November 2 Newcastle City Council Minutes

NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MINUTES
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2020
 
Council President Don Steveson called this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. Those present were Council President Don Steveson; Council member Ann McColley, Michael Alexander, Tom Voss, Pam Gualtieri and Roger Hespe. Also present were Department Heads City Police Chief Sam Keller, City Engineer Mike Moore, City Attorney Michael Stulken and City Clerk/Treasurer Greg James.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Tom Voss moved, seconded Roger Hespe to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Michael Alexander moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday, October 19, 2020 and the minutes of the Special Meeting on Monday, October 26, 2020 as presented. Motion carried. 
NOMINATIONS FOR RECOGNITION:
Sundowner Inn for their upgrades to their property.
Sandra Martin for organizing and sponsoring the annual Trunk or Treat for Halloween.
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION:
Mr. Jim Neiman, Spearfish Forest Products for working with Newcastle for the bus turn-around and working on an easement around the orange water tank. It will be mailed.
Siri Karr and Walter Sprague were present to receive their certificates for their work on the mural on the News Letter Journal building.
Chris Gualtieri for the work and resources to light the neon sign on the Antlers Hotel building.  Councilwoman Gualtieri received the certificate on Chris’s behalf.
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—IN WRITING: 
Roger Hespe moved, seconded Pam Gualtieri to declare Pinnacle Bank a depository of public funds. Motion carried.
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—VERBAL: None
MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORTS:
Council President Don Steveson presented to the Council a graph of expenditures in the General Fund through October 2020 for review.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
City Police Chief Sam Keller reported on calls for service, 4188 year to date. Chief Keller said they had interviewed 4 candidates for police officer, one cannot be statutorily offered a position and he was ready to hire 2 local individuals. Pam Gualtieri moved, seconded Michael Alexander to hire Jason Barker and Lance Reibel as police officers at $19.04 per hour, one-year probation pending passing all background checks and medical/psychological evaluations. Motion carried. Both individuals will have to attend the 14-week Academy training.  
City Clerk/Treasurer Greg James reported the audit is in progress, but there will be no on-site visits this year. The City Office is still closed to the public and will remain so for a period.
City Engineer Mike Moore asked for a Committee meeting to discuss the issues and expenses related to cleaning lagoon cell #1. While this would be done next year, the cost estimate is around $500,000.00. There was discussion about the 5th wheel trailers that still appear to be occupied against the ordinances. The Dura-Patcher will continue to be used until the weather gets too cold. We are moving forward with the purchase of the well site and easement for the water line from Well #5. Moving forward with the purchase of another vac truck. Mr. Moore received an email form Mr. Ogden Driskill offering to sell the land around the tan water tank to the City for $6,000.00. The implication being we may not have legal access across his land to our tank. This will be reviewed. 
City Attorney Michael Stulken presented Ordinance #3, Series 2020 on third and final reading. The ordinance reads: ANY OWNER OF ANY FENCE, RETAINING WALL, OR OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURE SHALL ENSURE THAT SAID STRUCTURE IS MAINTAINED IN GOOD REPAIR, STRUCTURALLY SOUND AND SANITARY SO AS NOT TO POSE A THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY OR WELFARE. ANY PERSON WHOM MAINTAINS OR PERMITS THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROHIBITED DANGEROUS CONDITION HEREIN IS IN VIOLATION OF THE 1997 UNIFORM CODE FOR THE ABATEMENT OF DANGEROUS BUILDINGS AND THE PROCEDURE FOR ABATEMENT OF SUCH CONDITION SHALL BE PURSUANT TO SUCH CODE. Michael Alexander moved, seconded Ann McColley to pass Ordinance #3, Series 2020 on third and final reading. Motion carried.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: None
ANY OTHER BUSINESS: None
CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Tom Voss moved, seconded Michael Alexander to pay the claims against the city dated November 2, 2020. Motion carried. Ann McColley moved, seconded Roger Hespe to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 7:38 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
Claims: 7 C’s Service, loader repair, $595.00; Ad-Pro Office Supply, binder clips, $20.98; Advanced Drug Testing, Inc., DOT testing, $52.00; Alpha Communications, October 2020 tower rent, $95.00; American Business Software, website check, $144.53; Black Hills Energy, natural gas service, $287.43; Bomgaars Supply, supplies/materials, $450.47; City of  Newcastle, WA/SW/GA services, $983.55; CNA Surety, clerk position bond, $100.00; D&L Supply Company, Inc., traffic grate, $970.00; Derek’s Field Service, machinery repair, $2628.80; R. Douglas Dumbrill, November 2020 municipal judge, $1076.30; Eastern Wyoming Equipment Co., Inc., parts, $82.82; Energy Laboratories, Inc., water sample testing, $815.00; Farnsworth Services, Co., Inc., portable sanitation & landscaping, $5663.15; Emily Hartinger, water deposit refund, $3.85; Huldah Henry, water deposit refund, $169.52; Hurricane Services, PD car washes, $25.00; Jeffrey Lush, forensic interview, $150.00; Jacob Lacassin, water deposit refund, $32.30; Ali Liggett, water deposit refund, $60.15; Mastercard, supplies/retirement plaques/fuel, $3631.83; Modern Marketing, Inc., plastic bags, $951.53; Dawnyell Nagle, water deposit refund, $57.87; National Emergency Number Assoc., membership, $142.00; Newcastle Ambulance Service, November 2020 ambulance service, $8333.33; News Letter Journal, subscription, $45.50; Postmaster, utility billing permit, $1500.00; Range, phone service/E-911, $940.91; Respond First Aid Systems, first aid supplies, $55.53; Rick’s Electric, exhaust fan/pump repair, $4785.93; Genell Rothleutner, PD cleaning, $200.00; Salt Creek Water District, sewer service, $555.00; Bryand Streeter, November 2020 airport wages, $1333.33; Melissa Stubbs, reimburse mileage, $357.65; Sundance Extinguisher, extinguisher inspection, $27.29; Lucky Teigen-Grummons, fire hall cleaning, $200.00; Two-Way Radio Service, Inc., FD radio covers and batteries, $1244.00; Uber Geek Computers, computer connection parts, $289.000; Verizon, cell phones, $505.55; Becky Vodopich, city office cleaning, $300.00; Weston County Public Health, vaccination, $58.000; Weston County Treasurer, airport project, $3264.30; Woody’s Food Center, housekeeping supplies, $58.35; Wyoming Automotive Co., parts, $1035.73; Wyoming Office of State Lands & Investment, water loans, $13,489.98.
 
Don Steveson, President
ATTEST: City Clerk/Treasurer, Greg James
 
(Publish November 12, 2020)