NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES Monday, May 5, 2025
NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MINUTES
Monday, May 5, 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, Thomas Voss and Don Steveson. Also present were Attorney Dublin Hughes, Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff, Police Chief Derek Thompson and Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Daren Downs moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Chris Kenney moved; Thomas Voss seconded to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday, April 21, 2025. MOTION CARRIED.
NOMINATION FOR RECOGNITION: None
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION: Jen Womack for her work on Main Street.
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS VERBAL:
• Jen Womack referenced the sidewalk permit stating that while the fee is minimal, several minimal fees add up for small business owners. She also stated that she believes that there are more pressing issues to address including crosswalk and speeding enforcement along with a vehicle with a broken windshield parked along the street.
• Members of the Newcastle Recreation Board were present to discuss their budget funding request; members of the community spoke on their behalf and a letter of support from Shane Ankeney was read. Thomas Voss moved; Don Steveson seconded to approve a $2,000.00 increase to the Newcastle Recreation Board budget. Discussion was had, as the budget is not set Thomas Voss rescinded his motion. The $2,000.00 increase will be considered.
CITIZEN’S BUSINESS IN WRITING: None
OLD BUSINESS:
• Ordinance No. 2, Series 2025 which heading reads; AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE SEC. 4-12 OF THE NEWCASTLE TOWN CODE; public nuisance, dogs or cats. Don Steveson moved; Daren Downs seconded to approve Ordinance No. 2, Series 2025 on the third and final reading. MOTION CARRIED.
• Mayor Owens referenced a MOU signed by the Baseball League, Youth Softball Association and Soccer League. Ann McColley moved; Don Steveson seconded to approve the MOU. Discussion was had regarding #4, the moving of a storage shed. Ann McColley moved to amend her motion to accept the MOU with the removal of #4; Don Steveson seconded. MOTION CARRIED.
• Mayor Owens referenced the application for sidewalk encroachment. Engineer Chuck Bartlett recommended tabling this discussion so he could research past records from the Planning and Zoning Board. Thomas Voss moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve this recommendation. Discussion regarding the current ordinance was had. MOTION CARRIED.
NEW BUSINESS:
• Mayor Owens read a proclamation, proclaiming May as Historical Preservation Month.
• Mayor Owens read a proclamation, proclaiming May as Frontline Worker Appreciation Month.
• Mayor Owens referenced the Wy. DOT special event application to request road closures for the Classic Summer Drags event. Thomas Voss moved; John Butts seconded to sign the application. MOTION CARRIED.
• Mayor Owens referenced an application for a temporary use permit from Range Communications. John Butts moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve the permit. Motion carried.
• Mayor Owens referenced an easement application with the State Land and Investment Board for the Delaware/York Steet project. Don Steveson moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve the application. MOTION CARRIED.
COMMITTEE/COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS: None
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
• Attorney Dublin Hughes referenced a lease amendment with Union Telephone to allow for the installation of new equipment. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve the lease amendment. MOTION CARRIED.
• Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty reported that ads had been run for the open seat on the WC Travel Commission Board but had not received any letter of interest.
• Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff
requested the approval of a water/sewer tap
permit. Chris Kenney moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve the permit. MOTION CARRIED. He requested the approval of a right-of-way permit application. Daren Downs moved; Ann McColley seconded to approve this request. Discussion regarding the resurfacing materials was had. MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Stumpff referenced the DEQ wastewater treatment facility report by DEQ stating that there were not any violations. He then requested the approval of the proposal by WWC Engineering for the West Railroad Street project and requested to designate Public Works Foreman Justin King and himself to be the designated representatives. Don Steveson moved; seconded Chris Kenney to approve this request. MOTION CARRIED. Supervisor Stumpff requested to purchase 2021 Ford F150 XL from Granite Buick GMC out of Rapid City for $35,000.00 with 12,915 miles. Thomas Voss moved; Chris Kenney seconded to approve this request. Discussion was had regarding local purchase options was had; local inventory is looked at. MOTION CARRIED. A Backyard Park thank you banner design was presented; the design will be presented to the refinery; a parks committee meeting will be held to discuss recognitions moving forward. Mr. Stumpff reported that the 2024 CCR report has been completed and added to the website. He then reported that the high school banners have been falling off the poles since the stitching is not the correct size for the poles, the poles are also aging, and a solution is being investigated. He will email the parks and personnel committees to set up meetings. Councilwoman McColley inquired about the reunion banners; the reunion banners should stay up as long as the rods stay in place.
