MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
TOWN OF LUSK
January 7, 2020
The Town Council of the Town of Lusk met in regular session at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall on Tuesday January 7, 2020.
Council Members Present: Mayor Doug Lytle, Council Members Rebecca Blackburn, Calvin Carstensen, Tom Dooper, and Dean Nelson
Absent: Dennis Meier, Town Attorney
Also Present: Linda Frye, Clerk/Treasurer
Cassandra Matney, Deputy Clerk
Todd Skrukrud, Director of Public Works
Bo Krein, Chief of Police
Royce Thompson, Electric Supervisor/Airport Manager
James Santistevan, Cemetery/Parks, Emergency Management
Jessica Yeager, Recreation Director
Doug Jergenson, Animal Control
Officer Gordon and K-9 Sasha
MAYOR LYTLE called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM.
Mayor Lytle led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, to approve the agenda as printed, second by COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN. MOTION CARRIED.
VOUCHERS FOR PAYMENT
AFLAC Payroll Deduction $599.78
Allbright’s True Value Supplies/Misc. $1,440.54
ALSCO/American Linen Mat Rental $226.26
AVI PC Engineering Water Maintenance & Repairs $2,195.98
GovOffice LLC Police Department Email Services $50.00
Baker & Associates Groundwater Monitoring $1,800.00
BankCard Center Postage/Supplies/Office Support/
Maintenance/Repairs/Misc. $1,601.29
Bluffs Sanitary Supply Shop Supplies $125.93
Carver, Florek, & James Audit Expense $19,750.00
Carrot-Top Industries Parks Parts & Supplies $174.23
Caselle Inc. Office Support Software $1,100.00
Casper Fire Extinguisher Police Dept. New Equipment $61.75
Century Link Phone Bill; Long Distance $24.50
C & H Tire & Trailer Repair LLC Street Snow Removal $1,854.60
Connecting Point Equipment Lease $43.00
Crossed Timbers Utility Deposit Refund $49.55
Doyle J. Davies Municipal Judge $1,000.00
Decker’s Food Center Supplies $60.78
Delta Dental Plan Employee Paid Insurance $556.65
Energy Laboratories Inc. Water Samples $22.00
Great American Financial Copier Lease $351.00
Great West Trust Co WRS 457 Plan Deferred $200.00
Hawkins, Inc. Chlorine $682.50
Frank Parts Company Parts/Repairs/Supplies/Snow Removal $2,655.19
Hickory Creek Catering Public Relations Misc. $1,480.00
Hometown Country Uniforms $137.00
Jergenson, Doug Monthly Wage Animal Control $900.00
John Deere Financial Golf Course New Equipment $619.37
Meier Building Monthly P.D. Rent $800.00
Black Hills Energy Gas Service $998.87
Border State Industries Parts & Supplies $213.76
Skogen, Cometto & Associates Audit Expense $190.00
Lusk Herald Advertising $5,870.53
Lusk Lodging Tax Tax Distribution $6,429.84
Meier Law Office Monthly Retainer $3,000.00
Merback Awards Service Award $28.42
Newman Traffic Signs Street Signs $112.54
Niobrara Chamber of Commerce Promotion $187.50
Niobrara Hospital Dist. Police Training $102.00
Niobrara County Library Internet Service $250.00
Niobrara County Treasurer Communications Contract $6,301.50
Nio. Electric Assoc. Landfill Utilities/Electric Line Upgrade $6,007.98
Norberg, Rory Fuel Reimbursement $30.01
One-Call of WY Membership Dues/Tickets $40.00
Whitaker Oil, Inc. Fuel and Oil $4,711.29
Postmaster Utility Mailing Permit $235.00
Century Link Phones/Internet $1,363.10
Radar Shop Police Dept. Repairs $454.00
Ranchers Feed Supplies $49.03
Safety-Kleen Supplies $199.00
Spic & Span Cleaners Street Blacktop $4,430.87
TDS Trash Collection Transfer Station Tipping/
Property Acquisition $9,714.89
Torrington Office Supplies $277.00
Underground Enterprises Transfer Station Hauling Fee $1,500.00
Valley Motor Supply Vehicle Repair/Shop Supplies $244.19
Visionary Communications Fire Dept. Misc. Internet $92.74
Verizon Wireless PD, Ambulance, Mayor Cell Phone $497.43
WAM Conference Registration $230.00
W.E.B.T. Employee Life Insurance $72.25
W.M.P.A. Electrical Power Purchase $113,321.08
Ferguson Waterworks Parts & Supplies $115.81
Western Medical Management Ambulance Billing/Access Fee $376.27
WY Dept. of Environmental Quality Register Tanks Airport $50.00
Wyoming Dept. of Revenue Wyoming Sales Tax $6,184.27
Wyoming Machinery Snow Removal $3,500.56
Wyoming Retirement Government Contribution $15,098.48
WY Dept. of Workforce Services Employee Worker’s Compensation $2,128.77
Molden, Neicole Utility Deposit Refund $76.52
Total Vouchers $235,247.40
MANUAL CHECKS December 2019
Torrington Office Supply Supplies $45.98
W.E.B.T. Employee Life $72.25
WY Dept. of Transportation License Plate Police Dept. $5.00
AFLAC Payroll Deductions $599.78
Pete Kruse Per Diem $19.00
Royce Thompson Per Diem $19.00
Lusk Post Office Utility Billing $228.20
Total $989.21
COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN MOVED, to approve the list of vouchers as presented, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN MOVED, COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON SECOND, to approve the Treasurer’s report that includes the financial condition and manual checks. MOTION CARRIED. The Treasurer’s report will be filed for audit.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN SECOND, to approve the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held December 3, 2019 and Special Meeting held December 12, 2019. MOTION CARRIED.
