NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES Monday, April 21, 2025
NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MINUTES
Monday, April 21, 2025
Mayor Tyrel Owens called this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Council members John Butts, Daren Downs, Chris Kenney, Ann McColley, Thomas Voss and Don Steveson. Also present were Attorney Dublin Hughes, Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff, Police Chief Derek Thompson and Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Ann McColley moved; Daren Downs seconded to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Don Steveson moved; Daren Downs seconded to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday, April 7, 2025. MOTION CARRIED.
NOMINATION FOR RECOGNITION: Jen Womack for her store front and activities on Main Street.
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: Supervisor Greg Stumpff and the City Crew for the procurement of over one million dollars in grant funding.
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS VERBAL: None
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS IN WRITING:
• Dakota Wire works Inc. d/b/a Dakota Electric submitted a request for an electrical contractor license; master electrician, Brent Olson; journeyman, Kyle Beltman and Benjamin Beadles; apprentices, Joshua Long and Cameron Stern. Thomas Voss moved; John Butts seconded to approve this request. Discussion about residential and commercial electrical contractors was had. MOTION CARRIED.
• Linda Hunt submitted a memorandum for the second block of Sage Street; the issues should be resolved after the Duff Ave. project is completed. A letter will be sent out to Ms. Hunt.
OLD BUSINESS:
• Ordinance No. 1, Series 2025 which heading reads; AN ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY DESCRIBED IN THE PETITION FOR ANNEXATION DATED JANUARY 10, 2025. Don Steveson moved; Thomas Voss seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1, Series 2025 on the third and final reading. Discussion was had regarding stipulations of annexations.MOTION CARRIED.
• Ordinance No. 2, Series 2025 which heading reads; AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE SEC. 4-12 OF THE NEWCASTLE TOWN CODE; public nuisance, dogs or cats. Thomas Voss moved; Daren Downs seconded to approve Ordinance No. 2, Series 2025 on the second reading. Attorney Hughes noted that subsection (a) should include “; or” Thomas Voss moved; Daren Downs seconded to amend the motion to include “; or”. MOTION CARRIED.
• Mayor Owens referenced a MOU signed by the Baseball League, Youth Softball Association and Soccer League. Don Steveson moved; Chris Kenney seconded to reschedule the MOU discussion for the next meeting and invite individuals from each organization to attend. Discussion about an annual review of the MOU was had. MOTION CARRIED.
NEW BUSINESS: None
COMMITTEE/COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS:
Councilman Chris Kenney reported on an appearance committee meeting; they had discussed the proposed permit for allowing merchants to place items on the sidewalks. The committee recommends a quarterly fee of $25.00 for the permit. Mr. Kenney noted that events would be exempt from the permit fee. John Butts moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve the $25.00 quarterly permit fee. MOTION CARRIED. Don Steveson reported on a police committee meeting; they had discussed the possible need for cameras at the police evidence impound. The committee needs more time to discuss options before making a recommendation, another meeting will be scheduled. Mayor Owens reported on the preliminary meeting with Brandy Harlow and the Harvard Growth Lab; this meeting was to gather information about Newcastle.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
• Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty referenced the new rates for WEBT employee health insurance. Ann McColley moved; Don Steveson to approve the new rates. Inquiry about the amount of increase was made, increase was 7% on medical. MOTION CARRIED.
• Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff requested to decrease the interest on current loans to 1% and identify Mayor Owens and Clerk Haggerty as signatories on required paperwork. Daren Downs moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED. There was no report for Landfill #1 remediation. Mr. Stumpff recommended awarding the bid for the trench drain work to Julio Holguin for $24,900.00. Thomas Voss moved; Daren Downs seconded to approve this recommendation. Discussion was had about the contractor; Mr. Holguin is a local contractor. MOTION CARRIED. Supervisor Stumpff requested to advertise for bids on the 2025 Improvement project. Don Steveson moved; Daren Downs seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED. He then requested to advertise for bids on the purchase of a skid steer. Chris Kenney moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve this request. Discussion was had about how soon the skid steer would be available and if the Bobcat would be sold, new skid steer should be in stock, and Bobcat will be used in shop yard. MOTION CARRIED. A request was made to purchase a 2018 Ford F150XL in the amount of $23,000.00 with 67,000 miles. Thomas Voss moved; Don Steveson seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED. Councilman Kenney inquired about moving the volleyball net at Dow Park, plans will be made to move the net to run from north to south. Mayor Owens inquired about the Rural Water conference; the conference went well.
