NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES Monday, May 20, 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 Don Steveson, Ann McColley, Daren Downs, John Butts, and Tyrel Owens. Also present were, City Attorney Dublin Hughes, Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff, Police Chief Derek Thompson, and Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty. Councilman Tom Voss was absent

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mayor Gualteri amended the agenda to add a board committee report under committee reports and an executive session per W.S. 16-4-405 (a)(ii) - personnel after claims against the City. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve the agenda as amended. MOTION CARRIED.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday, May 6, 2024. MOTION CARRIED.

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS VERBAL:

• Kyle Borger with WyoHelp was present to update the Council on the organization and introduce resident Channing Lutz as part of their staff.

• Tasha Townsend was present to ask for the Council’s support for the upcoming Madness on Main and Fall Festival events.

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—IN WRITING: None

OLD BUSINESS:

• Mayor Gualtieri referenced the Black Hills Energy franchise agreement. Ordinance No. 2, Series 2024. Discussion was had regarding separating the franchise fees from the ordinance or including the fees within the ordinance. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 2, Series 2024 which includes the franchise fees in the ordinance. 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: Councilman Owens reported on a Weston County Commissioner meeting where a resolution to form an ambulance district was passed, but the process to form the Ambulance District will be lengthy. Councilman Owens also reported on a Newcastle Recreation Board meeting where funding was a topic of discussion and he had invited them to attend the next Council Meeting.

DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:

• Police Chief Derek Thompson reported on calls of service, NPD 219, WCSO 94, UPD 21, NVFD 10, WCFP 10, UVFD 2, Newcastle Ambulance 24, Upton Ambulance 2. Chief Thompson then stated that he had given the surplus firearms to Matt Ramsey for Auction in April; the items have sold.

• City Attorney Dublin Hughes stated that he would be out of the office from May 24th to May 28th.

• Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty stated that final budget numbers had been sent out along with the legal notice for the budget hearing on June 3, 2024, at 7:15 p.m.

• Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff referenced resolution No. 2, series 2024, A RESOLUTION ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF NEWCASTLE TO REVERT BACK THE REMAINING WYOMING WATER DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FUNDING FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE NEWCASTLE WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS 2020 PROJECT. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve Resolution No. 2, Series 2024. Discussion was had. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Stumpff then referenced reverting back monies for the Dow Park restroom project, stating that he did not have the correct dollar amount available. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Don Steveson to table the conversation. MOTION CARRIED. Supervisor Stumpff reported that bids for the mini excavator had been opened on May 15, 2024. Titan Machinery’s bid was $104,970.00 including 5% for an out-of-state bid; Wyoming Machinery’s bid was $110,295.00. The recommendation is to award the bid to Wyoming Machinery as the low bidder did not meet all specifications. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Don Steveson to approve this recommendation. Discussion was had. MOTION CARRIED. Tyrel Owens inquired about onsite chlorine generation, there should not be any issues; reduction of carcass removal, there has been a decrease; dog waste stations, a permit is still being obtained from WYDOT.

CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Ann McColley to pay the claims against the City dated May 20, 2024. MOTION CARRIED.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Ann McColley moved, seconded Don Steveson to suspend the rules and enter into executive session referencing personnel per W.S. 16-4-405(a)(ii) at 8:04 p.m. Motion carried. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Ann McColley to return to regular session at 8:53 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. No action was taken coming out of this executive session. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Ann McColley to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council. The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Claims: Black Hills Energy, services, $6,684.12; Bobcat of Gillette, parts, $1,487.05; Butler Machinery, parts, $5,578.55; Cambria Supply, supplies, $20.88; Capser College, training, $788.00; Louie Castelli, reimbursement, $117.34; Contractors Supply, supplies, $2,211.72; Culligan, bottled water, $39.00; Decker’s, supplies, $26.66; Derek’s Field Service, repairs, $530.00; Eastern Wyoming Equipment, supplies, $1,477.60; Engineering Associates, services, $1,652.93; Farnsworth Services, portable sanitation, $450.00; First Norhtern Bank, PD vehicles, $2,180.06; Fisher Sand & Gravel, gravel, $6,023.05; Gateway Travel, fuel, $6,161.04; Jolly Lane, trees, $816.95; Laboratory Corp., testing, $131.20; Marco; copier leases, $996.79; Mission Communications, services, $5,430.60; Municipal Emergency Services, FD supplies, $181.78; Newcastle Ace, supplies, $1,942.00; Newcastle Equipment, supplies, $768.50; NVFD, fuel/practice supplies, $357.92; News Letter Journal, PD ads, $105.00; Northewest Pipe Fittings, supplies, $6,719.87; One Call, services, $80.25; P & W Paging, pagers/batteries, $3,307.25; Powder River Energy, services, $1,303.77; Range, phone/internet, $333.00; Rapid Delivery, delivery service, $23.40; Short Stop, fuel, $1,077.27; Jana Suazo, deposit refund, $100.00; Summit Plumbing, services, $348.39; Uline, office furniture, $4,048.11; Valli, monthly maintenance, $145.95; Vernon Manufacturing, key switch, $55.50; Becky Vodopich, cleaning, $300.00; Voelker’s, tires, $1,137.00; Wildland Services, construction, $34,706.80; Woody’s, supplies, $64.20; Wy. Apparatus, parts, $1,668.70; Wy. Law Enforcement Academy, training, $32.00.

ATTEST:

Mayor Pam Gualtieri

Clerk/Treasurer

Stacy Haggerty

(Publish May 30,  2024)