NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES Monday, July 20, 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, and Thomas Voss. Also, present were Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff, Police Chief Derek Thompson, Engineer Steven Dietrich, Attorney Dublin Hughes and Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty. Councilman Don Steveson was absent.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Chris Kenney moved; Ann McColley seconded, to approve the agenda.
MOTION CARRIED.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Daren Downs moved; Ann McColley seconded, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday July 6, 2026, and special meeting of July 10, 2026. It was noted that the 10th was on Friday not Monday as reflected, there was also a grammatical error. Daren Downs amended his motion; Ann McColley seconded to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday July 6, 2026, and special meeting of Friday July 10, 2026, with correction of the grammatical error. MOTION CARRIED.
PUBLIC HEARING AS ADVERTISED: Mayor Owens read the Variance Request of Tim Miller pertaining to Lot 20, Block T, County Clerk’s Addition, Cannon Subdivision, City of Newcastle, Weston County, Wyoming to modify an existing building. Ann McColley moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve the Variance request. There was discussion regarding any issue with the variance and what the variance was needed for. MOTION CARRIED.
NOMINATION FOR RECOGNITION: WC Travel Commission for their letter of support.
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: American Legion and VFW for their work on the 250th Anniversary – 4th of July events, Bucky Rawhouser and Farnsworth Services for the contributions to the Veteran’s Memorial, Bernie Terry for the cleanup and decorations at the 4-Way stop, We Go Girls for their donation towards the banners, Chamber of Commerce for the laser light show, Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department for the pancake breakfast, First Northern Bank for the donation of their parking lot.
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS VERBAL:
• Bruce Perkins was present to request motorcycle parking from August 1st – 17th, on Main Street within the turning lanes from Railroad to Seneca Ave. and Seneca Ave. to Sumner Ave. Thomas Voss moved; John Butts seconded to allow motorcycle parking between Railroad and Seneca Ave. and Seneca Ave. and Sumner Ave. within the turning lanes. There was discussion about the dates. Thomas Voss moved; John Butts seconded to amend the motion to reflect between the dates of August 1st - 17th. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Perkins then requested relaxation of the open container law for tables outside his business between 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Thomas Voss moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve this request. There was discussion about the time needed and concerns about bikes on sidewalks. John Butts was opposed. MOTION CARRIED.
• Dick and Bonnie Rich were present to request the use of Dow Park for the 20th Annual Shine & Show on September 19th. Thomas Voss moved; Daren Downs seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED.
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS IN WRITING:
• Weston County School District submitted a request for sewer averaging for the three (3) months of summer. Chris Kenney moved; Thomas Voss seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED.
OLD BUSINESS:
• Mayor Owens reported that the Consultant Services Policy had been approved at the special meeting on July 10, 2026; the policy needed to be approved prior to a regular meeting to meet a WY DOT grant deadline.
• After discussion Thomas Voss moved; Chris Kenney seconded to donate 19 of the 250th Anniversary banners to the Newcastle Veteran’s Memorial, eight (8) to museums, four (4) to the VFW, and one (1) to the Class of 2026. There was discussion about leaving the banners up until after Labor Day. MOTION CARRIED.
• Attorney Hughes stated that the department heads had met and will be sending him edits for the American Legal Publishing recodification. A workshop will be scheduled after all revisions are given to Attorney Hughes.
NEW BUSINESS:
• Mayor Owens read Resolution No. 7, Series 2026, A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE INCREASE OF CITY SEWER SERVICE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 26-33 OF ARTICLE 3, CHAPTER 26 OF THE
(Continued on page B7
CODE OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE. Thomas Voss moved; Chris Kenney seconded to pass
Resolution No. 7, Series 2026. There was discussion as to why the 4% increase was needed and if the increase could be postponed. MOTION CARRIED.
•Mayor Owens read Resolution No. 8, 2026, A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE INCREASE OF CITY WATER RATES PURSUANT TO SECTION 26-19 OF ARTICLE 2, CHAPTER 26, OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE. Chris Kenney moved; Daren Downs seconded to pass Resolution No. 8, Series 2026. There was discussion about the increase 4% increase on bulk water and the effects postponing the rate increase would have. MOTION CARRIED.
• Mayor Owens read Resolution No. 9, Series 2026, RESOLUTION TO APPROVE INCREASE OF CITY GARBAGE RATES PURSUANT TO SECTION 13-9 OF ARTICLE 2, CHAPTER 13, OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE. Chris Kenney moved; Thomas Voss seconded to pass Resolution No. 9, Series 2026. MOTION CARRIED.
• Burce Perkins was present to give a review of the WC Travel Commissions budget.
COMMITTEE/COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS:
• Mayor Owens reported that a steering committee had been created for the design of the Pocket Park. The committee includes Kasey Keeler, Jen Womack and Jim Hutchinson.
