NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL, MINUTES Monday, October 16, 2023

NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MINUTES
Monday, October 16, 2023
 
Mayor Pam Gualtieri called this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. Those present were Council members Don Steveson, Ann McColley, Daren Downs, John Butts, Tom Voss and Tyrel Owens via Zoom. Also present were, City Attorney Dublin Hughes, Police Sergeant Derek Thompson, Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff and Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty. 
 
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mayor Gualtieri stated that Census Funding listed under Citizen’s Business Verbal should be listed as Consensus Funding. Ann McColley moved, seconded Tom Voss to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
 
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Tom Voss moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve the minutes of the regular meeting and executive session of October 2, 2023. Motion carried.
 
NOMINATIONS FOR RECOGNITION: Don Walford for mowing along S. Summit to Old Hwy. 85. 
 
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: None
 
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—IN WRITING: Wyoming Honor Camp submitted a later requesting to be put on sewer averaging. Public Work’s Supervisor Greg Stumpff stated that he believed, the Honor Camp had received a special rate for sewer services in the past. Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty will look at past records. 
 
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—VERBAL: 
 
Ed Waggoner was present on behalf of the Weston County Commissioners, he stated that they had been awarded $93,498.00 in the 2015/2016 budget year. These funds were ear marked for solid waste projects. The County Commissioners would like to split these funds between Upton, Newcastle and Weston County. If a verbal commitment could be made a joint resolution will be drafted. Consensus was to move forward.
 
Bill Jackson with the Newcastle Ice Association was present update the Council on the upcoming season and asked when they could bring in the movable storage unit. Consensus was anytime. Discussion regarding lighting was also had. 
 
Cynthia Pearson along with Kevin and Charmaine Kringle were present to express their concerns about their water usage and billing.
 
Discussion was had. Councilman Tyrel Owens referenced third party rate consultants. Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff stated that both meters could be sent off for certified testing; meters will be sent out for testing. 
 
Bruce Perkins was present to request a 24-hour catering permit from 4:00 p.m. on November 4, 2023 to 4:00 p.m. on November 5, 2023 for the Weston County Health Services banquet to be held at the Weston County Event Center. Tom Voss moved, seconded Tyrel Owens to approve this request. Motion carried. 
 
MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORTS:
 
Councilman Tyrel Owens stated that he had been contacted by more constituents that were in favor of county policing over a city police department, while other Council members had stated the opposite. A Town Hall meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on October 30, 2023 at the Weston County Senior Services. 
 
Councilman Tom Voss stated that he had been contacted by residents regarding the diagonal parking near the Methodist Church. Discussion was had. 
 
OLD BUSINESS: 
 
Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff stated a drainage easement for Doell Avenue has not been found. He will contact the property owner. 
Mayor Gualtieri referenced Ordinance No. 7, Series 2023 which heading reads, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 13-9 OF ARTICLE II, CHAPTER 13 OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF THE CITY OF NEWCASTLE, WYOMING, 1961 TO INCREASE GARBAGE COLLECTION CHARGES AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Tom Voss moved, seconded Don Steveson to pass Ordinance No. 7, Series 2023 on the second reading. Motion carried.
 
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
 
City Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty had no report.
 
Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff stated that Reece Childress had given his resignation effective October 20, 2023. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Don Steveson to accept this resignation. Motion carried. Supervisor Stumpff then requested to hire Hunter Taylor at the rate of $18.00/hr. with one-year probation effective October 17, 2023. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve this request. Motion carried. Mr. Stumpff then stated that he planned to scale down the previously discussed FlexNet system from $82,901.98 to $43,003.75 to allow for other expenses within his department. He then referenced bids for the 2023 Paving Project recommending that the bid be awarded to Sacrison Paving, Inc. Don Steveson moved, seconded Tyrel Owens to award the bid to Sacrison Paving as recommended for 1st Ave. paving, Birch Street paving and N. Seneca mill and overlay, in the amount of $182,899.50 which allows the 5% increase of out-of-state contractors. Motion carried.   
 
