisting of a basement, window replacements, and a house addition and remodel; commercial projects consisted of one (1) building demolition and the Dollar General construction; $1,498.95 had been collected in permit fees with construction cost of $126,632. He also reported that the notice to proceed for the Dow Park restroom project had been received on November 25th.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Thomas Voss
moved; Don Steveson seconded to pay the claims against the City dated December 1, 2025. MOTION CARRIED.
ADJOURNMENT: Daren Downs moved; Chris
Kenney seconded to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 8:07 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
Claims: 21 Electric, services, $336.56; Ameri-Tech, parts, $2,349.38; AT&T, PD phones, $352.88; Black Hills Energy, services, $1,379.74; Bomgaars, supplies, $1,942.34; Buffalo Creek Graphics, logo, $133.50; John or Cindy Burrell, deposit refund, $195.72; Campbell Co. EMS, services, $9,056.25; City of Newcastle, wa/sw/ga, $627.51; Craig’s Sales, parts, $131.50; Croell, concrete, $521.00; Crook County Family Violence, 2nd qtr. distribution, $1,250.00; Donald Ballard, deposit refund, $67.13; Douglas Dumbrill, municipal judge/mileage, $1,091.00; Energy Labs, analysis, $63.00; Engineering Assoc., services, $1,825.00; Environmental Products, parts, $925.68; Farnsworth Services, portable sanitation, $200.00; First Northern Bank, leases/water bond, $53,472.80; Fisher, gravel, $556.60; Hometown Medical, pre-employment, $150.00; Hughes Law, attorney fees, $4,500.00; Channing Lutz, deposit refund, $43.01; Marco, PD copier, $191.92; Mastercard, supplies/travel/training, $2,235.59; Municipal Emergency Services, supplies, $69.19; Newcastle Chamber, 2nd qtr. distribution, $2,500.00; NVFD, supplies, $1,263.96; Northwest Pipe, supplies, $1,138.42; One Call of Wy., services, $168.00; Salt Creek Vet., services, $147.15; Bryand Streeter, airport wages, $1,333.33; Lucky Teigen-Grummons, FD cleaning, $300.00; Turbiville Industrial, repairs, $4,294.43; Verizon, PW cellphones, $906.44; Becky Vodopich, cleaning, $300.00; WC. Children’s Center, 2nd qtr. distribution, $2,250.00; WC Treasurer, taxes/airport expenses, $5,402.52; WC Humane Society, 2nd qtr. distribution, $5,000.00; WC Senior Services, 2nd qtr. distribution, $7,500.00; Travis Witcher, deposit refund, $12.24; Wyoming Home Services, 2nd qtr. distribution, $2,000.00; Wy. Office of State Lands, DW218 interest, $27,033.66.
ATTEST:
Mayor Tyrel Owens
Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty
(Publish December 11, 2025)