NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES Monday, December 15, 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; Chris Kenney seconded to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chris Kenney moved; Ann McColley seconded, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday, December 1, 2025. MOTION CARRIED.

SWEARING IN: Mayor Owens swore in Police Officer Bryan Norris.

NOMINATION FOR RECOGNITION: City Crew for Christmas lights, Pinnacle Bank for Festival of Trees, and Sara Whipple with the children’s choir for caroling on Main Street and singing the national anthem at the Rush game.  

CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: None

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS VERBAL: 

• Bruce Perkins with the WC Travel Commission was present to discuss recommendations made by the Wyoming Office of Tourism and asked for support in promoting Newcastle. 

• Jenny Mosley and Deb Piana were present to discuss dogs being held at the WC Humane Society on behalf of the Police Department for pending court cases. 

• Scott McGuire and Jeremy Slaamot were present to thank the Council for their support and update them on the Newcastle Ice Association. They also requested sweeping of the area and light outages to be looked at. 

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS IN WRITING: Approval of the annual Plumbing and Electrical Licenses for 2026. Ann McColley moved, seconded Daren Downs to approve the Plumbing Licenses and Electrical Licenses as presented. There was discussion regarding local companies not listed and the pronunciation of Tessiers Inc.; letters had been sent to previous license holders but those listed were the applications that had been returned. MOTION CARRIED. All fees have been paid, and proof of insurance and bonds have been provided; licenses are as follows:

Plumbing Contractors: 21 Electric, Andersen Plumbing & Contracting, Apex Mechanical, Plooster Water d/b/a Culligan, King’s Plumbing, Powder River Heating & Air Conditioning, Summit Plumbing & Heating, Wilson Plumbing. 

Limited Plumbing Contractors: Anderson Heating, Always There Heating & Cooling LLC, Black Cat Construction, Climate Solutions Inc., Comfort Systems Heating and Air Conditioning, API HVAC Service Inc. d/b/a Tessiers Mechanical Contractors, Black Hills Gas Holdings LLC.

Electrical Contractors: 21 Electric, Apex Mechanical, Daryl’s Electric, Homestead Works Electrical, Howard White Construction, ProElectric Inc., LoenBro Inc.

OLD BUSINESS: None

NEW BUSINESS: None

COMMITTEE/COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS: 

• The Parks Committee had met to discuss the fence at Back Yard Park, a quote of $25,000 had been received for a 6-foot fence and they are waiting on an estimate for a 4-foot fence. They had also discussed the Hwy 16 pathway project with the engineers estimated project cost doubling because of additional requirements. The committee recommended shelfing the project and using the funds for a pathway along S. Summit Ave. Chris Kenney moved; John Butts seconded to shelve the port of entry to Morrissey Road pathway project for a future date. Discussion was had regarding parking and the increased expense. MOTION CARRIED. John Butts moved; Chris Kenney seconded to move forward with the S. Summit/Old Hwy. 85 pathway project. Discussion was had regarding stipulations, expense and updated infrastructure. MOTION CARRIED.   

• Water/Sewer Committee had met to discuss the following: rate increases, rate study discrepancy, decreased funding, changes to chapter 26, utility deposits with rental properties, repair cost, and project reports. 

• Mayor Owens referenced a “penny tax” and requested to submit an application to the County Commissioners to add the “penny tax” on the next ballot. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve joining with the Town of Upton to submit the application to the County Commissioners.  Discussion was had regarding what this tax would be used for. MOTION CARRIED.

• Mayor Owens reported that he had discussed the possibility of a “wood bank” with a local business owner. The program would provide wood to heat homes for those in need.

• Mayor Owens reported that he had completed the certification letters for RCAC and that the Community Coordinator ad had ran in the newspaper.  

(Continued on Page B5)

DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:

• Engineer Steven Dietrich referenced his report on residential construction projects consisting of a house addition and remodel; commercial projects consisted of one (1) new building, the Dollar General; there were no construction cost or permit fees collected. Inquiry was made about the Building Inspector positions; the position has not been advertised. 

