NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES Monday, May 4, 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, Chris Kenney, Ann McColley, Don Steveson and Thomas Voss. Also, present were Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff, Engineer Steven Dietrich, and Attorney Dublin Hughes. Police Chief Derek Thompson and Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty were absent.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mayor Owens amended the agenda to include Resolution No. 5, Series 2026 under New Business along with Tree Board updates - Chapter 27 urban forestry and RCAC Community Coordinator applicant under Committee/Councilmember Reports. Ann McColley moved; Daren Downs seconded to approve the agenda as amended. MOTION CARRIED.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chris Kenney moved; Ann McColley seconded, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting on Monday, April 20, 2026. MOTION CARRIED.
NOMINATION FOR RECOGNITION: None
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: Kathy Levasseur for her work on the Moving Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS VERBAL:
• Tim Miller was present to discuss his plans for a Tourism Enhancement Project which includes a multi-level themed building. Mr. Miller plans to have a 3D presentation at the next meeting.
• Martha Bickford was present to discuss this year’s Madness on Main event. She inquired about the following: street closure permit, open container and Touch a Truck. Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff will know more about the street closure after May 12th; Mrs. Bickford will contact City Hall regarding the open container; Public Works will support Touch a Truck.
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS IN WRITING:
• TS Electric submitted a request for an electrical license. Master Electrician, Tristan Skinner; Apprentice, Dawson Vinyard. Thomas Voss moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED.
OLD BUSINESS:
• Mayor Owens read Resolution No. 4, Series 2026, which heading reads: A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATED FUNDING FROM THE WYOMING WATER DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNING BODY; for the Tank #2 Rehabilitation Project in the amount of $1,151,300.00. John Butts moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve Resolution No. 4, Series 2026. MOTION CARRIED.
• Mayor Owens read Ordinance No. 4, Series 2026, for the Chapter 26 Revisions which heading reads: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND REPEALING CHAPTER 26, WATER, SEWAGE AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL, OF THE NEWCASTLE, WYOMING MUNICIPAL CODE. Thomas Voss moved; John Butts seconded to approve Ordinance No. 4, Series 2026 on the first reading. Discussion was had regarding language for two (2) inch taps. MOTION CARRIED.
• Ordinance No. 1, Series 2026, which heading reads: AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE SEC. 16-25, STOPPING IN FRONT OF THEATER OR PICTURE HOUSE OF THE NEWCASTLE TOWN CODE. Chris Kenney moved; Thomas Voss seconded to approve Ordinance No. 1, Series 2026, on the second reading. MOTION CARRIED.
• Ordinance No. 2, Series 2026, which heading reads: AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE SEC. 16-16 THROUGH 16-19.1 DESIGNATED UNDER ARTICLE IV. SAFETY ZONES OF THE NEWCASTLE TOWN CODE. Ann McColley moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve Ordinance No. 2, Series 2026, on the second reading.
There was clarification that the ordinance would be repealed. MOTION CARRIED.
• Ordinance No. 3, Series 2026, which heading reads: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 16-21, ANGLE PARKING; DESIGNATED ROADWAYS; PENALTY, OF THE NEWCASTLE WYOMING MUNICIPAL CODE. Don Steveson moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve Ordinance No. 3 Series 2026, on the second reading. MOTION CARRIED.
• Mayor Owens reported that Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff had attended the last County Commissioners’ meeting in his absence to present an updated list of projects for the Penny Tax. Mr. Stumpff had proposed the mill and overlay on Morrissey Road as a shovel ready project for the County. The County Commissioners seemed to be in favor of the Morrissey Road project and requested that the City of Newcastle and Town of Upton draft the language needed to add the Penny Tax to the ballot. The Funds from the Penny Tax will be used for Weston County, Upton and Newcastle projects.
• Mayor Owens referenced the Chlorination letter presented at the last meeting. Chlorine sensitivity and BPM for water softeners were discussed. Consensus was that the letter did not need to be edited.
NEW BUSINESS:
• Mayor Owens read Resolution No. 5, Series 2026, which heading reads: A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF THE STATE FARM GOOD NEIGHBOR FIREFIGHTER SAFETY PROGRAM 2026 ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNNG BODY; for the purchase of the Respirator Fit-Testing System Project in the amount of $10,000. Councilman Kenney recused himself. Thomas Voss moved; Don Steveson seconded to approve Resolution No. 5, Series 2026. Discussion was had about matching funds and the function of the system. MOTION CARRIED.
COMMITTEE/COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS:
• Mayor Owens referenced Chapter 27 – Urban Forestry, the Tree Board had recently discussed nuisance overhanging trees and possible updates to the ordinance.