Police Sergeant Derek Thompson requested to hire Haley Frank as a Dispatcher at the rate of $19.44/hr. with one-year probation. Tom Voss moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve this request. Motion carried. He then requested to offer McKinzie Parrish a conditional offer for the position as a Police Officer at the rate of $23.99/hr. with one-year probation to start mid to late November, pending a background check. Don Steveson moved, seconded Tom Voss to approve this request. Motion carried. Sergeant Thompson stated that the Police Officers will be moving into the new location on October 17, 2023. He then referenced a Voice Product Invoice stating that he had not received any correspondence back as of yet. Mayor Gualtieri referenced promoting Sergeant Thompson to the Chief of Police position. Don Steveson moved, seconded Tom Voss to promote Sergeant Thompson to the Police Chief position at the rate of $34.92/hr. increasing to $37.24/hr. after six (6) months, probation period to end one year after original hire date. Motion carried. Derek Thompson was sworn in as Chief of Police. 
 
City Attorney Dublin Hughes stated that the UBC Precast suit has been filed, Mr. Hoskins will have 30 days to respond once served. 
 
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: Mayor Gualtieri reported on a Parks Committee regarding the Bike Pump Park. Matt Friedel with Tallgrass Landscape Architecture will be working on a design. Property owners on Deanne Court were contacted regarding the park. Ann McColley moved, seconded Tom Voss to designate Lot 1, Block 2 of Washington Park Subdivision to the Bike Pump Park. Motion carried.   
 
OTHER BUSINESSS: Councilman Tyrel Owens reported on the EMS workshop held in Upton. Forming an EMS district was discussed and possibly adding it to the election ballot. Mayor Gualtieri also reported on an EMS meeting that she had attended at Weston County Health Services. Mayor Gualtieri referenced an event form for Trunk or Treat to be held on Main Street starting at 4:00 p.m. on October 31, 2023.
 
CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Tom Voss moved, seconded Tyrel Owens to pay the claims against the City dated October 16, 2023. Motion carried. Daren Downs moved, seconded Don Steveson to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council. Meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m.
 
Claims: 4R Graphic Designs, decals, $783.30; Advanced Communications, chargers, $75.00; Alpha Communications, tower rent, $95.00; BCN, long distance service, $102.00; Michael Belcourt, deposit refund, $22.80; Big Horn Tire, tires/supplies, $11,103.52; Black Hills Energy, energy services, $12,664.53; Cambria Supply, parts/supplies, $1,466.99; CNA Surety, bonds, $193.56; Barbara Collier, deposit refund, $65.32; Contractor’s Supply, parts, $1,291.01; Culligan, bottled water, $52.00; Dana Kepner, parts, $2,104.00; Decker’s, supplies, $77.39; Eastern Wyoming Equipment, parts/supplies, $3,463.92; Energy Labs., testing, $132.00; Engineering Associates, services, $15,236.55; Ferguson, parts/supplies, $2,298.96; Ginger Fields, deposit refund, $81.94; Fisher, gravel/concrete rock, $4,529.02; Gateway Travel Center, fuel, $7,993.28; Hansen Equipment, parts, $407.01; Chris Hollingsworth, $80.71; Jenner Equipment, filters, $51.82; Richard King, deposit refund, $53.95; William Kirsch, deposit refund, $98.06; LinkTech, support, $1,950.00; Marco, PD copier lease, $313.77; Hillary McNees, mileage, $193.88; Tonia Mills, reimbursement/staples, $12.49; Mountain View Plumbing, services, $276.00; Newcastle Ace Hardware, parts/supplies, $1,212.10; Newcastle Equipment, repairs, $933.10; NVFD, conference/classes, $384.94; News Letter Journal, ads/legals/supplies, $2,148.19; One Call of Wy., CDC/CON, $76.50; Range, telephone/internet, $1,360.40; Rocky Mountain Information, annual membership, $50.00; Genell Rothleutner, PD cleaning, $200.00; Russell Industries, parts, $5,621.00, Short Stop, fuel, $1,933.70; Michael Staiger, mileage, $358.94; Sundowner Inn, reserve dispatchers, $280.00; Titan Machinery, parts, $2,233.89; Truck Component Services, satellite machine, $34,235.04; Uline, PW apparel, $966.94; Valli, monthly maintenance, $139.04; Becky Vodopich, cleaning services, $300.00; Wesco, propane, $717.95; WC Road & Bridge, FD fuel, $529.74; WC Treasurer, airport expenses, $695.91; Woody’s, supplies, $156.75
 
Pam Gualtieri, Mayor
ATTEST: City Clerk/Treasurer, Stacy Haggerty
 
(Publish October 26, 2023)