NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES Monday, August 4, 2025

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, Chris Kenney, Ann McColley and Thomas Voss. Also present Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff, Police Chief Derek Thompson and Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty. Councilman Don Steveson was absent.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Ann McColley moved; Chris Kenney seconded, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday, July 21, 2025. MOTION CARRIED.

Mayor Owens swore in part-time Police Officer Nathan Foote

Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff introduced Beth Blackwell as the new grant loan specialist to the Council. 

NOMINATION FOR RECOGNITION: Mason Kaiser for the tough truck events. 

CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: Classic Summer Drags Board, Campbell Co. EMS, Country Club, WC Search & Rescue and 21 Electric for their work and support of the Classic Summer Drags event.  

CITIZEN’S BUSINESS VERBAL: None

• CITIZEN’S BUSINESS IN WRITING: Pokey’s Smoke BBQ and Smokehouse requested a 24-hour catering permit beginning on August 15, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to August 16, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Banquet to be held at the Weston County Event Center. Daren Downs moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve this request. Discussion was had regarding license. MOTION CARRIED.

OLD BUSINESS: 

• Ordinance No. 6, Series 2025 the heading reads: AN ORDIANCE AMENDING SEC. 16-11.2 OF THE NEWCASTLE TOWN CODE. Chris Kenney moved; Daren Downs seconded to approve Ordinance No. 6, Series 2025 on the third and final reading. Mayor Owens referenced a recent complaint. MOTION CARRIED.

• Mayor Owens referenced the American Legal Publishing Quote and Civic Plus quotes. A quote from Civic Plus has not been received. 

• Mayor Owens referred to a lease for the proposed pocket park. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to sign the lease agreement and send it to Leonard and Linda Cash. MOTION CARRIED.

• Mayor Owens referenced investments with the Wyoming Governmental Investment Fund stating that he had reached out to the local financial institutions, one of the local bank presidents was interested in presenting options to the Council at the next meeting. Ann McColley moved; Thomas Voss seconded, to table the discussion. MOTION CARRIED.

• Councilman Voss reported that he had talked with a couple local families that would be interested in contributing funds to a police department internship program, but they do not want the funds going into the General Fund. Clerk/Treasurer Haggerty will discuss options with auditors. 

NEW BUSINESS: Mayor Owens referred to the Rural Community Assistance Corporation presentation. Councilmembers would like more time to look over the power point presentation. 

COMMITTEE/COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS: Mayor Owens updated the Council on the Boys & Girls Club and possible locations; a meeting with Senator Lummiis’ office; a follow up workshop is scheduled with the Wyoming Business Council/Harvard Growth Lab on August 6th at 4:00 p.m., Mayor Owens intends to invite Brian Pischke from Wy. Refining Co. to attend the workshop. 

The personnel committee had met to discuss a full-time engineer position and recommended hiring Steve Dietrich with a salary of $50.48/hour and one-year probationary period. Ann McColley moved; John Butts seconded to hire Steve Dietrich. Discussion regarding Mr. Dietrich’s qualifications and why an employed engineer was needed. Ann McColley amended her motion to state, hiring Steve Dietrich with a salary of $50.48/hour and one-year probationary period with start date to be determined. John Butts seconded. Mr. Dietrich’s DEQ involvement was noted, and his supervisory status was discussed. MOTION CARRIED. A personnel committee meeting will be scheduled for recommendations on department head status.  

DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:

• Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff referred to an updated debris management plan. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to sign the updated debris management plan. Discussion regarding details of the plan was had. MOTION CARRIED. Supervisor Stumpff reported that the mystery water at Decker’s Market is believed to be ground water, he also reported on mowing the undeveloped section of Sage Street. Councilman Voss inquired about chip and spray on city streets; projects will be done when funds are available. 

• Police Chief Derek Thompson reported on calls of service from July 21, 2025; NPD 152, WCSO 166, UPD 36, NVFD 5, WCFP 5, UVFD 3, Newcastle Ambulance 17, Upton Ambulance 5, he provided a handout for the breakdown of NPD calls. He then reported complaints about commercial vehicles on W. Main Street and lack of signage. Discussion regarding bikes and skateboards on sidewalks was also had. A streets committee meeting will be scheduled. Chief Thompson stated that they have two (2) pending applications for peace officer positions. Councilman Voss asked if the police committee could attend these interviews, Chief Thompson will contact the committee. 

• City Attorney Dublin Hughes was absent 

• Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty referenced fiscal year 24/25 expenditures stating that all funds were within the budgeted amounts after the recent amendment to the garbage fund. She then requested a personnel committee meeting to discuss budgeted pay increases and department heads, a meeting will be scheduled after she returns from vacation on August 11th. 

CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Thomas Voss moved; Chris Kenney seconded to pay the claims against the City dated August 4, 2025. MOTION CARRIED.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to suspend the rules and enter executive session referencing real estate per W.S. 16-4-405 (a)(vii) at 8:15 p.m. MOTION CARRIED.Thomas Voss moved; Chris Kenney seconded to return to regular session at 8:24 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. John Butts moved; Thomas Voss seconded to present a purchase agreement to Spearfish Pellet Company LLC. MOTION CARRIED. 

ADJOURNMENT: Chris Kenney moved; Ann McColley seconded to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 8:27 p.m. Meeting adjourned. 

FY 24/25 Claims: Inberg-Miller Engineers, services, $2,158.40; One Call of Wy., services, $141.75; Voelker’s, windshield, $345.00; WC Health Services, HC collection, $40.00.

FY 25/26 claims: Ameri-Tech, parts, $885.29; AT&T, PD cellphones, $453.44; Big Horn Tire, tires, $4,524.00; Black Hills Energy, services, $1,507.17; Campbell Co. Health EMS, services, $9,056.25; City of Newcastle, wa/sw/ga, $1,652.18; Croell, concrete, $1,612.00; Douglas Dumbrill, municipal judge/mileage, $1,091.00; Energy Labs, analysis, $760.00; Farnsworth Services, portable sanitation, $950.00; First Northern Bank, lease payments, $4,305.30; Alicia Grimm, deposit refund, $28.13; Hughes Law, attorney fees, $4,500.00; Inberg-Miller Engineers, services, $10,437.00; Love’s Field Service, repairs, $2,250.00; Marco, IT/plotter, $2,796.74; Mastercard, postage/supplies, $1,122.61; Minuteman, services, $81.99; NVFD, supplies, $1,306.79; Northwest Pipe, supplies, $6,603.43; Dean or Tracy Rose, deposit refund, $25.17; Salt Creek Water Dist., sewer services, $555.00; Bryand Streeter, airport wages, $1,333.33; Greg Stumpff, reimbursement, $12.14; Lucky Teigen-Grummons, FD cleaning, $300.00; Transource, parts, $56.18; TrueGreen, lawn care, $139.00; Verizon, cellphones, $842.05; Becky Vodopich, cleaning, $300.00; Voelker’s, tires, $416.00; Wilson Plumbing, services, $1,260.00; Wy. Machinery, parts/supplies, $174.39

ATTEST:

Mayor Tyrel Owens

Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty

(Publish August 14, 2025)