11.10.20 Newcastle City Council Minutes

NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MINUTES
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2020
 
Council President Don Steveson called this regular meeting of the Newcastle 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, City Attorney Michael Stulken and City Clerk/Treasurer Greg James.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Ann McColley moved, seconded Roger Hespe to approve the agenda as amended, adding Sandra Martin under Citizen’s Business-Verbal reference Chamber of Commerce. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Tom Voss moved, seconded Michael Alexander to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday November 2, 2020 as presented. Motion carried.
SWEARING IN: Council President Steveson administered the Oath of Office to new police officers, Jason Barker and Lance Riebel.
NOMINATIONS FOR RECOGNITION:
Deckers Food Center for their generous donations for baked goods for the United Fund pie auction.
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION:
Sandra Martin was present to receive her recognition for sponsoring and promoting the annual Truck or Treat on Main Street for the community’s youth.
The recognition for the Sundowner Inn for the remodeling they have done to their building will be mailed.
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—IN WRITING: none
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—VERBAL:
Sandra Martin discussed the lighted Christmas parade and logistics for holding the event. Further discussion was held regarding sale of bricks as a fundraiser for the Chamber. Mr. Stulken was asked to review the contract regarding the wording of sale of commercial products.
MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORTS:
Council President Don Steveson passed out a graph showing expenditures and revenues.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
City Attorney Michael Stulken brought for discussion the matter of keeping horse(s) at the Howdy Drive-In/Bakery. After much discussion, it was identified as two issues; it is against City ordinance to keep such animals in town and it is in violation of the City Zoning code to have horse in that area. While trying to be accommodating, Mr. Moore was asked to inform the folks that currently they cannot keep the horse(s) on that property.
City Police Chief Sam Keller reported on calls for service, 4403 YTD and 214 in November so far. He also reported on the repeated trouble with the radio system.
City Clerk/Treasurer Greg James reported the audit is going well so far, and there would be no on-site visits this year. The City was successful in being granted $50,000.00 in COVID relief funds from the State Lands & Investment Board for wage reimbursement. The City Office will remain closed to the public for a while yet.
City Engineer Mike Moore reported on the Dura-Patcher use, grading and drainage repair along Sage Street, use of the wood grinder at the compost area, visits with a consultant on the sewer lagoon issues, and a potential zoning matter on 7th Ave.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Don Steveson reported on a Police Committee meeting where financing for a new dispatch system was discussed. Some decision needs to be made before the end of December.
OTHER CITY BUSINESS: 
President Steveson brought up for review, the Council’s preference for continuing under the present manner since the General Election has been held. Ann McColley moved, seconded Roger Hespe to continue as-is until the normal transition in January 2021. Motion carried.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Tom Voss moved, seconded Michael Alexander to pay the claims against the City dated November 16, 2020. Motion carried. Ann McColley moved, seconded Roger Hespe to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 8:21 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
Claims: Alpha Communications, tower rent and radio repair, $355.00; BCN Telecom, Inc., long distance service, $162.88; Bearlodge Engineering & Surveying, land survey and CADD, $8030.00; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, employee health insurance, $36,204.00; Butler Machinery Co., parts, $217.49; Cambria Supply, supplies/materials, $792.17; CDW-Government, computer cartridges, $1427.55; Culligan Water Conditioning, bottled water, $39.00; Deckers Food Center, housekeeping supplies, $153.43; Delta Dental of Wyoming, employee dental insurance, $1905.00; Eastern Wyoming Equipment Co., Inc., parts, $1115.07; Energy Laboratories, Inc., water sample testing, $172.00; Farnsworth Services Co., Inc., hydrovac truck, $1273.50; Front Range Fire Apparatus, pump & kit, $1548.88; Graphic Designs, PD shirt patches, $82.00; Hurricane Services, PD car washes, $35.00; Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, PD first aid/CPR training, $15.33; Newcastle Police Dept., reimburse petty cash, $68.20; News Letter Journal, minutes/legals/office supplies, $2143.98; NORCO, Inc., welding cylinder rent, $25.11; Normont Equipment Co., Dura Patcher rent, $1585.00; Northwest Pipe Fittings, Inc., pipe/valves/fittings, $6250.76; Office Shop, Inc., copy charges, $55.71; Office Shop Leasing, office copier lease, $71.45; Personnel Concepts, labor law posters, $218.90; Powder River Energy Corp., electric service, $993.38; Powerphone, PD EMD training, $399.00; Range, E-911 and City share, $485.22; Rapid Delivery, Inc., parts delivery, $14.66; Ricks Electric, repair heat tape, $732.56; Genell Rothleutner, PD cleaning, $200.00; Short Stop Fuel Mart, fuel purchases, $6134.88; Smith Psychological Services, PD medical, $800.00; Michael Stulken, November 2020 attorney fee, $2800.00; Greg Stumpff, reimburse CDL, $46.00; Uber Geek Computer, computer ink, $158.76; Valli Information Systems, credit card service, $100.00; Becky Vodopich, city office cleaning, $300.00; Voice Products Service, LLC, annual maintenance, $18,972.60; WEBT, employee life insurance, $95.75; Weston County Road & Bridge, fuel purchase, $201.04; Weston County Treasurer, airport project & tax handling fee, $3525.47; Weston County Humane Society, food fee, $4.00; Woody’s Food Center, housekeeping supplies, $33.34; Wyoming Automotive Co., parts, $29.38.
 
Don Steveson, President
ATTEST: City Clerk/Treasurer, Greg James
 
(Publish November 26, 2020)