• Police Chief Derek Thompson reported on calls of service from April 7, 2025; NPD 106, (including: 23 traffic stops, 1 domestic violence call, 3 traffic crashes) WCSO 100, UPD 2, NVFD 1, WCFP 2, UVFD 1, Newcastle Ambulance 15 (Newcastle 7, WC 4, Osage 2, Custer 1) and Upton Ambulance 2. Chief Thompson stated that the new phone system is operating efficiently. He also stated that he has an interview scheduled for the CSO position on April 23, 2024, but does not have any interviews scheduled for peace officer positions as the candidates were not available at the scheduled time. Councilman Steveson inquired if there were other available times for interviews, Chief Thompson stated that he did not feel that candidate a good fit for the department. Chief Thompson reported that the marketing video is being distributed, the News Letter Journal has also compiled materials to target local applicants. He then reported that there has been an increase in complaints about ordinance violations and the time taken to correct the violations, he plans to have a presentation next meeting for ideas to amend some ordinances. Councilman Kenney inquired about bids for the roof, no bids have been received.
• Attorney Dublin Hughes stated that he plans to have revisions for the water and sewer ordinance ready for the next meeting.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Thomas Voss moved; Don Steveson seconded to pay the claims against the City dated April 21, 2025. MOTION CARRIED.
ADJOURNMENT: Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 8:11 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
Claims: 21 Electric, services, $3,458.69; Aced Embroidery, services, $388.50; Advanced Communications, supplies, $20.00; Advanced Drug Testing, services, $31.20; Ameri-Tech, lift-gate, $3,166.84; Bob Auch, CDL reimbursement, $45.00; Avenue Insights, server migration, $1,500.00; Black Hills Energy, services, $1,270.91; Black Mountain, software, $400.00; Campbell Co. Health, CPR/AED/1st Aid, $150.00; Eastern Wy. Equip., supplies, $5,056.05; Energy Lab., CCR report, $125.00; Farnsworth Services, portable sanitation, $1,200.00; Fisher Sand & Gravel, jbase, $169.32; Hot Iron, Duff Ave., $44,918.08; Hot Iron, Duff Ave. retainage, $2,364.11; Lab Corp., services, $65.60; LinkTech, PD/IT, $1,394.80; Marco, plotter/copier fees, $549.85; Mastercard, supplies/training/fuel, $3,745.08; Mountain Plains Audiology, screenings, $490.00; Municipal Emergency Services, supplies, $1,661.66; Kody Nagle, deposit refund, $100.00; Newcastle Ace Hardware, supplies, $957.82; Newcastle Equipment, repairs, $500.35; NVFD, supplies/services/training, $876.33; Norco, supplies, $171.13; Northwest Pipe, supplies, $742.32; One Call, CDC/CON, $101.85; Petty Cash, reimburse/supplies, $59.22; Powder River Energy, services, $1,297.98; Summit Plumbing, services, $770.00; Radar Shop, certifications, $546.00; Turbiville Industrial, repairs, $1,229.03; USA Bluebook, parts, $362.00; Valli, services, $141.61; Becky Vodopich, cleaning, $300.00; WC Treasurer, airport expenses/handling fee, $4,351.99; Wilson Plumbing, services, $300.00; Wy. Office of State Lands, loan payment/interest, $9,736.20
Attest Mayor Tyrel Owens
Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty
(Publish May 1, 2025)