NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES Monday, November 17, 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: Daren Downs moved; Ann McColley seconded, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting and executive session of Monday, November 3, 2025. MOTION CARRIED.

NOMINATION FOR RECOGNITION: Newcastle Area Chamber of Commerce 

CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: Hurricane Services for the demolition work on the old Black Hills Plumbing building.

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS VERBAL: Bob Svara with the Mondell Airport Board reported that there had been communication with the State Auditor, County Commissioners, County Attorney and City Attorney regarding creating an account within the County budget for Airport Hangar income and unbudgeted expenses, he requested the City’s approval and a letter of agreement. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve this request. There was discussion regarding who would be receiving the funds, surplus revenue and interest; funds will be held at the County in a line item for the airport, surplus will continue to accrue and there will be interest. Motion carried. Tuff Streeter requested the signing of a WYDOT Aeronautics, Airport Improvements Program Certificate of State Grant-in-Aid. Thomas Voss moved; seconded John Butts to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED.

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS IN WRITING: Tonya Christensen d/b/a Cap N’ Bottle requested a 24-Catering permit: December 5, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on December 6, 2025, for Pinnacle Bank’s Festival of Trees to be held at the WC Senior Citizen Center. Daren Downs moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve this request. Dates were clarified. MOTION CARRIED. 

OLD BUSINESS: None

NEW BUSINESS: None

COMMITTEE/COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS: 

• The Streets Committee did not meet to discuss the retaining wall.

• Mayor Owens reported that he had talked with Beth Blackwell and a Boys & Girls Club representative; they are looking into funding and facility options. 

• Mayor Owens inquired about posting the position of the RCAC Community Coordinator. Thomas Voss moved, to post the position. Motion died for lack of a second. The Personnel Committee will meet to discuss the job description. Councilman Butts will attend the committee meeting in Councilman Steveson’s absence.

PUBLIC HEARING: Mayor Owens opened the public hearing at 7:30 p.m. stating that on November 13, 2025, the Planning and Zoning Commission had conditionally approved the zoning change for Lot 11, Block 1, Manewal-Bradley Addition, owned by Joel Olson from R-1 to I-1 in the event that the Sip’s Coffee moves the property will revert back to R-1. Mayor Owens asked for public comment. There was discussion about construction and traffic flow, along with the revenue and support going back into the community. Chris Kenney moved; seconded Don Steveson to approve the conditional zoning change. MOTION CARRIED. 

DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:

• Attorney Dublin Hughes stated that he would like to attend the next Water/Sewer Committee meeting to discuss the Chapter 26 changes; this meeting will be scheduled at a later date. Councilman Voss inquired about enforcing ordinances for junk or salvage yards in commercial zones; Attorney Hughes stated that if commercially zoned property owners do not have proper permits for “salvage” or “junk yards” the ordinance could be enforced; he is currently working on these ordinances.  

• Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty reported that the field work for audit had been busy but went well. She asked if there were any questions on the financial reports provided; there were none. She then requested to close the City Hall office on November 28, 2025, with employees using vacation or comp time. Chris Kenney moved; Daren Downs seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED.

• Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff reported that Phase I of the 2025 Improvements project is complete and requested the signing of the Shut Down Order, with work to resume in the spring. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED. He then requested the signing of the Notice of Final Completion and Settlement for the Duff Avenue Project. Ann McColley moved; Daren Downs seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Stumpff stated that he had received the final plans on the design of the Hwy. 16 Pathway project and requested a Parks Committee meeting. He then requested that Stephen Smith be given permanent status and $0.50/hr. raise effective November 7, 2025, for completing the probationary period. Thomas Voss moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED. He reported that he had received Jessie Redo’s letter of resignation, leaving another open position. Councilman Voss inquired about claims: Architectural Specialties for repairs to doors due to vandalism; and Ice slicer, road chemicals for ice removal. Mayor Owens asked for the Backyard Park project and fencing to be discussed at the Parks ommittee meeting. 

• Engineer Steven Dietrich requested the signing of the Land Water Conservation Fund grant agreement for Dow Park restrooms, grant amount being $60,000. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED. He then stated that he would like to attend the Personnel Committee meeting to discuss the Building Inspector position. He then referenced his report stating that $2,988.40 had been collected in permit fees with construction cost of $337,400. 

• Police Chief Derek Thompson reported on calls of service from November 3, 2025; NPD 154, WCSO 97, UPD 57, NVFD 3, WCFP 7, UVFD 3, Newcastle Ambulance 18, Upton Ambulance 4, he provided a handout for the breakdown of NPD calls. He also reported that the back up generator should be installed soon, due to the recent power outage a smaller generator has been installed to power the Dispatch Center until the backup generator is installed. 

CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Thomas Voss moved; Don Steveson seconded to pay the claims against the City dated November 17, 2025. MOTION CARRIED.

ADJOURNMENT: Daren Downs moved; Chris Kenney seconded to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 8:14 p.m. Meeting adjourned. 

Claims: Aced Embroidery, services, $499.00; Ad-Pro, supplies, $15.07; Ameri-Tech, parts, $759.38; Architectural Specialties, repairs, $9,218.97, Zachary Benshoof, reimbursements, $55.00; Black Hills Energy, services, $11,434.49; Cambria Supply, supplies, $509.81; CNA Surety, bonds, $100.00; Decker’s, supplies, $17.99, Desert Mountain, ice melt, $7,427.51; Eastern Wy. Equip., supplies, $1,710.68, Energy Labs., services, $215.00, Farnsworth, portable sanitation, $392.88; Ferguson, supplies, $38,539.52; Gateway Travel Center, fuel, $4,602.31; Heartland Kubota, parts, $261.35; Hot Iron, 2025 Improvements, $351,557.90, Hot Iron, retainage, $18,503.05; Laboratory Corp., testing, $164.00; LinkTech, PD IT, $1,345.00; Marco, plotter/copier fees, $573.40; Mastercard, supplies/fuel, $2,047.62; Mathew Bender, court rules, $125.43; Municipal Emergency Services, supplies, $450.00; Newcastle Ace Hardware, supplies, $189.18; Newcastle Equipment, repairs/supplies, $1,985.00; News Letter Journal, ads/legals, $1,942.50; Normont Equip., igniter, $185.44; Northwest Pipe, supplies, $7,653.59; P&W Paging, batteries, $3,514.00; Petty Cash, title fees, $30.00; Postmaster, stamps, $624.00; Powder River Energy, services, $990.42; Range, phone/internet, $343.00; Rapid City Roofing, reimburse overpayment, $201.00; Safeguard Business, supplies, $123.94; Sagebrush Marketing, business cards, $50.00; Servall, services, $44.84; Short Stop, fuel, $1,843.51; Stephen Smith, reimbursement, $140.00; SpeetTech, supplies, $851.26; Greg Stumpff, reimbursement, $286.94; USA Bluebook, supplies, $3,886.82; Becky Vodopich, cleaning, $300.00; Western Peaks, delivery fees, $28.93; WC Health Services, screenings, $250.00; WC Road & Bridge, FD fuel, $227.75; WC Solid Waste Dist., tipping fees, $13,190.10; Woody’s, supplies, $185.72; Wy. DOT, plates, $10.00; Wy. Machinery, seals, $36.05.  

ATTEST:

Mayor Tyrel Owens

Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty

(Publish November 27, 2025)