• Mayor Owens reported that members of RCAC would be in Newcastle for a site visit on July 30th and 31st.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
•Braden Jenkins with the Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department gave a 2nd Quarter Report. He reported on the following: members, training, certifications, calls of service with a total of 40 emergency incidents, Spring into Summer Safety Bash, 307 Teen Challenge. He also reported on the awards that they had received during Convention; Chief Kenney noted that Newcastle would be hosting the next Convention.
• Police Chief Derek Thompson reported on calls of service between June 12th – July 3rd, NPD 246 with 5 arrests, and 55 criminal citations, WCSO 260, UPD 83, NVFD 13, WCFP 7, UVFD 9, Newcastle Ambulance 35, Upton Ambulance 5, he provided a handout for the breakdown of NPD calls. July 3rd – July 17th NPD 192 with 3 arrests, and 29 criminal citations, WCSO 120, UPD 69, NVFD 9, WCFP 9, UVFD 6, Newcastle Ambulance 25, Upton Ambulance 2, he provided a handout for the breakdown of NPD calls. He then reported that bids for the new CSO vehicle will be opened on July 22nd and will be presented to the Council at the first meeting in August. He reported that Channing Lutz had completed her probationary period and requested to give her permanent employment status with a $0.50/hr. raise effective June 2, 2026. Chris Kenney moved; Thomas Voss seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED. He also reported on the following for the Joint Dispatch Board: infrastructure for the backup dispatch location in the Upton Police Department is being installed; the 2026-2027 budget had been accepted by the Wy. Department of Audit. Mayor noted that after the last meeting he had been made aware that from June 22nd to July 9th there were 90 traffic stops, and 30 citations given.
• Attorney Dublin Hughes presented ordinances for the Volunteer Fire Department for the Council to review prior to the next meeting.
• Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty referenced the Request for Proposals for Professional Financial and Compliance Audit stating that she would like to advertise the request for proposals with hopes of awarding at the August 17th meeting. Ann McColley moved; Chris Kenney seconded to advertise the request for proposals. MOTION CARRIED. She then asked if there were any questions about the financial reports provided; there were none.
• Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff requested to hire Midco Diving to clean all three (3) tanks for $14,045.00. Thomas Voss moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve this request. There was discussion about maintenance and budget. MOTION CARRIED. He then requested to replace Unit 59 with a 2023 Ford F-350 with 18,954 miles for $46,970 from Newcastle Motors. Ann McColley moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve this request. Unit #59 was discussed. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Stumpff then reported that the 2025 Improvement Project is nearing completion. An inquiry was made about a hole near tracks on 2nd Ave., the Railroad Master will be contacted. Dust on Grandview was also discussed.
• Engineer Steven Dietrich referenced his report, seven (7) new active residential construction projects and two (2) commercial projects; Total construction cost of $254,819 and $2,910.29 in permit fees were collected between July 6th – July 17th. An inquiry was made about the empty lot by the BLM building; this is the new location for the Vision Clinic.
Mayor Owens asked Police Chief Thompson about enforcing issues with E-bikes; this will be discussed at the next meeting.
Councilman Kenney recused himself. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to pay the claims against the City dated July 20, 2026. MOTION CARRIED.
ADJOURNMENT: Chris Kenney moved; Daren Downs seconded to adjourn the regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 8:20 p.m. Meeting adjourned
Fy25/26 Claims: 21 Electric, services, $2,193.40; Black Hills Energy, services, $14,613.19; Blue 360 Media, traffic law, $198.34; Eastern Wy. Equip., supplies, $1,668.23; Engineering Assoc., services, $4,946.16; Gateway Travel, fuel, $8,429.53; Heartland Kubota, parts, $426.38; Jacki Hubbard, 1st Aid/CPR training, $80.00; Inberg-Miller Engineers, services, $3,511.00; Morrison Maierle Engineering, services, $16,932.64; Newcastle Equipment, parts/repairs, $950.50; NVFD, travel/training, $550.00; One Call, services, $275.10; Powder River Energy, services, $1,049.82; Salt Creek Vet., services, $310.15; Short Stop, fuel, $1,112.92; Lucky Teigen-Grummons, lawncare/cleaning, $500.00; WC Treasurer, handling fee, $224.33; Woody’s, supplies, $201.25; WAM, convention fee, $270.00
FY26/27 Claims: Aced Embroidery, services, $19.00; Ad-Pro, supplies, $20.63; Diesel Machinery, parts, $194.68; Energy Labs, services, $504.00; Kings Plumbing, services, $265.00; Marchant Resources, services, $1,000.00; Marco, copier/plotter fees, $481.17; Mission Communications, AC/DC supply, $153.30; NVFD, fuel/supplies, $185.27; Northwest Pipe, supplies, $512.00; Range, phone/internet, $345.00; Sagebrush Marketing, hosting fees/supplies, $261.54; Servall, services, $53.58; Lucky Teigen-Grummons, cleaning/lawncare, $600.00; Becky Vodopich, cleaning, $300.00; WC Treasurer, taxes handling fee, $68.96; Wy. First Aid & Safety, supplies, $135.88
ATTEST:
Mayor Tyrel Owens
Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty
(Publish July 30, 2026)