NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES Tuesday, February 17, 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, Ann McColley, Don Steveson and Thomas Voss. Also, present were Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff, Engineer Steven Dietrich, Police Chief Derek Thompson, Attorney Dublin Hughes and Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty. Councilman Chris Kenney was absent. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Daren Downs moved; Ann McColley seconded, to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Ann McColley moved; Daren Downs seconded, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday, February 2, 2026. MOTION CARRIED.

APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL AUDIT: Thomas Voss moved; Daren Downs seconded to approve the annual audit as presented. MOTION CARRIED.

NOMINATION FOR RECOGNITION: Bette Sample for her community spirit. 

CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: Weston County Natural Resource District for the Story Walk, and Debra Lake for her work with Hoover’s Peace. 

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS VERBAL: None

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS IN WRITING: 

•Chris Hislop submitted a letter of interest for the City’s open seat on the Weston County Travel Commission Board. Thomas Voss moved; John Butts seconded, for the Personnel Committee to meet with Mr. Hislop. MOTION CARRIED.

•Black Hills Plumbing submitted a request for a plumbing license: Master Plumber, William Simianer; Apprentice, Doug Anderson. Thomas Voss moved; Don Steveson seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED.

OLD BUSINESS: 

•Mayor Owens referenced the Building Inspector position stating that the Town of Upton would not need to utilize the inspector on a regular basis. There was some discussion regarding the need for a full-time or part-time position and whether the position could help within the Public Works department. The Personnel Committee will meet to discuss the position further.  

•Mayor Owens stated that he had attended the County Commissioners’ meeting to discuss adding the 6th Penny Tax onto the ballot. The Commissioners would like additional information and a list of projects that the tax revenue would be used for. Ann McColley moved; Thomas Voss seconded for Mayor Owens to take the requested information back to the Commissioner at their next meeting. MOTION CARRIED.

•Mayor Owens reported that Engineer Steven Dietrich had also attended the Commissioners’ meeting to discuss sharing engineering resources with the County.  

Continued on Page B7

NEW BUSINESS: 

•Mayor Owens read a letter in support of the Weston County Natural Resource District’s Northeast Wyoming Habitat Improvement Project.  Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to support this letter. MOTION CARRIED.

•Mayor Owens referenced a letter requesting guidance from the Newcastle Recreation Board. There was discussion to advertise the board’s vacancies, and the Board Committee plans to attend the next Recreation Board meeting. 

COMMITTEE/COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS: 

•Mayor Owens reported on the WAM conference he had attended stating that he had attended some of the Legislative Committee meetings where there was quite a bit of discussion about cuts in property taxes.

•Mayor Owens stated that the Economic Development Committee had met with Kylie Anderson who is with Senator Barraso’s office. They discussed projects with Rare Earth Resources and the need for updated gas line infrastructure.

•The Personnel Committee had not met but had an interview scheduled. Mayor Owens reported that he had received a text message from the interview candidate, canceling the interview. 

•Mayor Owens reported that during the Commissioners meeting there was discussion about dissolving the City of Newcastle, Town of Upton, and Weston County, Wyoming Combined Dispatch Joint Powers Board, the board is currently out of compliance with the Department of Audit. Police Chief Thompson stated that the 2024 audit had been completed, and their auditor was working on the 2025 audit but should have filed for an extension; he hopes this will satisfy their noncompliance. A meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on February 18, 2026, at the Weston County Annex.  

•Mayor Owens reported that he had talked with an upset constituent regarding a call she had received requesting items to be removed from the sidewalk outside her business. There was discussion about snow removal and the need for a sidewalk permit. 

DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:

•Police Chief Derek Thompson reported on calls of service between January 30th – February 13th, NPD  175 with 1 arrest and 10 criminal citations, WCSO 78, UPD 105, NVFD 4, WCFP 15, UVFD 0, Newcastle Ambulance 28, Upton Ambulance 3, he provided a handout for the breakdown of NPD calls. He then stated that the Police Department would be participating in the Career and Trade Fare on Wednesday. Chief Thompson reported that he had been in contact with the code compliance department from Gillette; he will try to schedule a presentation for 6:00 p.m. on March 2, 2026. He also requested a Police Committee meeting which will be held at 5:00 p.m. on February 24, 2026. Inquiries were made about the following: garbage at a residence on Sage Circle, should the landowner be liable, noncompliance and abatement; a couple issues reported by a City resident regarding being chased by a dog and being hit by a car going under the emergency railroad crossing.  

