NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES Monday, March 2, 2026

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. Engineer Steven Dietrich was absent.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mayor Owens amended the agenda to add Jeremy Dedic for Backyard Park grants and Julie Domina for refurbishment of Newcastle signs under Citizen’s Business Verbal and Senator Barrasso’s speech under Committee/Council Member Reports. Ann McColley moved; Daren Downs seconded, to approve the amended agenda. There was clarification of Senator Barrasso’s speech. MOTION CARRIED.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Don Steveson moved; Ann McColley seconded, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Tuesday, February 17, 2026. MOTION CARRIED.

NOMINATION FOR RECOGNITION: None

CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: Bette Sample for her community spirit. 

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS VERBAL: 

• Members of the Newcastle Farmers Market were present to request the Council’s support for the upcoming season and requested designated handicap parking spaces during the Farmers Market, possibly in front of the Dogie Theatre and along the side of the library. 

• Kaitlyn Domina was present to discuss recent issues with the Donation Center items on the sidewalk outside the Doctor’s office and the phone call she had received. 

• Jeremy Dedic was present to request that the City apply for $200,000.00 in grant funding from the Wyoming Outdoors Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund with a deadline of April 11, 2026. Ann McColley moved; Thomas Voss seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED.

• Julie Domina with WyoDak Real Estate was present to request permission to refurbish the Welcome to Newcastle signs. Chris Kenney moved; Don Steveson seconded to approve this request. There was discussion about contacting Wilber Lease. MOTION CARRIED.

PUBLIC HEARING: as advertised at 7:30 p.m. to renew liquor licenses.

Retail Licenses:

License #1; Perkins Tavern, LLC d/b/a: Perkins Tavern; License #2; Short Stop #1, LLC, d/b/a. Short Stop Fuel Mart; License #3, Deckers Foods Center of Newcastle, Inc; License #4, Cap & Bottle, LLC; License #5, B&D Holding Newcastle, LLC; License #6, Mini Mart, Inc; License #7, BW Gas & Convenience Retail, LLC; License #8, Maverik, Inc.

Bar & Grill Licenses: 

License #1, Isabella’s LLC, d/b/a Isabella’s; License #2, Newcastle Lodge & Convention Center, LLC d/b/a Grazer’s Burgers & Beer.

Club Licenses:

License #1, Newcastle Country Club, d/b/a Newcastle Country Club.

Restaurant License:

Frida’s House Mexican Food, LLC, d/b/a Frida’s House Mexican Food, LLC.

Thomas Voss moved; Don Steveson seconded to approve the liquor licenses as presented. MOTION CARRIED.

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS IN WRITING: 

• Emily Hartinger submitted a banner application for the Class of 2026, to be hung May 1, 2026. Chris Kenney moved; Ann McColley seconded, to approve this application. MOTION CARRIED.

•Mayor Owens read letters regarding decreasing interest rates from First Northern Bank. The money market account will decrease from 3.9% to 3.55% effective 2/19/2026, and the sweeps account interest will decrease from 3.75% to 3.55% effective 2/20/2026.   

• Mountain View Plumbing and Heating submitted a request for a plumbing license, Master Plumber, Brian Olson. Daren Downs moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED.

OLD BUSINESS: None

NEW BUSINESS: None

COMMITTEE/COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS: 

• The Personnel Committee had met to interview an individual for City’s seat on the WC Travel Commission, the individual was a “no show” and the committee recommended to advertise for the seat again. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve this recommendation. MOTION CARRIED.

• The Streets Committee did not meet due to residents affected by the retaining wall not being able to attend. The meeting will be rescheduled. 

•The Water/Sewer Committee met and discussed the following: 4% of rates and advertising prior to implementing them; property owners with renters leaving delinquent water bills; bid for the Chlorination project being $150,932.00 over engineering estimate and recommended holding off on the 

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pump station project; Funding for Tank #2 project; The possibility of purchasing a new vac truck using SRF Lead Service Line loan with a 0% interest for ten (10) years; Lead Copper Rule updates; a computer program for rate analysis and scheduling a demonstration.   

• Mayor Owens referenced an investment policy template and stated that he has more material to present before asking for a Finance Committee meeting.

• Mayor Owens reported on his recent trip to Washington DC, where he was able to attend a speech given by Senator Barrasso in which he referenced Newcastle multiple times. 

DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:

• Engineer Steven Dietrich was not present due to attending the International Code Conference in Colorado. Supervisor Stumpff stated that there had been a re-plat notice printed in the newspaper on February 26, 2026, and that Mark Williams had resigned from the Planning & Zoning Board leaving a vacancy.  Chris Kenney moved; Ann McColley seconded to advertise for the vacancy. MOTION CARRIED.

