NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES Monday, March 17, 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; John Butts seconded to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chris Kenney moved; Thomas Voss seconded to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday, March 3, 2025. Don Steveson stated that he was not present at the last meeting as reflected in the minutes; the minutes will be corrected to reflect his absence. MOTION CARRIED.

SWEARING IN: Reserve Police Officer, Kevin
Allen was sworn in.

CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: None

NOMINATION FOR RECOGNITION: None

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS VERBAL:

• Pam Gualtieri was present to update the council on the Classic Summer Drags event to be held this summer.

• Pam Gualtieri referenced the newly formed Economic Development Board stating that they plan to work for the development of Weston County as a whole and plan to give periodic reports to Weston County Commissioners, Town of Upton and the City of Newcastle.

• WC Commissioners were present to discuss the formation of an EMS District. County Commissioner Nathan Todd stated that a resolution had been passed in 2023, and the process is moving forward.

• Members of the Newcastle soccer league, youth softball league and baseball league were present to express their concerns about field use, scheduling conflicts and proposed MOU’s. The Council’s recommended that the three (3) leagues meet to work out the conflicts amongst themselves and bring back updated MOU’s if needed.   

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS IN WRITING:

• The Weston County Museum District submitted a letter requesting summer sewer averaging. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve summer sewer averaging for the Anna Miller Museum. MOTION CARRIED.

• Generation Plumbing submitted a request for plumbing license; master plumber, Benjamin Beautiful Bald Eagle; journeyman plumber, Justin Stiefvater; apprentice plumber, Hayden Wozna.  John Butts moved; Don Steveson seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED.

OLD BUSINESS: Mayor Owens referenced the MOU between the Newcastle Youth Softball League and the City. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve the MOU. Discussion was had regarding softball league, soccer league and baseball league meeting to discuss conflicts in schedules and field use. MOTION DENIED.

NEW BUSINESS: None

COMMITTEE/COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS: Mayor Owens reported on the North East Wyoming Region II meeting that he and other council members had attended, stating that it was an informative and good networking meeting. He then referenced starting a Boys & Girls Club, operating under a previously established club may be a possibility. Mayor Owens stated that he had spoken with the city administrator of Gillette regarding snow removal, the city of Gillette does still spend 2-3 million dollars per year on snow removal. Councilman Voss stated that there had been discussion about residents pushing snow into the city streets during a recent committee meeting. Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff reported on the streets committee meeting referencing the snow removal policy and the Farmers Market downtown locations. Mayor Owens had spoken with Sheriff Colvard about the removal of the law enforcement no-parking signs on West Warwick Street, Sheriff Colvard did not have any issues with the signs being removed. John Butts moved; Chris Kenney seconded to remove the signs. Councilman Steveson asked if Chief Thompson had any issues with the signs being removed, there were no issues. MOTION CARRIED.Don Steveson reported on a water committee meeting stating that they had discussed Cambria Improvement District’s agreement and rates along with residential water rates; it was recommended that Attorney Hughes draft an amendment to clarify the language of the current agreement. Don Steveson moved; Chris Kenney seconded for Attorney Hughes to draft the amendment. MOTION CARRIED.

DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:

• Police Chief Derek Thompson reported on calls of service from March 3, 2025; NPD 156, WCSO 123, UPD 0, NVFD 4, WCFP 2, UVFD 2, Newcastle Ambulance 19, and Upton Ambulance 2. Chief Thompson reported that two (2) companies had looked at the roof and hope to have estimates soon. He stated that information about the internship program had been provided during the Job Fair held at the high school. Chief Thompson reported that the police department has been very busy with multiple controlled substances cases.

• Attorney Dublin Hughes referenced Ordinance No. 1, Series 2025 which heading reads; AN ORDINANCE ANNEXING TERRITORY DESCRIBED IN THE PETITION FOR ANNEXATION DATED JANUARY 10, 2025. Thomas Voss moved; John Butts seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1, Series 2025 on the first reading. MOTION CARRIED.

• Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty had no report.

• Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff requested a $0.50/hr. raise for Scott Thomson for completing entry level CDL effective March 5, 2025. Ann McColley moved; Thomas Voss seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Stumpff reported that he is working with WYDOT on the permits for the jake-brake signs. He then reported that the water meter for Well #1 used for reporting had quit working and needs replaced; meters for Well #2 and #4 are the same age and money can be saved if all three (3) meters are ordered at once, total cost around $14,000. Chris Kenney moved; seconded Don Steveson to approve the purchase of the three (3) meters. MOTION CARRIED. Supervisor Stumpff then referenced the clean rock for Sage Street estimated to be around $3,718, he reported that he has several other needs for this budget period; chip and spray may be the better option for this project later. He reported that the roll-off truck is currently out of service; the statement of intent for the Hwy. 16 Pathway project has been submitted; EV charging stations are still being investigated. Mr. Stumpff then stated that the request for qualifications for the 2026 Improvement projects have been reviewed and recommended requesting a proposal from WWC Engineering. Don Steveson moved; seconded Chris Kenney to approve this recommendation. MOTION CARRIED. He then referenced the provided chlorination report stating that EPA has required continuous disinfection or development and implementation of a plan to eliminate the issues; repairs to Tank #1 may not be the most fiscally responsible plan; plans for replacing tanks have been built into the rate study as future projects. Don Steveson moved; Ann McColley seconded to move forward with providing chlorination for the distribution system. Discussion about other possible options was had. MOTION CARRIED.   

CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to pay the claims against the City dated March 17, 2025. MOTION CARRIED.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Don Steveson moved; Thomas Voss seconded to suspend the rules and enter executive session referencing litigation per W.S. 16-4-405 (a)(iii) at 9:24 p.m. Motion carried. Daren Downs moved; Thomas Voss seconded to return to regular session at 10:01 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. John Butts moved; Thomas Voss seconded to take no action towards litigation at this time. Mayor Owens requested to add the former Police Chief Chuck Bowles’ name to the motion. John Butts moved; seconded Thomas Voss to amend the motion to state that no action would be taken at this time regarding the litigation with former Police Chief Chuck Bowles. MOTION CARRIED.

ADJOURNMENT: Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 10:04 p.m. Meeting adjourned.

Claims: 3M, evaluations, $1,450.00; Advanced Drug Testing, services, $31.20; Ameri-Tech, supplies, $534.47; American Ramp Co., engineering/design, $20,925.00; APWA, membership, $419.00; Bierschbach, supplies, $575.00; Black Hills Energy, services, $13,318.89, Black Hills Plumbing, services, $724.70; Cambria Supply, supplies, $427.65; Dana Kepner, supplies, $2,487.80; Decker’s, supplies, $89.81; Eastern Wy. Equip., parts/supplies, $3,569.97; Energy Labs, services, $152.00; Engineering Associates, services, $30,680.03; Environmental Products, supplies, $887.71; Farnsworth Services, services/portable sanitation, $1,930.00; Ferguson, meter, $17,530.00; Fisher, gravel, $1,379.33; Gateway Travel, fuel, $9,470.85; Heartland Kubota, parts, $83.65; Ketel Thorstenson, audit, $6,621.43; Lab. Corp., testing, $32.80; LinkTech, PD IT/repairs, $1,569.79; Marco, copier/plotter leases, $901.69; Newcastle Ace Hardware, supplies, $1,035.43; Newcastle Equipment, parts/repairs, $799.50; Newcastle Wy. Veterans Memorial, donation, $5,000.00; News Letter Journal, ads/legals/supplies, $2,784.45; Norco, supplies, $970.03; Northwest Pipe Fittings, supplies, $1,157.66; One Call of Wy., services, $13.65; Powder River Energy, services, 1,383.82; Range, services, $1,136.23; Sagebrush Marketing, website, $300.00; Salt Creek Water Dist., sewer services, $555.00; Short Stop, fuel, $873.94, Scott Thomson, CDL reimbursement, $47.25; Valli, services, $187.60; Becky Vodopich, cleaning, $300.00; WC Health Services, screenings, $470.00; WC Peace Officers Assoc., membership dues, $90.00; WC Road & Bridge, FD fuel, $132.05; WC Treasurer, airport/taxes, $506.10; WC Solid Waste Dist., tipping fees, $9736.30; Woody’s, supplies, $11.00; Wy. Fire Chiefs Assoc., membership, $190.00; Wy. Machinery, supplies, $219.14

ATTEST:

Mayor Tyrel Owens

Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty

(Publish March 27, 2025)