Nov. 7, 2022 Newcastle City Council Minutes

NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

MINUTES

Monday, November 7, 2022

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 Don Steveson, Daren Downs, Lance Miles and Tyrel Owens. Also present were City Attorney Dublin Hughes, Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff and City Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty. 

Council woman Ann McColley was absent.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:  Clerk/Treasurer asked to remove charges for dispatch services from her reports and Mayor Gualtieri asked to add Executive Session referencing personnel and contracts. Don Steveson moved, seconded Tyrel Owens to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Don Steveson to approve the minutes of the regular meeting and executive session of Monday, October 17, 2022. Motion carried.

NOMINATIONS FOR RECOGNITION: 

CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: Thomas and Becca Curley were recognized for supporting Newcastle Main Street with the purchase of Donna’s Diner along with Archie & Sharon Callander for their work on the Senior Center flower beds.

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—IN WRITING: 

Tonya Christensen requested catering permits on behalf of Cap N’ Bottle for the Weston County Hospital Christmas Party to be held on November 12, 2022, Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Don Steveson to approve this request. Motion carried. Bart Loebs Benefit to be held on November 19, 2022, Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Daren Downs to approve this request. Motion Carried. Festival of Trees to be held on December 2, 2022. Don Steveson moved, seconded Tyrel Owens to approve this request. Motion carried.

Don Steveson moved, seconded Tyrel Owens to declare Pinnacle Bank a depository of public funds.  Motion carried.

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—VERBAL: 

Members of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce were present to discuss the Lighted Parade. There was also discussion regarding hours of operation and function of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce.

MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORTS:

Mayor Gualtieri requested Dave Ehlers to speak on behalf of the Heritage Park Steering Committee. Mr. Ehlers requested the Councils support in moving forward with this project and give the committee authority to seek out grants for the project. Don Steveson moved, seconded Tyrel Owens to approve this request. Motion carried. 

Mayor Gualtieri read a proclamation, proclaiming November 26, 2022 Small Business Saturday.

Discussion was had regarding Ordinance No. 5 regarding Trailer Parking. Ordinance will stand as is.  

Attorney Hughes will try to reach out to the individual responsible for the Ackley House.

Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Lance Miles to approve the Shooting Range Lease with suggested changes regarding dirt work. Motion carried.

DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:

City Attorney Dublin Hughes presented Ordinance No. 6, Series 2022 which heading reads AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY OF NEWCASTLE ZONING ORDINANCE NO. 13 SERIES 1985 AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; The keeping of chickens shall be allowed subject to certain criteria. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Lance Miles to pass Ordinance No. 6, Series 2022 with the deletion of the following sentence. “The applicant must also receive the signatures of all neighbors who property is within ten (10) feet of the applicants property boundaries.” Motion carried. Councilman Steveson was opposed. Attorney Hughes then referenced a previous proposal for the purchase of property from Ogden Driskill in the amount of $3,000 allowing access to Tank 1. Don Steveson moved, seconded Tyrel Owens to approve this purchase. Motion carries.

City Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty referenced materials provided from Government Jobs, the Council supported using this avenue for job postings. Request was made to close the office the day after Thanksgiving, using comp time or vacation time. Consensus agreed to this request.

Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff referenced the Public Works report for projects and work done. 

Mr. Stumpff requested $0.50 per hour raises for Wyatt Ivie and Reece Childress as they have received their CDL. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Don Steveson to approve this request. Request was made to put the water line replacement of S. Summit and Oak Street out to bid. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Daren Downs to approve this request. Request was then made to raise the Public Works department to 15 employees from 13. Council agreed.

Mayor Gualtieri reported calls of service for the Police Department: 240 in October, YTD 3,315 with 58 so far in November. She then stated that Police Chief Chuck Bowels had accepted the offer and will be starting December 5, 2022.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: A meeting with the Personnel Committee will be scheduled to discuss the job description for grant writer/administrator. 

