MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
TOWN OF LUSK
JUNE 1, 2021 5:00 P.M.
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 June 1, 2021.
Council Members Present: Mayor Doug Lytle, Council Members Becky Blackburn, Calvin Carstensen, Tom Dooper, and Dean Nelson
Also Present: Linda Frye, Clerk/Treasurer
Todd Skrukrud, Director of Public Works
Desirae Matthews-LeLeux, Deputy Clerk
Attorney Dennis Meier
Chief of Police Bo Krein
Barbara Cushman, Pool Manager
James Santistevan, Cemetery/Parks Manager, Emergency Management
MAYOR LYTLE called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
Mayor Lytle led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, to approve the agenda, second by COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER. MOTION CARRIED.
VOUCHERS FOR PAYMENT
AFLAC Payroll Deduction $738.50
Allbright’s True Value Supplies $458.40
ALSCO/American Linen Mat Rental $81.33
APT US & C Annual Conference $598.00
AVI PC Engineering Infrastructure Engineering Fee $54,554.95
BankCard Center 0344 Supplies/Subscriptions/Equip./Postage/Misc. $416.14
BankCard Center 1937 Parts & Supplies $434.80
BankCard Center 1960 Supplies $369.24
BankCard Center 4359 Supplies/Training/Uniforms $1,267.45
Bauerkemper’s Inc New Equipment $1,450.00
Black Hills Energy Gas Service $681.33
Boldon Welding & Repair Services Golf Course New Construction $604.80
Border State Industries Inc. Parts & Supplies $167.91
C&H Tire +Trailer Repair LLC Ambulance/Cemetery Vehicle Repair $981.06
Caselle Inc. Office Support & Maintenance $1,100.00
CenturyLink Phones/Internet $1,361.20
Connecting Point Copier Lease $100.00
Crossed Timbers Investments, Inc Ambulance Barn Maintenance $870.97
Decker’s Food Center Supplies $100.43
Delta Dental Plan Employee Paid Insurance $864.20
Doyle J. Davies Municipal Judge/Supplies $1,000.00
Driven Powersports & Marine New Equipment Homeland Security Grant $1,340.00
Eddy, John Pool Parts $36.66
Emergency Medical Products Inc. Ambulance Supplies $428.66
Fair Manufacturing, Inc. New Equipment $13,313.00
Ferguson Waterworks Equipment Repair/Electric Metering $7,133.07
Franks Parts Company Equip. Repair/Parts/Supplies/New Equipment $6,195.58
Geographic Innovations Software Cemetery Parcel Viewer $150.00
Great American Financial Services Copier Lease $211.00
Great West Trust Co WRS 457 Plan Deferred $200.00
Hanson, Dan Henry & Lacy Utility Refund, Final Bill $6.26
Hawkins, Inc. Pool Maintenance & Supplies $2,508.13
Herren Bros. True Value Cemetery Supplies & Equipment $29.94
Ideal Linen/Bluffs Shop Supplies $72.99
Jergenson, Doug Monthly Wage Animal Control $1,400.00
John Deere Financial Golf Course New Equipment $619.61
Kovarna, Andy Ambulance Refund $4,118.00
Kurtzer’s Parks/Cemetery Equipment Repair $746.71
Lumen Phone, Long Distance $29.92
Lusk Fire Dept. Retirement/Training $1,544.99
Lusk Herald Legal Advertising/Directory/Calendar/Ad. $2,166.90
Lusk Lodging Tax Board Tax Distribution $1,594.84
LUSKWYOMING.COM Public Relations Advertising $100.00
Matheson Tri-Gas Inc. Ambulance Supplies $299.16
Meier Building Rent $800.00
Meier Law Office Monthly Retainer $3,000.00
Merback Awards Engraving $25.68
Midland Implement Co. Irrigation Repairs/Supplies $1,602.53
Municipal Emergency Services Dep. Acct. Fire Dept. New Equipment $4,294.00
Nio. County Weed & Pest Streets Chemicals $1,423.61
Niobrara Chamber of Commerce Promotion $187.50
Niobrara County 4H Junior Leaders K-9 Trails $58.68
Niobrara County Library Internet Service $250.00
Niobrara County Treasurer Communications Contract $6,301.50
Niobrara Electric Assoc. Utilities/Electric Dept. Supplies $241.52
Northwest Pipe Fittings of Rapid City Parks/Water Dept. Repairs $2,990.15
Northwest Pipe Fittings of Scottsbluff Cemetery Irrigation Repairs/
Water Maintenance & Repairs $792.26
Peterson Construction Picnic Shelter/Shop Maintenance $6,525.31
Pro Force Law Enforcement New Equipment $610.62
R&R Products, Inc. Parts & Supplies $385.01
Rawhide Drug Co. Ambulance Supplies $5.97
Sanitation Products Inc. Dumpster Purchase $4,675.00
TDS Trash Collection Tipping Fees Transfer Station $5,315.81
Torrington Office Supplies Office Supplies $307.68
Underground Enterprises Transfer Station Haul $1,800.00
Visionary Communications Fire Dept. Internet/Ambulance Internet $195.79
W.E.B.T. Employee Life Insurance $69.75
W.M.P.A. Electrical Power Purchase $99,872.06
Warne Chemical & Equipment Water Parts & Supplies/
Sewer Weed Control $1,735.30
Western Medical Management, Inc. Ambulance Billing $1,073.99
Whitaker Oil, Inc. Fuel & Oil $3,588.09
Wilcox, Cory Reimbursement for Supplies $398.82
WY Dept. of Revenue Wyoming Sales Tax Payable $4,938.07
WY Dept. of Agriculture Consumer Health License $50.00
WY Dept. of Workforce Services Worker’s Compensation $1,957.18
WY Fire Chief’s Association Membership Dues $130.00
Wyoming Retirement Government Contribution $14,854.15
Total Vouchers $282,902.16
MANUAL CHECKS May 2021
Driven PowerSports & Marine P.D. New Equipment, Homeland Security $38,575.79
WY Child Support Garnishment, Writ of Assignment $184.61
Doug Jergenson Animal Control Supplies $221.80
Royce Thompson Per Diem $124.25
USPCA Region 14 2021 Detector, Tracking & PD1 Cert. $120.00
BlueLine Custom Vinyls K-9 Trails $649.00
Post Master Utility Billing $238.51
Pete Kruse Per Diem $35.00
Royce Thompson Per Diem $35.00
WY Child Support Garnishment, Writ of Assignment $184.61
North Central International, Inc Electric Dept. Vehicle Repairs $2,582.73
Total $42,951.30
COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, to approve the list of vouchers as presented. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN, to approve the Treasurers Report, Financial Condition and Manual Checks. The report will be filed for audit. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN, to approve the minutes of the regular Council meeting on May 4, 2021. MOTION CARRIED.
