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06.25.20 City Council Minutes

By
NLJ Staff

NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MINUTES
MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020
 
Mayor Debra Piana called this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council to order at 7:00 p.m.  Those present were Mayor Piana; Council members Tom Voss, Ann McColley, Pam Gualtieri, Michael Alexander and Don Steveson. Councilman Roger Hespe was absent.  Also present were Department Heads City Police Chief Jim Owens, City Engineer Mike Moore, City Attorney Jim Peck and City Clerk/Treasurer Greg James.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:  Ann McColley moved, seconded Tom Voss to approve the agenda as amended, adding a second request for summer sewer averaging.  Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Don Steveson moved, seconded Pam Gualtieri to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday June 1, 2020 and the minutes of the Executive Session on Monday June 1, 2020 as presented.  Motion carried.  
NOMINATIONS FOR RECOGNITION: None
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION:
To Mr. Rusty Childress, 7 C’s for their new shop building and business.  Certificate will be mailed.  
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—IN WRITING:
Newcastle Clinic requested summer sewer averaging for the grounds.  Tom Voss moved, seconded Michael Alexander to approve this request.  Motion carried.
Weston County School District #1 requested summer sewer averaging for their yard and field areas.  Ann McColley moved, seconded Don Steveson to approve this request.  Motion carried.
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—VERBAL:
Mr. Bruce Perkins was present to address tourism and August activities.  Mr. Perkins requested closure of the middle lane of Main Street from Sumner to Railroad for motorcycle parking from July 28 to August 20, 2020. Tom Voss moved, seconded Michael Alexander to approve this request.  Motion carried.  Mr. Perkins also requested suspension of the open container ordinance directly in front of Perkins Tavern for the same dates, July 28 through August 20, 2020.  Michael Alexander moved, seconded Pam Gualtieri to approve this request.  Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARING: as advertised to consider and approve the City of Newcastle budget for fiscal year 2020—2021.  Mayor Piana opened the hearing by reading the Appropriation Resolution and calling for public comment.  The record reflects there was no comment.  Tom Voss moved, seconded Michael Alexander to approve the budget.  Motion carried with Pam Gualtieri voting against the motion.  Mayor Piana then read Ordinance No. 2, Series 2020 for emergency passage. Don Steveson moved, seconded Ann McColley to pass Ordinance No. 2, Series 2020 on emergency basis.  Motion carried. The heading reads: ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR REVENUE TO BE RAISED BY TAXATION WITHIN THE CITY OF NEWCASTLE, WYOMING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2021. 
MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORTS: None
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
City Clerk/Treasurer Greg James noted the potential for a budget adjustment mid-year.  And have no good idea of revenues until possibly the end of September or into October. 
City Engineer Mike Moore reported on active building permits, asphalt paving repair, and the Landfill #2 report. Mr. Moore also discussed options for lease or purchase of a wood grinder for the compost area.  After discussion, the recommendation was to discuss lease and purchase options with the Solid Waste Disposal District and work with Mr. Peck for a potential agreement between the parties involved.  
City Attorney Jim Peck presented Ordinance No. 1, Series 2020 on third and final reading.  The heading reads: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 8-34 OF ARTICLE III, CHAPTER 8 OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF THE CITY OF NEWCASTLE, WYOMING 1961 TO INCREASE THE COURT AUTOMATION FEE CHARGED AS A COURT COST FROM TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($25.00) TO FORTY DOLLARS ($40.00) PURSUANT TO WYOMING STATUTE SECTION 5-6-108 AND RULE 2 OF THE WYOMING RULES FOR FEES AND COSTS FOR MUNICIPAL COURTS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.  Michael Alexander moved, seconded Don Steveson to pass Ordinance No. 1, Series 2020 on third and final reading.  Motion carried.  Mr. Peck then reported on the letter sent to Mr. Charles Martens regarding the water tank access.
City Police Chief Jim Owens reported on calls for service, 155 for the month of June 2020.  Chief Owens also recommended a $0.50 per hour raise for Officer Kellie Moran for becoming the Senior Intoximeter Operator.  Pam Gualtieri moved, seconded Don Steveson to approve this request.  Motion carried.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Personnel Committee reported there had been an interview with potential City Attorney Candidate Michael Stulken and recommend hiring Mr. Stulken to replace retiring attorney Jim Peck.  Pam Gualtieri moved, seconded Don Steveson, to hire Mr. Michael Stulken as the attorney on retainer for the City of Newcastle.  Effective date July 1, 2020 and to retain Mr. Jim Peck as the City’s attorney through July 31, 2020.  Motion carried.  
