01.18.2022 Newcastle City Council Minutes

NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

MINUTES

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2022

Mayor Pam Gualtieri called this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. Those present were Mayor Gualtieri; Council members Daren Downs, Ann McColley, Lance Miles, Don Steveson and Tyrel Owens. Also present were Department Heads City Engineer Mike Moore and City Clerk/Treasurer Greg James. City Police Chief Sam Keller and City Attorney Mark Hughes were absent.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Ann McColley moved, seconded Tyrel Owens to approve the agenda as amended, adding approval of a second electrical license and acceptance of the 2021 audit. Motion carried. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Don Steveson moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve the minutes of the regular meeting on Monday, January 3, 2022 as presented. Motion carried.

APPROVAL OF ANNUAL AUDIT: Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve and accept the annual audit for fiscal year 2021 as had been presented. Motion carried. 

NOMINATIONS FOR RECOGNITION: None

CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: None

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS—IN WRITING:

Approval of Electrical License: Electrical Contractor, Tucker Electric; Master Electrician, Loren Tucker; Journeyman Electrician, Lance Young, Apprentice Electrician, Dylan Hester. All fees have been paid and proof of license, bond and insurance have been provided. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Daren Downs to approve this license. Motion carried.

Appointment of Standing Committees for 2022. An McColley moved, seconded Daren Downs to approve the following committee appointments: Police Committee; Don Steveson, Ann McColley; Personnel/Finance Committee, Daren Downs and Lance Miles; Water/Sewer/Fire Committee; Don Steveson, Tyrel Owens and Lance Miles; Streets/Alleys/Building Committee; Daren Downs, Don Steveson and Tyrel Owens; Sanitation/Community Appearance Committee; Ann McColley, Lance Miles and Daren Downs; Parks/Cemetery/Recreation Committee; Tyrel Owens and Ann McColley. Motion carried.

Approval of Resolution No. 1, Series 2022. Don Steveson moved, seconded Tyrel Owens to approve Resolution No. 1, Series 2022. The heading reads: A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF A FEDERAL MINERAL ROYALTY CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT GRANT APPLICATION TO THE STATE LOAN AND INVESTMENT BOARD ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNING BODY FOR THE CITY OF NEWCASTLE. Motion carried. 

Approval of Electrical License: Electrical Contractor, Daryl’s Electric, Inc.; Master Electrician, Daniel Dean Orbeck; Journeyman Electrician, Matthew Schilz and Anthony Fulciniti; Apprentice Electricians, Chadwick O’Conner, Hayden Waldrop and William Sturdevant. All fees have been paid and proof of license, bond and insurance have been provided. Daren Downs moved, seconded Tyrel Owens to approve this license. Motion carried.

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS-VERBAL:

James Curren, representing the Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department to present their slate of officers for 2022.  James Curren Chief, Chris Kinney Assistant Chief, Paul Eitel Treasurer, and Lane Zerbst Secretary. Daren Downs moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve these officers. Motion carried. Mr. Curren said the Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department has been invited to participate in the annual air show at Ellis Air Force Base in May by providing a fire truck for display. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Don Steveson to approve the request to show our truck. Motion carried.

MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORTS:

Mayor Gualtieri reported on the meeting with Wyoming Business Council regarding the Heritage Park project. So far the reception of the project has been positive. The project will be recommended to the full Business Council and if approved there, will be submitted to the State for funding. The Wyoming Business Council also asked if the City would be interested in additional funding at no further cost to the City for an Economic Feasibility Study. Daren Downs moved, seconded Tyrel Owens to submit a letter of support for the study. Motion carried.

Mayor Gualtieri and Council President Don Steveson reported they attended the meeting of the Weston County Commissioners to clarify a few items regarding the dispatch situation. They noted the City is moving out of the Law Enforcement Center and the City is not interested in pursuing any sort of joint powers board for operation of dispatch. They also clarified there was no bid out for dispatch equipment but only for a server room for the computer equipment. Questions were answered about the new software updates and equipment.

DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:

City Attorney Mark Hughes was absent and had no report.

City Engineer Mike Moore noted challenges with staffing at the shop because of personnel out with COVID. Mr. Moore recommended a $.50 per hour raise for Holden Schultz for obtaining his CDL. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Ann McColley to approve this request effective December 21, 2021. Motion carried. Mr. Moore presented the Planning & Zoning Board’s recommendation of a conditional use permit for Wayne and Tina Wilson for a retaining wall to be constructed in the City’s right of way. The purpose is to hold back and control the slope from shifting. Don Steveson moved, seconded Lance Miles to approve the Planning Board’s recommendation. Motion carried.