OTHER BUSINESSS: Councilman Owens referenced the Newcastle Chamber. Chamber member Garrett Borton suggested supplying a quarterly report to the Council.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Referencing personnel W.S. 16-4-405(a)(ii) and contracts W.S. 16-4-405(a)(iii) Tyrel Owens motioned, seconded Daren Downs to suspend the rules and go into executive session at 8:42 p.m. Motion carried. Don Steveson moved, seconded Daren Downs to return to regular session at 9:39 p.m. Motion carried. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Don Steveson to add Abelardo Magana to the list of Reserve Officers if the need arises. Motion carried.

CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY:  Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Don Steveson to pay the claims against the City dated November 7, 2022. Motion carried. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Daren Downs to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 9:40 p.m. Meeting adjourned.

Claims:  Aced Embroidery, embroidery work, $1,380.00; AKTIVOV Asset Management, software license/implementation, $12,750.00; American Business Software, website maintenance, $86.14; Badges Ex Cetra, FD badges, $1,231.40; Presten Bennette, deposit refund, $14.10; Black Hills Energy, energy services, $13,279.07; Black Hills Plumbing, recovery form landfill, $3,330.00; Bomgaars, supplies, $510.96; Campbell Co. EMS, Emergency Services, $8,333.33; City of Newcastle, wa/sw/ga, $640.36; CAN Surety, bond, $100.00; Dakota Testing & Engineering, biosolid removal, $1,120.00; Decker’s, supplies, $155.61; Jordan Dowdy, deposit refund, $70.98; Heather Draine, reimbursement, $77.47; DRM Inc., contract work/materials, $7,213.99; Douglas Dumbrill, Municipal Judge, $1,078.40; Edge Construction, supplies, $7,833.20; Energy Laboratories, Inc. testing, $1,168.00; Engineering Associates, engineering services, $2,543.11; Farnsworth Services, contract work/portable sanitation, $6,345.00; FD Construction, pest control, $225.00; Ferguson Waterworks, meters, $5,220.00; FINVI, subscription, $2,400.00; Fisher Sand & Gravel, gravel, $1,315.14; Sandra Habig, deposit refund, $83.55; Mark Henry, deposit refund, $100.00; Robert Henry, deposit refund, $25.00; Andrew Hobart, deposit refund, $70.86; Hughes Law Office, attorney fees, $3,500.00; Kassidee Jeppesen, deposit refund, $65.56; Carol Kinney, flag work, $10.00; Marco, PD copier lease, $373.21; Master Card, supplies/training, $3,735.94; Dabannette Mitchell, deposit refund, $2.76; Newcastle Equipment, repairs/supplies, $16,126.44; Newcastle Volunteer Fire Dept., supplies, $541.81; News Letter Journal, ads/supplies, $1,134.27; Northwest Pipe Fittings, supplies, $1,194.11; Range, telephone service, $867.62; Rapid Delivery, delivery service, $21.45; Marshall Reece, deposit refund, $23.86; Rick’s Electric, electrical services, $955.36; Genell Rothleutner, cleaning service, $200.00; Salt Creek Water Dist., sewer services, $555.00; Robert Shook, deposit refund, $44.99; Short Stop, fuel, $4,779.11; Bryand Streeter, airport wages, $1,333.33; Summit Plumbing, plumbing services, $242.58; Tallgrass Landscape Architecture, Heritage Park feasibility study, $5,000.00; Lucky Teigen-Grummons, FD cleaning services, $300.00; USA Bluebook, supplies, $3,908.53; Verizon, cell phone service, $381.04; Becky Vodopich, $300.00; Weston Co. Road & Bridge, FD fuel, $356.15; Weston Co. Treasurer, handling charge/electrical/phone/airport expense, $1,543.62; WC Humane Society, impound dog food, $37.00; Whetsell Carpentry, PD remodel, $44,219.12; Woody’s, supplies, $193.00; Wyo Help, deposit refund, $100.00, Wyoming Office of State Lands, loan payments, $13,489.98

Pam Gualtieri, Mayor

ATTEST: City Clerk/Treasurer, Stacy Haggerty

(Publish November 24, 2022)