• Police Chief Derek Thompson reported on calls of service from December 1, 2025; NPD 157 with 5 arrests and 6 criminal citations, WCSO 82, UPD 96, NVFD 6, WCFP 2, UVFD 3, Newcastle Ambulance 17, Upton Ambulance 5, he provided a handout for the breakdown of NPD calls. He then reported on the following: he had gone to Gillette with Mayor Owens and visited with the Police Chief, Lieutenant and City Administrator of Gillette about ordinance enforcement; NPD had participated in the Shop with a Cop event; he will begin sending out his report the Friday prior to Council meetings. Chief Thompson requested a Police Committee meeting; meeting is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. on December 29th. 

• Attorney Dublin Hughes referenced website ADA compliance requirements for April 2027. Clerk/Treasurer Haggerty referred to an estimate from Sagebrush Marketing and an email from Bob Bonnar. Chris Kenney moved; Ann McColley seconded for Ms. Haggerty to research the requirements and estimates for compliance. Discussion was had regarding who to reach out to. MOTION CARRIED.

• Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty stated that the audit presentation is scheduled for February 2, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. She requested to close the City Hall office on December 26, 2025. Chris Kenney moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve this request. Discussion was had about closure on January 2nd; the office will be open on January 2nd. MOTION CARRIED. She asked if there were any questions on the financial report provided; there were none. 

• Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff referenced the chlorination system project requesting to open the project up to bid. Don Steveson moved; Thomas Voss seconded to approve this request. Discussion about past samples and EAP requirement was had. MOTION CARRIED. He then reported on the following: the City had been recommended for full funding by the Wy. Dept. of Homeland Security for the emergency generator project in the amount of $400,000; the no engine brake sign permit has been approved; the traffic mirror on Winthop Street has been installed; the new garbage truck is in Georgia for final inspection. Additional discussion was had regarding the street equipment, Beth Blackwell’s role in grant funding, and open invitation to tour City projects.  

CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Thomas Voss moved; Chris Kenney seconded to pay the claims against the City dated December 15, 2025. MOTION CARRIED.

ADJOURNMENT: Chris Kenney moved; Ann McColley seconded to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 8:49 p.m. Meeting adjourned. 

Claims: Aced Embroidery, services, $20.00; Ad-Pro, supplies, $59.50; Zachary Benshoof, CDL reimbursement, $170.00; Black Hills Energy, services, $10,962.15; Bomgaars, supplies, $61.98; Cambria Supply, supplies, $1,279.07; Civic Plus, online code/hosting, $1,256.85; Dakota Fluid Power, repairs, $2,647.29; Derek’s Field Service, repairs, $5,596.80; Desert Mountain, chemical, $14,892.12; Eastern Wy. Equip., supplies, $3,109.30; Farnsworth, portable sanitation, $1,000.00; Ferguson Waterworks, supplies, $3,630.34; Fisher, gravel, $184.12; Front Range Fire Apparatus, valve, $114.79; Gateway, fuel/supplies, $3,582.39; Heartland Kubota, parts, $410.02; Herculock, locks, $1,630.60; Ketel Thorstenson, services, $25,000.00; Lab. Corp., testing, $32.80; LInkTech, PD IT, $1,345.00; Marco, IT/plotter, $3,215.20; Mastercard, supplies/training/fuel, $1,423.66; Minuteman, services, $179.98; Newcastle Ace Hardware, supplies, $759.56; Newcastle Equipment, repairs, $155.00; NVFD, training/stamps, $367.37; News Letter Journal, ads/legals, $1,380.75; Range, phone/internet, $1,316.09; Servall, services, $89.68; Short Stop, fuel, $964.12; Stephen Smith, CDL reimbursement, $85.00; Becky Vodopich, cleaning, $300.00; WC Road & Bridge, FD fuel, $141.76; WC Solid Waste Dist, tipping fees, $11,299.40; Woody’s, supplies, $62.99; Wy Assoc. of Rural Water, membership, $505.00

ATTEST:

Mayor Tyrel Owens

Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty

(Publish December 25, 2025)