10.29.20 Newcastle City Council Minutes

CITY OF NEWCASTLE
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MINUTES
MONDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2020
 
Council President Don Steveson called this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council to order at 7:00 p.m.  Those present were: President Steveson; Council members Roger Hespe, Michael Alexander, Ann McColley, Pam Gualtieri and Tom Voss. Also present were Department Heads City Police Chief Sam Keller, City Engineer Mike Moore and City Clerk/Treasurer Greg James. City Attorney Michael Stulken was absent.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Roger Hespe moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve the agenda as amended, adding Thayne Austenhurst and Zach Pickle reference building purchases and plans. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Ann McColley moved, seconded Tom Voss to approve the minutes of the meeting on Monday, October 5, 2020 as presented. Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARING: as advertised at 7:00 p.m. to hear a request for partial abandonment of a City Street. The record reflects Valerie Pollat spoke briefly in favor as one of the parties involved, but otherwise there was no comment and no objection to the request. Tom Voss moved, seconded Roger Hespe to approve the abandonment as presented. Motion carried. 
NOMINATIONS FOR RECOGNITION:
Walter Sprague and Siri Karr for their work on the Red Butte Mural on the News Letter Journal building.
Chris Gualtieri for the work and resources to light the Antler’s Motel sign.
Jim Neiman and Randy Lewis for their willingness to work with the City for the bus turn-around and the easement near the water tank.
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION:
Dick and Bonnie Rich will have their certificate mailed to them for the annual Show & Shine Car Show.
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—IN WRITING: None
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—VERBAL: 
Martha Bickford and Sasha Townsend reported on the Madness on Main and the Fall Festival and expressed their appreciation for the continued support of these activities.
Thayne Austenhurst and Zach Pickle informed the City Council about their plans to purchase the building the Frontier Home Ranch and Hardware currently occupy and the adjoining Newcastle Auto Parts building. They plan to expand their inventory to include many things that aren’t available since Shopko closed.
MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORTS: Former Mayor Debra Piana was present to receive a plaque for her service as mayor and historically as the first woman to serve as mayor of Newcastle.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
City Clerk Greg James presented the audit engagement letter from Ketel Thorstensen for approval and signatures. Roger Hespe moved, seconded Michael Alexander to approve the letter and authorize signing. Motion carried.  Mr. James then briefly discussed a proposal to apply for some of the CARES Act funds but needed a resolution from the City Council approving the application. Roger Hespe moved, seconded Ann McColley to pass Resolution #6, Series 2020 wich approves application for $50,000.00 of CARES Act funds to replace money expended for COVID-19 related expenses. Motion carried.
City Engineer Mike Moore reported on projects. The Salem Street is nearly complete. Jim Neiman and Randy Lewis were instrumental in allowing for the bus turn-around and allowing an easement across Neiman’s property near the orange water tank. The bus loop is complete. Mr. Moore requested a $0.50 per hour raise for Adam McFarlin for completing his probation period. Roger Hespe moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve this request. Motion carried.
City Attorney Michael Stulken was not present but asked Mr. James to read Ordinance #3, Series 2020 on second reading. The proposed ordinance reads: ANY OWNER OF ANY FENCE, RETAINING WALL, OR OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURE SHALL ENSURE THAT SAID STRUCTURE IS MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR, STRUCTURALLY SOUND AND SANITARY SO AS NOT TO POSE A THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY OR WELFARE. ANY PERSON WHO MAINTAINS OR PERMITS THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROHIBITED DANGEROUS CONDITION HEREIN IS IN VIOLATION OF THE 1997 UNIFORM CODE FOR THE ABATEMENT OF DANGEROUS BUILDINGS AND THE PROCEDURE FOR ABATEMENT OF SUCH CONDITION SHALL BE PURSUANT TO SUCH CODE. Michael Alexander moved, seconded Pam Gualtieri to pass Ordinance #3, Series 2020 on second reading. Motion carried.
City Police Chief Sam Keller reported on calls for service, 4024 year to date and 259 for the month of October so far. Chief Keller announced that the officer previously approved to hire has decided not to accept the job. There are other candidates being looked at locally. 
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: None
OTHER CITY BUSINESS: None
CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Tom Voss moved, seconded Roger Hespe to pay the claims against the City dated Monday, October 19, 2020.  Tom Voss moved, seconded Michael Alexander to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 7:52 p.m.  Meeting adjourned.
Claims: Ad-Pro Office Supply, office supplies, $52.55; BCN Telecom, Inc., long distance service, $182.40; Black Hills Energy, electric service, $175.00; Black Hills Plumbing & Supply, service and replace pump, $668.92; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, employee health insurance, $38,398.00; Bobcat of Gillette, wiring parts, $432.03; Butler Machinery Co. parts, $198.03; Cambria Supply, supplies/materials, $4700.89; Contractor’s Supply, Inc., lath & grade rod, $198.25; Culligan Water Conditioning, bottled water, $52.00; Deckers Food Center, housekeeping supplies, $183.77; Delta Dental of Wyoming, employee dental insurance, $1939.00; Eastern Wyoming Equipment Co., Inc., parts, $3035.19; Energy Laboratories, Inc., water sample testing, $172.00; Farnsworth Services, Co., Inc., portable sanitation, $250.00; Fisher Sand & Gravel Co., crushed rock, $247.81; Frontier Home Ranch & Hardware, supplies/materials, $646.88; Grimm’s Pump & Industrial, pump parts, $447.78; Heartland Kubota, LLC, parts, $230.21; Jones Construction, cattle guard buttress, $1600.00; Lost Cabin Photo & Design, trail pamphlets, $308.30; Lou’s Service, LLC, cattle guard, $2000.00; Mastercard, supplies/materials, $586.34; Mountain View Plumbing & Heating, change meter, $130.00; Newcastle Equipment Co., truck repair, $2315.94; News Letter Journal, office supplies, &167.74; NORCO, Inc., welding cylinder rent, $24.30; Office Shop Leasing, office copier lease, $71.45; One Call of Wyoming, utility locates, $36.00; Pete Lien & Sons, Inc., concrete sand, $259.70; Powder River Energy Corp., electric service, $766.45; Range, city share phones, $333.94; Rapid Delivery, Inc., parts delivery, $27.61; Genell Rothleutner, PD cleaning, $200.00; Russell Industries, Inc., air pump, $851.03; Una Seely, water deposit refund, $144.63; Short Stop Fuel Mart, fuel purchases, $5392.08; Michael Stulken October 2020 attorney fee, $2800.00; Summit Plumbing & Heating, valve replacement, $210.24; Titan Machinery, parts, $121.00; Valli Information Systems, credit card services, $100.00; Becky Vodopich, city hall cleaning/supplies, $318.00; WEBT, employee life insurance, $98.00; Weston County Treasurer, tax handling fee/youth services/airport expenses, $4216.35; Weston County True Value, lumber, $65.77; Woody’s Food Center, housekeeping supplies, $14.07; Wyoming Rents, LLC, CAT 315 rental, $6580.00.
 
Don Steveson, President
ATTEST: City Clerk/Treasurer, Greg James
 
(Publish October 29, 2020)