Setting standards — Council approved standards booklet
Flooding that spread from one property to another after the removal of a short retaining wall prompted city planning commissioners to develop an erosion and sediment control standards booklet.
The 19-page document was approved by the Newcastle City Council on Sept. 2 after a recommendation from interim city engineer Chuck Bartlett.
According to Bartlett, the booklet details how to avoid erosion and when a “grading permit” is required. In addition, individuals will be required to provide erosion and sediment control in accordance with the city’s requirements and pay a $25 permit fee per city lot.
Failure to follow the regulations may be considered a violation of city ordinances. Violations could also result in damage to adjacent property or the storm drain system, and may contribute to sediment and pollutants entering surface waters.
The introduction states that the booklet presents the “minimum general standard details and procedures sufficient for typical land disturbance activities, though it is not intended to address all circumstances or specific site conditions.”
“All projects that involve land disturbing activities (e.g. clearing, grading or grubbing) must provide erosion and sediment control measures to prevent the concentration of stormwater and the transport of sediment from the site to storm drains, surface waters, wetlands, adjacent property and roadways,” the introduction says.
It notes that conduits of stormwater should remain free of sediment and debris.
“The primary goal is control with best management practices being utilized to prevent erosion and minimize off-site sediment impact,” the document continues. “The permit holder is responsible for ensuring that adequate BMPs are in place and functioning as designed until the site is stabilized.”
When determining whether control measures are necessary, the booklet advises, people should keep in mind that the intent of the regulations is to “prevent soil erosion and minimize sediment from leaving the site.”
Activities that may require a permit include excavating, removing or adding soil on a property; moving soil from one part of a property to another; removing roots or stumps from steep slopes; and installing new pavement.
In general, the booklet says, if a project meets any of the listed specifications, a permit will be required. The stipulations include, but are not limited to, changing the existing grade by more than 4 feet vertically; excavating, moving or adding soil if the combined volume of material is more than 10 cubic yards; and adding new or replacing a combined 5,000 square feet or more of hard surface, including pavement.
The booklet notes that the word “site” is “considered the limits of disturbance from
construction; not necessarily the property boundaries.”
“However, just because a grading permit is not required does not mean erosion and sediment control measures are not,” the introduction concludes.
City Beats
Notes from the Sept. 2, 2025, meeting of the Newcastle City Council
The council approved the re-platting of Lots 21-24, Block 11 to allow for Newcastle Ace Hardware to purchase the property that the owners currently rent from Weston County. Discussion was had regarding the business’ items in the alley.
A recommendation to allow RVs to park in the mobile home districts will be taken back to the Planning and Zoning Board, as required by statute, before the council can continue the change.
Mayor Tyrel Owens created an economic development committee, and both Thomas Voss and John Butts volunteered to join him on the committee. Before the creation of the committee, Owens gave an overview of the Rural Community Assistance Corporation project.
The council approved Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff moving forward with the grant process to replace the 1996 dump truck.
Stumpff reported that the Duff Avenue lift station was waiting on power.
Stumpff also reported that permits for the jake brake signs and traffic mirror had been turned in to the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
The council approved a conditional offer of employment to Bryan Norris for a police officer at $21.91 an hour with a one-year probation period. The employment is contingent on all background checks with a start date to be determined.
The full minutes from this meeting can be found on the legal pages of this edition. To view the entirety of the meeting, visit the News Letter Journal’s YouTube Channel.