June 17, 2024 Newcastle City Council minutes

NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

MINUTES

Monday, June 17, 2024

Mayor Pam Gualtieri called this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. Those present were Council members Ann McColley, Daren Downs, John Butts, Tom Voss and Tyrel Owens. Also present were, City Attorney Dublin Hughes, Police Chief Derek Thompson, Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff, and Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty. Councilman Don Steveson was absent.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Ann McColley moved, seconded Daren Downs to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve the minutes of the regular meeting and executive session of Monday, June 3, 2024. MOTION CARRIED.

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS VERBAL: None

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—IN WRITING:

• Bruce Perkins requested a 24-hour catering permit from 8:00 a.m. July 12, 2024, to 8:00 a.m. July 13, 2024, for First Northern Bank Customer Appreciation Day. Tom Voss moved, seconded Tyrel Owens to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED.

• Volunteers of America submitted a request for summer sewer averaging. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Tom Voss to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED.

• Pam Gultieri requested a 24-hour catering permit from 8:00 a.m. June 29, 2024, to 8:00 a.m. June 30, 2024, at the Weston County Event Center for the Christensen wedding. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Tom Voss to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED.

OLD BUSINESS:

• Mayor Gualtieri referenced the Black Hills Energy franchise agreement, Ordinance No. 2, Series 2024.  Tom Voss moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve the third and final reading of Ordinance No. 2, Series 2024, AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A NONEXCLUSIVE FRANCHISE FROM THE CITY OF NEWCASTLE, WESTON COUNTY, WYOMING TO BLACK HILLS POWER, INC. d/b/a BLACK HILLS ENERGY, A SOUTH DAKOTA CORPORATION DOING BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF WYOMING, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, TO OPERATE AN ELECTRIC UTILITY SYSTEM WITHIN THE CITY OF NEWCASTLE, WYOMING FOR PROVIDING ELECTRIC SERVICE TO THE CITY OF NEWCASTLE AND THE INHABITANTS THEREOF AND ESTABLISHING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SAID FRANCHISE, INCLUDING THE EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF. MOTION CARRIED.

NEW BUSINESS: None

COMMITTEE REPORTS: None

DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:

• Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty reported that the Wyoming Community Gas 2023 community contribution of $5,743.66 had been received, this contribution had previously been designated to the Dow Park restrooms.

• Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff requested to promote Justin King to the foreman position at $27.00/hour with one-year probation. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Daren Downs to approve this request; discussion was had. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Stumpff will attend meetings in Cheyenne this week for the requested grant funds for the 2025 Improvement Project. Prebid meeting for the Duff Ave. project will be on June 19, 2024, and bids will be open on July 2, 2024. The rate analysis report was given to all council members for their review. Supervisor Stumpff requested a parks committee meeting to discuss the Veterans Memorial and a water/sewer committee meeting to discuss chapter 26 of the ordinances; emails will be sent to schedule the meetings. Mr. Stumpff inquired about the MOU between the Bent Sprockets and City of Newcastle, Attorney Hughes stated that the MOU was sent to Mr. Dedic. Mr. Stumpff requested to purchase a previously rented crack-seal machine for $41,735.00. Tom Voss moved, seconded Tyrel Owens to approve this request, discussion was had. MOTION CARRIED. Discussion of the 7th Ave. project, dog waste stations, and chlorination of Well #5 were also had.

• Police Chief Derek Thompson reported on calls of service, NPD 194, WCSO 88, UPD 19, NVFD 6, WCFP 9, UVFD 2, Newcastle Ambulance 24, and Upton Ambulance 7. He then reported that the personnel committee had met to discuss removing the Child Advocacy portion of the current open position. Ann McColley moved, seconded Tom Voss to remove the Child Advocacy portion, and readvertise for an Administrative Assistant at $17.00/hour. MOTION CARRIED. Chief Thompson requested a police committee meeting to discuss ordinance enforcement; a meeting will be scheduled next week.

• Attorney Dublin Hughes had no report.

CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Tom Voss to pay the claims against the City dated June 17, 2024. MOTION CARRIED.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Daren Downs to suspend the rules and enter into executive session referencing personnel per W.S. 16-4-405(a)(ii) at 7:32 p.m. Motion carried.  Tom Voss moved, seconded Daren Downs to return to regular session at 8:00 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. No action was taken coming out of this executive session. Tom Voss moved, seconded Daren Downs to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council. The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Claims: AdPro, supplies, $113.85; Advanced Communications, supplies, $135.00; Ameri-Tech, parts, $2,383.07; AT&T, PD cellphones, $353.38; Bierschbach Equip., battery, $190.58; Black Hills Energy, services, $11,297.22; Black Hills Plumbing, services, $1,966.50; CAN Surety, bond, $100.00; Culligan, water, $26.00; Decker’s, supplies, $131.55; Derek’s, repairs, $848.00; Eastern Wy. Equip., parts/supplies, $1,895.71; Energy Lab., analysis, $665.00; Engineering Assoc., services, $47,688.08; Farnsworth, portable sanitation, $450.00; Fired Up Rescue, supplies, $7,820.00; First Northern, excavator lease, $2,125.24; Gateway, fuel, $7,131.30 GVC Industries, supplies, $368.64; Heartland Kubota, parts, $489.82; Laboratory Corp., $32.80; Marco, plotter/copier leases, $541.89; Municipal Emergency Services, supplies, $434.27; Newcastle Ace Hardware, supplies, $1,522.97; Newcastle Equipment, repairs, $510.00; News Letter Journal, legals/ads/supplies, $1,608.50; Normont Equip, dura patcher rental, $5,217.00; Northwest Pipe, parts, $2,167.94; One Call of WY, services, $73.50; Postmaster, FD PO box fees, $342.00; Powder River Energy, services,$1,172.71; Range, phone/internet, $1,557.59; Sagebrush Marketing, website, $150.00; Short Stop, fuel, $1,288.98; Greg Stumpff, reimburse-travel/training, $272.42; Valli, maintenance, $145.65; Becky Vodopich, cleaning, $300.00; Wesco, propane/tank repair, $61.28; WC Road & Bridge, FD fuel, $491.66; Woody’s, supplies, $57.39; WY Machinery, loader/filter, $110,386.39

ATTEST:

Mayor Pam Gualtieri

Clerk/Treasurer

Stacy Haggerty

(Publish June 27, 2024)