• Mayor Owens reported that he had received a resumé for the RCAC Community Coordinator position and a meeting is scheduled with Amity Rembold for later this week; he has invited the applicant to attend the meeting, he invited the Economic Development Committee to attend as well.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
• Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff referenced the purchase of a backhoe which would include the trade-in of the 2002 Case backhoe. He requested to purchase a John Deere 320P backhoe through Sourcewell Cooperative purchasing program with a lease purchase from First Northern Bank in the amount of $134,174 with the trade-in. Thomas Voss moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve this request. Discussion about budget and bid process was had. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Stumpff then provided compliance policies. Ann McColley moved; Thomas Voss seconded to approve the Financial Management & Internal Controls, Suspension & Debarment, Procurement, and Ethics policies. MOTION CARRIED. Supervisor Stumpff then referenced the compost program and requested transferring the program to the Weston County Solid Waste District. The Sanitation Committee will meet to discuss how to move forward with the transfer. He then asked if it would be appropriate to add the open container request to the current Special Events Form. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to add the open container request to the Special Events Form. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Stumpff notified the Council of a Special Event application from the American Legion to be held at Centennial Park with the possibility of 300 participants; concerns about parking and the possibility of using the High School parking lot had been discussed with Mr. Will. Supervisor Stumpff stated that he plans to contact the following committees to set up meetings: Parks, Streets and Water/Sewer. He reported on the following projects: N. Sonora/E. Wentworth, Landfill #1 Remediation, Tank #2. There were four (4) engineering firms that submitted RFQ’s for the Tank #2 project, he recommended approving Morrison Maierle Engineering from Gillette, as the selected engineer for the project. Thomas Voss moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve this recommendation. Quote was inquired about; cost cannot be discussed at this time. MOTION CARRIED. Mayor Owens inquired about banners for the 250th Anniversary of our country.
• Engineer Steven Dietrich reported on six (6) new active residential projects from April 20th – May 3rd, with one (1) ongoing commercial construction project; construction cost totaling $95,388.00 and $1,403.27 collected in permit fees. Inquire was made about the Building Inspector position; two (2) applications have been received with interviews being conducted this week.
• Police Chief Derek Thompson was absent.
• Attorney Dublin Hughes notified the Council that Mayor Owens had been contacted by a law firm by the name of Eisenstein and Malanchuk; he is looking into their legitimacy. An inquiry was made about the ordinance updates and the codification through American Legal Publishing; Attorney Hughes and the Council will be involved in refining the ordinance through American Legal Publishing.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Councilman Kenney recused himself. Thomas Voss moved; Don Steveson seconded to pay the claims against the City dated May 4, 2026. MOTION CARRIED.
ADJOURNMENT: Chris Kenney moved; Thomas Voss seconded. Prior to adjourning, Councilman Steveson stated that he had been contacted by Megan Wetstone from Rooted Development, who was interested in providing funding for a memorial to honor Bob Hartley. There was discussion about what type of memorial would be appropriate and if a committee should meet to discuss it further. This regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council adjourned at 8:43 p.m.
Claims: AdPro, supplies, $64.61; Advanced Drug Testing, services, $93.60; Ameri-Tech, supplies, $7,756.97; AT&T, PD phones, $466.10; Margarett Beverly, deposit refund, $13.80; Beth Blackwell, travel/training, $1064.86; Blakeman, propane, $543.61; Campbell Co. EMS, services, $9,056.25; City of Newcastle, wa/sw/ga, $350.98; Lyle & Diana Cornthwaite, deposit refund, $44.08; Douglas Dumbrill, municipal judge/mileage, $1,091.00; Farnsworth, hauling services, $642.00; First Northern Bank, lease payments, $4,305.30; Fisher, gravel, $2,250.43; Hughes Law, attorney fees, $4,500.00; Jordan Jefferess, deposit refund, $85.26; Jolly Lane, trees, $1,151.93; Kings Plumbing, $698.10; Carrie Manders, deposit refund, $63.65; Marchant Resources, services, $1,205.39; Marco, computers/IT/plotter, $9,463.44; Mastercard, supplies/fuel/training, $6,627.62; Motorola, annual maintenance, $9,791.56; Mountain Plains Audiology, screenings, $490.00; Northwest Pipe Fittings, supplies, $2,467.61; Roaming Raven, deposit refund, $96.06; Sheri Saxton, deposit refund, $173.46; Bryand Streeter, wages, $1,333.33; Verizon, PW/FD phones, $895.20; VelocityEHS, subscription, $911.63; Becky Vodopich, cleaning, $300.00; WC Humane Society, dog boarding/food, $2,839.00; Wy. Machinery, parts; $1650.78; Wy. OSLI, loan origination fees, $3,855.00.
ATTEST:
Mayor Tyrel Owens
Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty
(Publish May 14, 2026)