•Attorney Dublin Hughes reported on the following: A bench trial is set for March 13, 2026, regarding the garbage issue on Sage Circle; the CSO has issued several parking tickets; he did not have an update for the deed that the Volunteers of America had been looking for. 

•Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty reported that she had forwarded an email from Weston County Homeland Security Manager, Gilbert Nelson with attachments for Weston County Plans and will notify the Council of the date for Shelter Training. She then asked if there were any questions about the financial reports provided. An inquiry was made about a $14,000 purchase of snap charge cylinders, as this was a Fire Department purchase, she will ask the Fire Chief for more details.    

•Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff reported that he had found a 2017 Volvo pneumatic roller with 916 hours, for $63,328.00 from TranSource. Thomas Voss moved; Don Steveson seconded to purchase the roller. MOTION CARRIED. He then reported that Zachary Benshoof had completed his probationary period and recommended that he be given permanent status and a $0.50/hr. raise effective January 8, 2026. Thomas Voss moved; John Butts seconded, to approve this recommendation. MOTION CARRIED. Supervisor Stumpff requested to hire Lawson Liggett at the rate of $18.00/hr. with one (1) year probation. Thomas Voss moved; Don Steveson seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED. He then reported on the following: A Streets Committee meeting is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 18th; The banner is scheduled to be put up at Backyard Park at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 19th; He requested a Water/Sewer Committee meeting for next week. An inquiry was made about adding the City shop building to the list of projects for the Penny Tax. 

•Engineer Steven Dietrich referenced his report, six (6) active residential construction projects; Total construction cost of $18,032.00 and $534.43 in permit fees were collected between February 2nd and February 13th.

CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Thomas Voss, moved; Don Steveson seconded to pay the claims against the City dated February 17, 2026. Discussion was had regarding the purchase of wind spinners, which were Fire Department gifts. MOTION CARRIED.

ADJOURNMENT: Ann McColley moved; Daren Down seconded, to adjourn the regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 8:40 p.m. Meeting adjourned. 

Claims: Aced Embroidery, services, $702.00; Ad-Pro, supplies, $10.53; American Engineering Testing, services, $9,001.56; AT&T, PD cellphones, $357.36; Black Hills Energy, services, $12,289.03; Beth Blackwell, reimbursements, $843.86; Blakeman, propane, $851.65; Dolan Consulting Group, training, $125.00; Decker’s, supplies, $20.64; Eastern Wy. Equip., supplies, $2,272.79; Embroidery by Suellen, service, $435.00; Gateway Travel, fuel, $5,438.54; Lab. Corp., testing, $65.60; LinkTech, PD IT, $1,345.00; Local Government, claim, $470.00; Marco, copier fees, $732.13; Mastercard, supplies/fuel/training, $1,646.06; Minuteman, services, $547.97; Municipal Em. Services, cylinders, $14,800.00; NVFD, ink, $75.37; News Letter Journal, legals/ads, $1,856.00; Norco, calibration, $100.00; Northwest Pipe, supplies, $509.58; One Call of Wy., services, $73.30; Petty Cash, CDL/postage, $374.33; Powder River Energy, services, $1,303.68; Range, phone/internet, $1,323.98; Salt Creek Vet., services, $218.11; Servall, services, $52.07; Short Stop, fuel, $660.08; Stephen Smith, CDL, $85.00; Summit Plumbing, services, $227.60; Lucky Teigen-Grummons, FD cleaning, $300.00; Titan Machinery, parts, $1,119.15; WC Health Services, HC collection, $40.00; WC Road & Bridge, FD fuel, $208.49; WC Solid Waste District, $11,141.20; Woody’s, supplies, $208.92; WY Machinery, parts, $76.89

ATTEST:

Mayor Tyrel Owens

Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty

(Publish February 26, 2026)