Don Steveson reported on a Police Committee meeting to discuss the dispatch adding a new program, “I Am Responding” to assist the fire departments and recommended this be implemented by October 31, 2020. Daniel Tysdal spoke on behalf of the fire departments, explaining why they believe this would be a benefit.  Melissa Stubbs explained why this would be difficult to implement right now. Updated addressing seems to be the main obstacle now, with much of the data incorrect or missing.  The fire departments are already using the system, but not to full capacity.  Chief Owens was asked for his thoughts on the matter and he expressed concerns over the ability of the current system to handle another program plus a program to interface.  He also expressed concerns about adding further duties to the dispatch center.  Mr. James cautioned about adding additional costs as we are already dealing with a very conservative budget with uncertainty about revenues in the new year.  After further discussion, it was agreed that Daniel, Melissa, and Leanne Cox, the IT person would meet and come up with recommendations to be presented at the July 6, 2020 Council meeting.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS: None
CLAIMS AGAINST THE City: dated June 15, 2020.  Tom Voss moved, seconded Don Steveson to pay the claims against the City dated June 15, 2020.  Motion carried.  Tom Voss moved, seconded Ann McColley to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 8:21 p.m.  Meeting adjourned.
Claims: 7 C’s Service, ice machine, $424.50; Ad-Pro Office Supply, office supplies, $78.66; Alpha Communications, June 2020 tower rent, $95.00; American Business Software, website update, $52.15; American Engineering & Testing, landfill water testing, $8467.68; Axon Enterprises, Inc., camera assembly, $1462.00; BCN Telecom, Inc., long distance service, $190.96; Bearlodge Engineering and Surveying, project engineer, $460.00; Big Horn Tire, Inc., new tires, $4024.00; Black Hills Energy, electric service, $10,716.33; Black Hills Plumbing & Supply, expansion tank, $130.07; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, employee medical insurance, $38,245.02; Lynn Bohlman, fence repair, $871.85; Bomgaars Supply, supplies/materials, $767.06; Cambria Supply, supplies/materials, $820.06; Camp Creek Engineering, Inc., drawings & copies, $562.00; Contractor’s Supply, Inc., delineator posts, $786.78; Culligan Water Conditioning, bottled water, $45.50; Dale’s Tire & Retreading, Inc., new tires, $743.28; Decker’s Food Center, housekeeping supplies, $91.31; Derek’s Field Service, truck repair, $636.00; Eastern Wyoming Equipment Co., parts, $1265.05; Energy Laboratories, Inc., water sample testing, $350.00; Farnsworth Services, Co., Inc., portable sanitation, $2028.00; Fisher Sand & Gravel, base course gravel, $4255.19; Front Range Fire Apparatus, new ladder, $541.38; Frontier Home Ranch & Hardware, supplies/materials, $380.08; Hansen Equipment, parts, $14.00; Hurricane Services, PD car washes, $25.00; Betty M. Jensen, FD repair jackets, $32.57; KASL, support Newcastle ads, $144.00; Mallory Safety & Supply, LLC, name bars & badges, $743.82; Mastercard, office supplies/parts/training, $2136.64; Mission Communications, LLC, service packages, $970.80; Modern Marketing, Inc., hand sanitizer, $1729.04; Motorola Solutions, Inc., mobile radio, $4215.92; Newcastle Police Dept., reimburse petty cash, $40.37; Newcastle Volunteer Fire Dept., reimburse expenses, $4153.65; News Letter Journal, legals/minutes, office supplies/ads, $1610.68; NORCO, welding cylinder rent, $25.11; Northwest Pipe Fittings, Inc., pipe parts, $1388.76; Office Shop Leasing, office copier lease, $71.45; Petty Cash, vehicle title, $15.00; Postmaster, FD box rental, $226.00; Powder River Energy Corp., electric service, $748.53; Genell Rothleutner, PD cleaning, $200.00; RT Communications, City share phone, $329.80; RT Communications, Inc., phone service, $151.28; Scott Peterson Motors, Inc., PD vehicle repair, $5670.72; Short Stop Fuel Mart, fuel purchases, $4880.42; Sternberg Lighting, Inc., banner arms, $1750.00; Lucky Teigen-Grummons, fire hall cleaning, $200.00; Timberline Services, Inc., concrete crushing, $31,030.00; Valli Information Systems, credit card software, $100.00; Becky Vodopich, office cleaning, $300.00; W&S Construction, water tank concrete work, $11,600.00; WEBT, employee life ins., $106.25; Western Water Service, water haul, landfill, $120.00; Weston County Fire Protection District, ½ fire hall insurance, $605.84; Weston County Treasurer, May 2020 airport expense/youth services, $1219.26; Weston County Humane Society, food fee, $37.00; Weston County True Value, building materials, $47.75; Woody’s Food Center, housekeeping supplies, $66.28.
 
Deb Piana, Mayor
ATTEST: City Clerk/Treasurer, Greg James
 
(Publish June 25, 2020)

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