Visitors:
Laura Waldock addressed the Council on the procedures of Animal Control and about her cat. She told the Council about the process of what happened when her cat went missing. Ms. Waldock read Town Ordinance No. 9-10-130 Impounding Animals at Large and Ordinance No. 9-5-220 Notice of Impounding. Ms. Waldock stated that she had contacted Animal Control Officer Jergensen about the trapping of cats in the area where she lives. Mayor Lytle asked if her cat was licensed through the Town, which Ms. Waldock stated that he was not. The cat was chipped and was a large cat that was not feral and had a break away collar. Ms. Waldock said that if her cat was trapped it should have been taken to the pound. She had contacted Chief Krein about the incident. Chief Krein responded to Ms. Waldock. Chief Krein stated that the Town will be receiving a chip reader through a donation. Ms. Waldock suggested that a chip reader would help and possibly taking pictures of the animals to put on social media.
The department heads gave updates on their respective departments:
James Santistevan reported on tree trimming and snow removal. Governor Gordon required the current Emergency Managers to be fingerprinted, which James has done. At the end of December the EOP is due to be renewed, and there will be meetings for this. Mayor Lytle requested that the playground at Northside Park have some sand or gravel put around the equipment. James stated that they are working on getting a barrier and ideas on what to use.
Jessica Yeager Recreation Director stated that she had put out a questionnaire and received only seven back. Ms. Yeager informed the Council that spring Soccer and Baseball will be starting in mid-April. She is planning on t-ball in June. The Adult Softball program will possibly be run by the coaches. There was an idea of having it on social media and/or creating a Facebook page.
Royce Thompson reported that the Jeff Wolfe M.C. Schaff engineer was here and gave the plans for the Airport Building if the Council would like to look at them. The crack seal will happen this summer at the Airport. The Electric department has been working on relocating some secondary services.
Chief Krein informed the Council on the number of calls for December which is up about 8% from the previous year. Officer Fink is attending the academy. K-9 Sasha will be doing another evaluation and start training. Mike Larson was talked to about highway projects, crosswalk, and vehicles passing on the right.
Linda Frye reported that the June 30, 2019 audit is complete and there will be a conference with the auditors at the next meeting. The Hazard Mitigation Property Acquisition is finishing up and paper work is being sent in for reimbursement.
Todd Skrukrud stated Anderson Surveying will be here pretending to setting of some points on water tank hill. John Eddy has been working with EPA on the deficiencies on the Sanitary Survey, two are left, and we have until June to correct these. Bruce Perryman AVI engineer has uploaded the PER report to the USDA REA website for the grant/loan on the infrastructure. The well project is complete. Todd, John, and Rory’s wastewater licenses were due this year and they had enough hours to roll over, which are good for another three years.
Old Business:
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN, to approve Ordinance No. 6-5-370, An Ordinance Prohibiting Urination and/or Defecation in Public, on third reading. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN, to approve Ordinance No. 6-5-380, An Ordinance Prohibiting Possession of Tobacco and Vapor Products by Minors as amended on third reading. It was amended to read “under the age of twenty-one (21) years”. MOTION CARRIED.
New Business:
COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN, to approve Airport and Business Park Haying Contract with Louis Hammer. Royce Thompson explained that the contract had been suspended due to the fact that Mr. Hammer did some work on the property. There was a discussion on the timeline for the removal of the bales. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN, to approve the Livestock Permit Renewal for Robyn Jefcoat. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN, to approve Resolution No. 20-1, A Resolution Designating a Depository of the Funds of the Town of Lusk, Wyoming, A Municipal Corporation Existing Under and By Virtue of the Laws of the State of Wyoming. MOTION CARRIED.
The Town will setup a workshop to set critical dates for the 1% Specific Purpose Tax to help with the cost of the Infrastructure plan. Todd will contact Bruce Perryman AVI Engineer and ask if Friday the 17th or 24th will work for him. We will also contact Todd Bishop Kaiser and Company, and the County Commissioners.
The WAM Winter Workshop will be February 26th – 28th. Mayor Lytle will be attending. Council Member Carstensen stated that he could possibly attend, and if not Council Member Nelson will go in his place.
Mayor Lytle informed everyone that there will be a Town meeting tonight at 7:00 p.m. with State Representative Hans Hunt and State Senator Cheri Steinmetz. Everyone is welcome to attend.
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be Tuesday February 4, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
Douglas E. Lytle, Mayor
ATTEST:
Linda M. Frye, Clerk/Treasurer
Public Notice No. 5376. Published in The Lusk Herald on January 15, 2020
