01.19.2021 Newcastle City Council Minutes

NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MINUTES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021
 
Mayor Pam Gualtieri called this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council to order at 7:00 p.m.  Those present were Mayor Gualtieri; Council members Tyrel Owens, Don Steveson, Ann McColley, Michael Alexander and Daren Downs. Also present were Department Heads City Attorney Michael Stulken, City Police Chief Sam Keller, City Engineer Mike Moore and City Clerk/Treasurer Greg James.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:  Ann McColley moved, seconded Don Steveson to approve the agenda as amended, deleting Steve Ladwig from Citizen’s Business Verbal; adding Ms. Shelley Goodrich Audit Director for Ketel Thorstenson for the annual audit report, Mr. James Curren reference Newcastle Volunteer Fire Dept. slate of officers for 2021. Motion carried
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Michael Alexander moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday, January 4, 2021. Motion carried.
NOMINATIONS FOR RECOGNITION: 
Cambria Discount Drug for their new business in the new Decker’s store.
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: None
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—IN WRITING: None
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—VERBAL:
Shelley Goodrich, Audit Director for Ketel Thorstenson LLP, presented the fiscal year 2020 audit report and reported a clean audit and a sound financial position.
Sandra Martin introduced Barbie Turner as one of the new co-directors for the Newcastle Area Chamber of Commerce and discussed some upcoming events.
Dr. Chuck Franklin was present to request City water service to his out of City limits property.  Will be taken under advisement.
James Curren was present representing the Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department to inform the Council of their slate of officers for 2021. Chief is James Curren, Assistant Chief is Chris Kinney, Secretary is Ryan Whipple and Treasurer is Mark Christiansen.  Don Steveson moved, seconded Daren Downs to approve the officers. Motion carried.
MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORTS: None
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS: 
City attorney Michael Stulken presented a limited liability certificate for the bus turn-around on Neiman’s property. After review, Don Steveson moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve the document. Mr. Stulken was asked to contact the School District about a similar document relieving the City from liability resulting from any actions from the School District. Mr. Stulken then presented a resolution labeled Appendix A relating to the lease/purchase of a used vac truck. After review, Michael Alexander moved, seconded Don Steveson to approve the resolution. Motion carried.
City Police Chief Sam Keller reported on calls for service, said that Officers Barker and Riebel were going to the academy on Monday, and one dispatcher was out for a broken arm.
City Clerk/Treasurer Greg James had no report other than thank the Council and Department Heads for their fiscal responsibility which leads to a clean audit.
City Engineer Mike Moore reported on building permits for 2020, noting $990,000 worth of construction permitted during the year. There will be a public hearing during the next Planning & Zoning meeting to consider a variance for the new Dollar General regarding parking requirements. The closure permit for Landfill #2 has been submitted to the State DEQ. Closure is planned for February 2022, but may be extended until the Landfill District gets its landfill operational. Mr. Moore also briefly discussed the Sewer Committee meeting where the discussion centered on discharging affluent from Landfill #1 into the City sewer. Mr. Moore strongly advises against this as the potential for problems at the lagoon increases significantly.
STANDING COMMITTEE: nothing to report, but a Water Committee meeting was requested to consider Dr. Franklin’s request and Mr. Moore was directed to check regarding easements for the City water transmission and distribution lines.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS: None
CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Michael Alexander moved, seconded Ann McColley to pay the claims against the City dated January 19, 2021. Motion carried. Ann McColley moved, seconded Michael Alexander to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 7:45 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
 
Claims: Ad-Pro Office Supply, office supplies, $73.59; Advanced Communications, phone case, $50.00; American Business Software, web maintenance & domain name renewal, $953.00; American Engineering Testing, landfill water testing, $8917.68; BCN Telecom, Inc., long distance service, $179.69; Black Hills Energy, electric service, $10,485.26; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, employee health insurance, $38,159.00; Burns Insurance Agency, notary bonds & E & O, $170.00; Butler Machinery Co., parts/core charge, $713.04; Cambria Supply, supplies/materials, $2271.30; Casper Star Tribune, shop help ad, $589.30; Century Link, E-911 data, $939.86; CMI-TECO, parts, $232.50; Communications Technologies, Inc., radio parts, $343.66; Culligan Water Conditioning, bottled water, $39.00; Deckers Food Center, housekeeping supplies, $190.10; Delta Dental of Wyoming, employee dental insurance, $2043.00; Eastern Wyoming Equipment Co., Inc., parts, $2611.52; Energy Laboratories, Inc., water sample testing, $88.00; Farnsworth Services, Co., Inc., portable sanitation, $1600.00; Hurricane Services, sewer rodding, $3105.00; Ketel Thorstenson, LLP, audit services, $6448.75; Kregel Towing & Recovery, towing, $94.50; Mastercard, office supplies/water testing, $1442.26; Mitchell Services, culvert & bands, $611.20; Modern Marketing, Inc., face masks, $3787.83; National Volunteer Fire Council, membership, $756.00; Newcastle Motors Ltd., parts, $64.42; Newcastle Police Dept., reimburse petty cash, $10.00; News Letter Journal, legals/ads/office supplies, $2200.51; NORCO, Inc., welding cylinder rent, $25.11; Northwest Pipe Fittings, Inc., pipe fittings/parts, $346.69; Office Shop Leasing, copier lease, $71.45; Postmaster, stamps, $490.00; Powder River Energy Corp., electric service, $1220.03; Range, phone service, $1100.29; Range, city share phones, $338.66; Rapid Delivery, parts delivery, $64.69; Ricks Electric, street light repair, $750.18; ROOTX, root killer, $3096.40; Short Stop Fuel Mart, fuel purchases, $5458.28; Top Office Products, Inc., copy charge, PD, $57.00; Two-Way Radio Services, Inc., batteries, $360.00; Uber Geek Computer, printer cartridges, $270.00; Valli Information Systems, credit card services, $100.00; Western Water Service, landfill drinking water, $334.00; Weston County Road & Bridge, fuel purchases, $88.80; Weston County Treasurer, airport billing/youth services/tax handling, $12,871.52; Weston County True Value, building materials, $75.05; Woody’s Food Center, housekeeping supplies, $133.60; WYDOT—financial Services Airport crack sealing, $4776.00; Wyoming Engineering Society, membership, $60.00; Wyoming First Aid & Safety, first aid supplies, $60.22; Wyoming Water Quality, membership, 60.00.
 
Pam Gualtieri, Mayor
ATTEST: City Clerk/Treasurer, Greg James
 
(Publish January 28, 2021)