Visitors:
Mayor Lytle asked for public comment on the 2021-2022 fiscal year proposed budget. There was no public comment.
Department Updates:
Barbara Cushman, Pool Manager gave the Council an update on the status of the pool and life guard training. Due to limited staff, the schedule for pool is Monday – Thursday 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., closed Sunday, morning swim, swimming lessons and rental of the pool. Life guard training will be done as soon as the pool is in working order.
James Santistevan stated that the siren will go through testing in the coming week.
Police Chief Krein gave the incident report for May to the Council. Stuart Coxhead was introduced as the new officer for the Town.
Linda Frye reported that Courtney Rowley is working in the office as seasonal employee. The Office is still taking applications for a part-time Utility Billing Clerk and will conduct interviews at a later date.
Todd Skrukrud, Director of Public Works stated that the clean-up week will continue through Friday June 4th. The grates around the trees on main street have been altered so they are flush with the sidewalk and should not be a hazard. The pool is being filled and the boiler will be worked on in the coming days. The crew is working on mowing and repairing streets. The highway department will stripe on main street when paint is available.
Old Business:
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, to approve the third reading of the 2021-2022 fiscal year budget with revenues of $13,904,841.00, and expenditures of $13,904,841.00. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN, to approve Ordinance No. 8-10-100, An Ordinance Amending Existing Ordinance No. 8-10-100 of the Lusk Municipal Code to Include Bar and Grill Liquor Licenses to the List of Annual Licenses Which the Town of Lusk is Authorized to Issue, on second reading. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER, to approve Ordinance No. 8-10-110, An Ordinance Amending Existing Ordinance No. 8-10-110 of the Lusk Municipal Code to Set Liquor License Fees, on second reading. Representatives from Elks, Lusk Liquor Store, The Pub, and Silver Dollar were present. Joe Carpenter from Lusk Liquor Store asked how the Town could raise the fee by 60%. There was a discussion on the reason for the increase and the amount of the increase. Connie Starkey asked questions on the bar and grill license and the retail liquor license. The Council stated that a Bar and Grill license minimum is $1,500.00 and the Council wanted to bring all the license up to be the same amount. Club license is $100.00 and is being raised to $1,500.00. Council Member Nelson commented that the prices need to be looked at before there is a change. Council Member Dooper called for a vote. Mayor Lytle, Council Members Blackburn, Carstensen and Dooper voted aye, Council Member Nelson voted nay. MOTION CARRIED.
The Town received one bid for Phase 1 Infrastructure Project from Oftedal. Oftedal’s total bid is $13,114,011.72. COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN, to approve bid base one from Oftedal. Bruce Perryman AVI Engineer, gave information on the bid for phase 1 of the infrastructure project from Oftedal Construction. The bid was approximately 3 million dollars over what has been budgeted. USDA has requested to increase funding for the project to the National Office. COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN to amend their motion to state, to approve to award the bid to Oftedal and accept the base bid plus alternate 1, plus deductive alternates 2 through 6 and not to exceed current funding levels that are in place. MOTION CARRIED. There will be a value meeting with all parties and a pre-construction meeting.
New Business:
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN, to approve the Livestock Permit Renewal for Royce Thompson, Cloe and Ryder. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER, to approve the temporary open container permit for Niobrara Electric Association. Mayor Lytle abstained. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER, to approve the Temporary Open Container Permit for Adult Softball Scheduled Games and Tournaments. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN, to Direct and Authorize the Mayor to Sign a Resolution Approving the Phase 1 Water/Sewer Cost Overrun. MOTION CARRIED.
The next regular Council meeting will be Tuesday July 6, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned
at 6:15 p.m.
Douglas E. Lytle, Mayor
ATTEST:
Linda M. Frye, Clerk/Treasurer
Public Notice No. 5632. Published in The Lusk Herald on June 9, 2021