• Police Chief Derek Thompson had left the meeting unexpectedly for an emergency and no report was given.

• Attorney Dublin Hughes reported that according to Town Code 22-9 business owners are responsible for snow removal and suggest that if there should be any accidents a personal attorney should be contacted.  

• Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty referenced the budget outline provided stating that budget worksheets had been placed in department head mailboxes with due date of March 27, 2026, requested to hold the Budget Workshop on April 13, 2026. As the Refinery will be on turn-around at that time, the workshop may need to be rescheduled. She then reported that she had received the renewal for employee health insurance through WEBT with no increases. Chris Kenney moved; Thomas Voss seconded to approve the renewal with WEBT. MOTION CARRIED. She then referenced the following: emails from WC Homeland Security for shelter training, plans for coroner and firefighting; clarification on the snap cylinders for air inquired about at the last meeting. 

• Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff referenced a handout with the EPA monitor and reporting requirements. He then requested approval of the Chlorination System bid for $849,946.00 to Strobel Energy Group as recommended by the Water/Sewer Committee. Thomas Voss moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve this recommendation and request. The need to have this project completed was discussed. MOTION CARRIED. He then recommended a $0.50/hr. raise for Stephen Smith effective March 2, 2026, as he has completed CDL training. Don Steveson moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve this recommendation. MOTION CARRIED. Supervisor Stumpff then reported on the following: Well #3 drive system has been replaced; placing the banner for the Backyard Park needs to be rescheduled due to weather; Carr Custom Fencing has started the fence at the Backyard Park. An inquiry was made regarding the installation of the volleyball net at Dow Park.

CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Thomas Voss moved; Don Steveson seconded to pay the claims against the City dated March 2, 2026. Councilman Kenney recused himself. MOTION CARRIED.

ADJOURNMENT: Chris Kenney moved; Thomas Voss seconded, to adjourn the regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 8:59 p.m. Meeting adjourned. 

Claims: 21 Electric, services, $478.75; Advance Communications, supplies, $168.00; Advanced Drug Testing, services, $31.20; Advanced Pump and Equipment, services, $15,401.31; Ameri-Tech, parts, $10,908.75; Badges Ex-Cetra, badges, $316.00; Black Hills Energy, services, $2,920.97; Blakeman, propane, $678.72; Bomgaars, supplies, $719.42; Campbell Co. EMS, services, $9,056.25; City of Newcastle, wa/sw/ga, $379.72; Dick Clifton, deposit refund, $73.17; Crook County Family Violence, 3rd qtr. distribution, $1,250.00; Derek’s Oil Field, services, $466.40; Douglas Dumbrill, municipal judge/mileage, $1,091.00; Engineering Assoc., services, $7,706.33; Environmental Products, parts, $899.61; First Northern Bank, lease payments, $4,305.29; Fisher, gravel, $214.02; Hughes Law, attorney fees, $4,500.00; Marchant Resources, portable sanitation, $1,250.00; Marco, IT/plotter, $3,363.19; Mastercard, travel/training/supplies/fuel, $3,242.94; Minuteman, battery/sensor, $485.00; Newcastle Ace Hardware, $417.75; Newcastle Area Chamber, 3rd qtr. distribution, $2,500.00 Newcastle Recreation Board, 1-3rd qtr. distributions, $30,000.00; NVFD, supplies/memberships/trainings, $873.31; Newman Traffic Signs, supplies, $1,018.35; Northern Safety Co. supplies, $343.79; Northwest Pipe, supplies, $625.00; Peleton, subscription, $528.00; Aidan Peterson, deposit refund, $65.77; PollardWater, supplies, $24.19; Gene Rutherford, deposit refund, $67.53; Bryand Streeter, airport wages, $1,333.33; Lucky Teigen-Grummons, FD cleaning, $300.00; Scott Thomson, reimbursement, $32.96; Traffic Signal Controls, parts, $160.84; Verizon, PW phone, 895.63; Becky Vodopich, cleaning, $600.00; Voelker’s, repairs, $260.47; Volunteers of America, 3rd qtr. distribution, $2,500.00; Volunteers of America, deposit refund, $6.98; Western Peaks Logistics, delivery fees, $59.82; WC Children’s Center, 3rd qtr. distribution, $2,250.00; WC Health, services, $158.00; WC Humane Society, 3rd qtr. distribution/food fee, $5,027.00; WC Senior Services, 3rd qtr. distribution, $7,500.00; Wyoming Assoc. Rural Water, registration, $405.00; Wy. Fire Chief’s Assoc., membership, $160.00; Wy Home Services, 3rd qtr. distribution, $2,000.00; Wy State Fireman’s Assoc., annual dues, $75.00

ATTEST:

Mayor Tyrel Owens

Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty

(Publish March 12, 2026)