• Police Chief Derek Thompson reported on calls of service from April 21, 2025; NPD 152, WCSO 128, UPD 1, NVFD 4, WCFP 2, UVFD 0, Newcastle Ambulance 14 (Newcastle 10, WC 4, Upton 0, Osage 0, Custer 0) and Upton Ambulance 5; Chief Thompson provided a handout for the breakdown of NPD calls. Chief Thompson requested to give a conditional offer of employment to Channing Lutz for the Community Service Officer position starting at $18.00/hr. with one year probation, contingent on background investigation, drug screen and fingerprints with a start date to be determined. Ann McColley moved; Chris Kenney seconded. Discussion regarding the vehicle to be used was had; the current vehicle will be used for the time being. MOTION CARRIED. Chief Thompson then referenced ordinance concerns in a power point presentation. Junk and junk vehicles along with the time that is given to correct the violation were discussed along with possible changes to the ordinance; Chief Thompson stated that some of the ordinances are outdated or have vague definitions while others may be unconstitutional; complete overhaul of the ordinances may be needed. He referred to 17-14 - obscenity and 17-27 - weapons. Thomas Voss moved; seconded Chris Kenney for Attorney Hughes draft repeals for section 17-14 referring to obscenity and 17-27 referring to weapons. MOTION CARRIED. Attorney Hughes will bring more information back to the council regarding complete overhaul of the ordinances. Chief Thompson then referenced jailable ordinance violations, stating that it may be unreasonable to keep those ordinances with the expenses associated with the jail time. Councilman Voss stated that Chief Thompson and himself had been in contact with administrators from Western Dakota Tech and Sheridan College and would like Chief Thompson to draft letters to college graduates that have associate’s degree in law enforcement offering potential sign-on bonuses using left over funds from the police department budget. Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to allow Chief Thompson to draft letters for up to three graduates from Western Dakota Tech and the Northern East Region who have associate’s degrees in law enforcement, offering a potential sign-on bonus of $3,000.00 - $5,000.00 with a two-year commitment to be paid back if employment is terminated, applicant must meet all job requirements. Discussion regarding current officers with degrees and rate of pay was had. MOTION CARRIED.
While there were technical difficulties during Chief Thompsons presentations, Councilman Butts inquired if an updated budget request could be requested from the Newcastle Recreation Board; Mayor Owens stated that he would reach out to the board.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY: Thomas Voss moved; Ann McColley seconded to pay the claims against the City dated May 5, 2025. MOTION CARRIED.
ADJOURNMENT: Ann McColley moved; John Butts seconded to adjourn this regular meeting of the Newcastle City Council at 9:52 p.m. Meeting adjourned.
Claims: 21 Electric, services, $297.94; Advanced Drug Testing, testing, $31.20; Black Mountain, software, $1,600.00; Bomgaars, supplies, $2,786.33; Cambria Supply, supplies, $889.75; Campbell Co. Ems, services, $8,625.00; Casper College, training, $276.00; City of Newcastle, wa/sw/ga, $378.22; Core & Main, supplies, $38,068.80; Dawson, supplies, $1,043.00; Cooper Deveraux, deposit refund, $14.22; Douglas Dumbrill, municipal judge/mileage, $1,091.00; Energy Lab., analysis, $152.00; Farnsworth Services, portable sanitation, $250.00; Ferguson, supplies, $6,871.64; First Northern Bank, lease payments, $4,305.30; Hughes Law, attorney fees, $4,500.00; Rebecca Jackson, deposit refund, $6.37; Jolly Lane, trees, $1,521.88; Nicholas Kaminski, reimburse travel/training/supplies, $727.79; Larry or Lisa Leddy, deposit refund, $200.00; Alaina Liggett, deposit refund, $14.41; Gregory & Rhonda Lyman, deposit refund, $55.29; Marco, plotter/IT, $2,737.25; Mastercard, supplies/fuel/travel/training, $3,430.94; Minuteman, services, $175.98; Mountain View Plumbing, services, $463.00; NVFD, training/supplies, $218.67; News Letter, legals/ads, $1,197.00, Normont Equip., crack sealant, $2,354.00; Northwest Pipe Fittings, supplies, $300.00; Travis Peterson, reimburse fuel, $20.01; Range, phone/internet, $807.14; Reiniger Custom Services, repairs, $23,698.72; Rootx, funnels, $61.00; Salt Creek Water Dist., sewer services, $555.00; Servall, services, $89.68; Bryand Streeter, airport wages, $1,333.33; Summit Plumbing & Heating, services, $759.48; Lucky Teigen-Grummons, FD cleaning, $300.00; Uline, lift table, $751.95; Verizon, PW/FD cell phones, $830.26; Becky Vodopich, cleaning, $300.00; WC Health Services, drug screening, $30.00; WC Solid Waste Dist., tipping fees, $12,966.10; WY. Dept. of Workforce Services, unemployment, $65.28; WY Machinery, supplies, $255.75.
ATTEST:
Mayor Tyrel Owens
Clerk/Treasurer Stacy Haggerty
(Publish May 15, 2025)