NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES Monday, August 18, 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, Don Steveson and Thomas Voss. Also present were Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff, Police Chief Derek Thompson, Attorney Dublin Hughes and Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mayor Owens amended the agenda to add Stan Jasinski under citizens business verbal. Chris Kenney moved; seconded Ann McColley to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Ann McColley moved; seconded Daren Downs, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting and executive session of Monday, August 4, 2025. MOTION CARRIED.

NOMINATION FOR RECOGNITION: Bernie Terry for her work on the coal car at the post office.

CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: Mason Kaiser for the tuff truck events. 

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS VERBAL:

• Mike Morrison, Louise Stith, and Kim Praeuner with First Northern Bank were present to discuss investments and importance of community involvement. Mayor Owens suggested a finance committee meeting for further discussion.

• Billy Jackson was present to discuss concerns about the newly amended jake brake ordinance; they are allowed in the areas that Mr. Jackson was concerned about.  

• Stan Jasinski with the WC Freedom Festival Committee was present to invite the Council to a memorial event at the future sight of the Veterans Memorial near Pinnacle Bank on September 11, 2025, starting at 5:00 p.m. 

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS IN WRITING:

• 307 Smoke & Vape Haven requested a 24-Hour malt beverage sales permit for the Madness on Main event within the barricaded areas of Main Street from 9:00 a.m. on August 29, 2025, to August 30, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Ann McColley moved; Daren Downs seconded to approve this request. Discussion was had regarding the location of sales. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Wieburg also requested relaxation of the open container law for this event from noon to 10:00 p.m. within the barricaded areas on August 30, 2025. Ann McColley moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED.

OLD BUSINESS: 

• Mayor Owens referenced the American Legal Publishing Quote and Civic Plus quotes; the quote from American publishing was $7,100.00 for six (6) copies while the Civic Plus quote was $15,143.70 for 25 copies. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to table the discussion. MOTION CARRIED. 

• Mayor Owens referred to the Rural Community Assistance Corporation presentation from the last meeting asking if the Council was in favor of the $15,000 match, $3,000 per year for the next three (3) years. Thomas Voss moved; Ann
McColley seconded to move forward with the RCAC program. Discussion was had regarding benefit to the City, type of grant and funding for a community coordinator. Mayor Owens asked members to vote by show of hand, none were
opposed. MOTION CARRIED.

NEW BUSINESS: 

• Mayor Owens referenced RVs in mobile home districts, Ordinance No. 7, Series 2025. In Engineer Bartlett’s absence Councilman Butts reported that the Buildings Committee was in
favor of adopting the ordinance. John Butts moved; Thomas Voss to adopt the ordinance. Discussion was had regarding planning and
zoning and other verbiage in the ordinance. John Butts withdrew his motion. Thomas Voss moved, seconded Chris Kenney table the discussion. MOTION CARRIED.

• In Engineer Bartletts absence Daren Down moved; Thomas Voss moved to table the
discussion for Re-platting Lots 21-24, Block 11. MOTION CARRIED.

COMMITTEE/COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS:

Mayor Owens reported on a meeting the Wy. Business Council/Harvard Growth Lab and the EMS Capacity Study. Mayor Owens reported that although no business was conducted at these meetings a quorum was present, and notices will be posted in the future. Councilman Steveson reported on a personnel committee; budgeted 4% cost of living raises for all employees and department head positions were discussed. The committee recommended making Steve Dietrich the department head of engineering and Greg Stumpff the department head of public works. John Butts moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve this recommendation. Discussion was had regarding the layout of the agenda and Mr. Dietrich would sit. MOTION CARRIED.   

DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:

• Clerk Treasurer Stacy Haggerty stated that she had contacted the auditor about funds for the proposed Police Department internship, it is not necessary to have a separate bank account they can keep these funds separate and restricted for the internship program. 

• Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff introduced Engineer Steve Dietrich. He then referenced the notice to proceed for the 2025 Improvements – phase I & II. John Butts moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve this recommendation.MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Stumpff referenced Resolution No. 5-2025 for Tank 2 Rehabilitation project. Ann McColley moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve Resolution No. 5-2025. Discussion was had regarding the location of Tank 2 and adding sandblasting and painting to the project was. MOTION CARRIED. There was a consensus to keep the dogie head on the tank. A request to open Landfill No. 1 Remediation project up to bid with DEQ was made. Thomas Voss moved; John Butts seconded to approve this request. Mr. Stumpff stated that two (2) public meetings are planned; West Railroad Water Improvements at 6:00 p.m. September 15, 2025, and Wastewater, Stormwater Masterplan at 6:00 p.m. on September 16, 2025. He then referenced an administrative order of consent for Landfill No. 2 closure. Chris Kenney moved; seconded Ann McColley to approve the signing of the administrative order of consent. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Stumpff then reported on the following: volleyball nets and post, a Level 1 assessment, mowing along Sage Street, capacity development and the lift station. Inquiries about $19,600 for D6 dozer repairs and mowing a vacant lot on Bonnie Brae were made. 

• City Attorney Dublin Hughes referenced junk ordinances and nuisance abatement ordinances. He would like to change the waiting period from 30 days to two (2) weeks. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley to amend ordinance No. 17-37 to lessen the time frame from 30 days to two (2) weeks. Discussion was had regarding the fine amounts. Thomas Voss amended his motion to state 1st offense - $50.00, 2nd offense - $250.00, 3rd offense - $750.00, Ann McColley seconded. Kathy Longland expressed her thoughts. MOTION CARRIED. Attorney Hughes will continue to work on the abatement of nuisances. 

• Police Chief Derek Thompson reported on calls of service from August 4, 2025; NPD 174, WCSO 161, UPD 42, NVFD 14, WCFP 17, UVFD 10, Newcastle Ambulance 14, Upton Ambulance 3, he provided a handout for the breakdown of NPD calls. He reported that the truck traffic has subsided and hopes that issue will be resolved once the bypass opens. Chief Thompson reported that there had been multiple cases of fake currency reported, flyers have been given out and information will be posted on social media. He reported that they will be working with WOSCOP on a pilot program that offers resources to officers responding to mental health crisis calls. The Streets Committee had met and recommended putting signs on both sides of Main Street prohibiting toy vehicles. Thomas Voss moved; John Butts seconded to put signs prohibiting bicycles, skateboards, etc. on sidewalks of Main Street from Summit to Railroad on both sides of the street. MOTION CARRIED. There was more discussion about truck traffic through town. 

CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to pay the claims against the City dated August 18, 2025. MOTION CARRIED.

ADJOURNMENT: Ann McColley moved; seconded to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 9:07 p.m. Meeting adjourned. 

Claims: Ad-Pro, supplies, $171.14; Advanced Drug Testing, services, $31.20; Black Hills Energy, services, $14,025.08; Buffalo Creek Graphics, decals, $81.90; Cambria Supply, supplies, $583.88, Croell, concrete, $278.00; Cummis, repairs, $454.12; Dakota Fluid Power, parts, $91.78; Derek’s Field Service, repairs, $19,263.20; Nita Dockery, deposit refund, $100.00; Eastern Wy. Equip., parts/supplies, $941.88; Engineering Assoc., services, $22,100.90; Fire Cat, services, $7,394.10; Fisher, gravel, $2,645.51, Gateway Travel, fuel, $5,379.93; Grant Writing USA, training, $990.00; Heartland Kubota, parts, $136.07; Laboratory Corp., testing, $32.80; Legal & Liability Risk, training, $150.00; LInkTech, PD IT, $1345.00; Marco, copier fees, $569.19; Mastercard, supplies/travel/training/fuel, $3,331.58; NVFD, training/supplies, $1,757.16; News Letter Journal, ads/legals, $2,262.75; Northern Safety, supplies, $305.04; One Call, services, $119.70; Powder River Energy, services, $1,068.63; Range, services, $1,295.44; Rapid Delivery, services, $70.20; Reiniger Custom Services, repairs, $3,857.81; Sagebrush Marketing, website, $150.00; Short Stop, fuel, $1,225.48; Smith Psychological, pre-employment services, $400.00; Stephen Smith, reimbursement, $19.51; Spearfish Equip., parts, $49.36; Becky Vodopich, cleaning, $300.00; Western Co. Health, pre-employment/screening, $483.00; WC Road & Bridge, FD fuel, $127.81; WC Treasurer, hanger project/airport expenses/handling fees, $22,525.60; WC Weed & Pest, services, $200.69; WC Solid Waste Dist., tipping fees, $13,629.70.

ATTEST:

Mayor Tyrel Owens

Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty

(Publish August 28, 2025)