City Police Chief Sam Keller was absent, but left a report presented by Mayor Gualtieri. Calls for service were noted. A records management position was requested for the Dispatch Center and or the ability to hire another dispatcher. One dispatcher is currently on light duty and working with records management. No decision was made on this request.

City Clerk/Treasurer Greg James reported the audit was now complete for FY 2021 and summaries of revenues and expenditures so far in 2022 had been sent via email.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: None

OTHER CITY BUSINESS: City Engineer Mike Moore brought for discussion two items regarding the Weston County Solid Waste District. The first matter was discussion reference donating the landfill equipment to the Solid Waste District. After discussion the consensus was to establish some sort of fair market value before any determination is made. Mr. Moore was asked to facilitate this. The second matter was regarding applying for a cease and transfer loan for a building at the landfill. The general consensus was to not pursue this. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION: reference potential litigation per W.S. 16-4-405(iii) and property per W.S. 16-4-405(vii). Ann McColley moved, seconded Tyrel Owens to suspend the rules and go into Executive Session at 8:02 p.m. Motion carried. Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Lance Miles to return to regular session at 8:32 p.m. Motion carried. No action came out of this Executive Session.

CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Tyrel Owens moved, seconded Don Steveson to pay the claims against the City dated January 18, 2022. Motion carried. Daren Downs moved, seconded Tyrel Owens to adjourn this meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 8:46 p.m. Meeting adjourned.

Claims: Ameri-Tech Equipment Co., parts, $472.93; American Business Software, web maintenance/security/domain name, $953.00; BCN Telecom, Inc., long distance service,$104.85; Beacon Communications, LLC, camera, $900.00; Bearlodge Engineering & Surveying, final plans—Sage St., $3120.00; Black Hills Energy, electric service, $289.31; Black Hills Truck & Trailer, blade assembly & parts, $7045.40; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming, employee health insurance, $40,415.00; Bobcat of Gillette, parts, $41.62; Cambria Supply, supplies/materials, $799.51; Century Link, E-911 service, $952.18; Culligan Water Conditioning, bottled water, $58.50; Dale’s Tire & retreading, Inc., new tires, $525.52; Decker’s Food Center, housekeeping supplies, $200.43; Delta Dental of Wyoming, employee dental insurance, $2228.00; Department of Revenue, sales tax reimbursement, $1021.15; Eastern Wyoming Equipment Co., Inc., parts, $2562.03; Farnsworth Services Co., Inc., portable sanitation, $850.00; Ferguson Waterworks #1116, touch pads, $925.00; Gateway Travel Center, fuel purchases, $5068.17; John Francis Masonry, retaining wall repair, $6000.00; Ketel Thorstenson, LLP, audit payment, $4794.40; Marco Technologies, LLC copier lease, $280.02; Mastercard, training/fuel/office supplies, $3255.61; Monument Installation Services, re-set cemetery monuments, $860.00; Myron, PD pens, $152.26; Newcastle Equipment Co., truck parts/repairs, $5027.00; Newcastle Volunteer Fire Dept., reimburse fuel/vehicle repairs, $9134.24; News Letter Journal, fire dept. ad/legals/office supplies, $1917.10; NORCO, Inc., welding cylinder rental, $39.06; Northwest Pipe Fittings, Inc., pipe & fittings, $12,029.04; One Call of Wyoming, utility locates, $15.00; Travis Peterson, reimburse pesticide license, $25.00; Postmaster, stamps; $542.00; Powder River Energy Corp., electric service, $1362.66; Range, E-911 trunk, $151.28; Range, city share county phone, $393.19; Range, phone service, $865.08; Genell Rothleutner, PD cleaning, $200.00; Short Stop Fuel Mart, fuel purchases, $3913.19; Top Office Products, Inc., PD copy charges, $60.42; Valli Information Systems, credit card service, $175.70; Becky Vodopich, city office cleaning, $300.00; WEBT, employee life insurance, $102.75; Weston County Road & Bridge, fuel purchases, $226.10; Weston County Treasurer, youth services/airport expenses/tax handling fee, $3792.78; Woody’s Food Center, housekeeping supplies, $116.88; Wyoming Department of Agriculture, landfill scale license, $40.00.

Pam Gualtieri, Mayor

ATTEST: City Clerk/Treasurer, Greg James

(Publish January 27, 2022)