MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
TOWN OF LUSK
JANUARY 5, 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 January 5, 2021.
Council Members Present: Mayor Doug Lytle, Council Members Becky Blackburn, Calvin Carstensen, Tom Dooper, and Dean Nelson
Also Present: Linda Frye, Clerk/Treasurer
Kimberly Harris, Deputy Clerk
Todd Skrukrud, Director of Public Works
James Santistevan, Cemetery/Parks, Emergency Management
Royce Thompson, Electric Supervisor, Airport Management
Attorney Dennis Meier
Chief of Police Bo Krein
Police Chief Bo Krein lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
MAYOR LYTLE called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON MOVED, to approve the agenda, second by COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN. MOTION CARRIED.
VOUCHERS FOR PAYMENT
AFLAC Payroll Deduction $738.50
Allbright’s True Value Supplies $368.76
ALSCO/American Linen Mat Rental $234.87
AVI PC Engineering Infrastructure Engineering Fee $72,123.84
BankCard Center Annual Fee $35.00
BankCard Center 0344 Notary Bond/Supplies/Postage $642.50
BankCard Center 1613 PD Uniforms/Misc./Postage $435.79
BankCard Center 1952 Training/Annual Fee $120.89
BankCard Center 1960 Annual Fee $35.00
BankCard Center 4389 Golf Course Superintendent Membership $432.57
Black Hills Energy Gas Service $1,279.11
Body Builders Body Shop Vehicle Repair, Police Department $16,379.07
Boldon Welding & Repair Services Shop Supplies $29.58
Border State Industries Electric Line Upgrade $716.44
C&H Tire Repair Equipment Repair $785.28
Caselle Inc. Office Support & Maintenance $1,100.00
CenturyLink Phones/Internet $1,276.25
Century Link Business Long Distance Phone $22.11
City of Casper Tire Disposal $2,412.45
Connecting Point Copier Lease $86.00
Cullen, Sherri Utility Deposit Refund $88.97
Davis, Julia & Rick Refund, Garbage Account $213.78
Decker’s Food Center Supplies $108.82
Delta Dental Plan Employee Paid Insurance $822.95
Doyle J. Davies Municipal Judge/Supplies $1,000.00
Franks Parts Company Equip. Repair/Parts/Supplies/Misc. $2,410.62
Garhart, Phil Utility Deposit Refund $38.80
Great American Financial Svcs. Copier Lease $327.43
Great West Trust Co WRS 457 Plan Deferred $300.00
Honey Badger Towing P.D. Towing $98.75
Ideal Linen/Bluffs Sanitation Supplies $203.97
Interstate Batteries Equipment Repair $142.95
Jergenson, Doug Monthly Wage Animal Control $1,400.00
John Deere Financial Golf Course New Equipment $619.37
KGOS-AM/KERM-FM Public Relations Advertising $45.00
Lusk Herald Legal Advertising/Directory $1,607.05
Lusk Lodging Tax Board Tax Distribution $7,269.60
Matheson Tri-Gas Inc. Ambulance Supplies $99.28
Meier Building Rent $800.00
Meier Law Office Monthly Retainer $3,000.00
Miller, Alex Rec. Uniform Refund $50.00
Niobrara Chamber of Commerce Promotion $187.50
Niobrara County Library Internet Service $250.00
Niobrara County Treasurer Communications Contract $6,301.50
Nio. Electric Assoc. Sanitation Landfill Utilities $42.62
Northwest Pipe Fittings Irrigation Repairs $1,648.98
Nuun Utility Locating Water Parts & Repairs $676.00
Owren, Jay Postage Reimbursement $3.80
Pitney Bowes Inc. Postage Purchase $520.99
Post Master Renewal, Permit Mailing $240.00
Print Express Office Supplies $375.07
The Radar Shop Recertification $454.00
Richardson Construction Airport Improvement Project $285,957.16
Silver Cliff Vet Clinic Supplies/Postage $47.66
Smylie Animal Clinic Supplies $130.00
TDS Trash Collection Tipping Fees $5,848.88
Torrington Office Supply Supplies $95.92
USA Blue Book Supplies $156.81
Valley Motor Supply Vehicle Repairs $278.70
Visionary Communications Fire Dept. Internet/Ambulance Internet $195.79
W.E.B.T. Employee Life Insurance $71.00
W.M.P.A. Electrical Power Purchase $104,329.20
Walker, Shay Utility Deposit Refund $86.94
Whitaker Oil, Inc. Fuel & Oil $3,219.60
WY Dept. of Environmental Quality Tank Registration Fee $50.00
WY Dept. of Revenue Sales Tax $4,794.86
WY Dept. of Transportation Airport Improvement $1,525.99
WY Dept. of Workforce Services Worker’s Compensation $2,893.02
Wyoming Machinery Equipment Repair $75.66
WY Office State Lands & Investment Loan Fee $28,686.51
Wyoming Retirement Government Contribution $23,779.21
Total Vouchers $592,824.72
MANUAL CHECKS December 2020
W.E.B.T. Employee Premium, 2 Months $142.00
WY Child Support Garnishment, Writ of Assignment $184.61
WY Dept. of Revenue WY Sales Tax $5,005.16
Pete Kruse Per Diem $19.00
Royce Thompson Per Diem $19.00
Postmaster Utility Billing $227.12
WY Child Support Garnishment, Writ of Assignment $184.61
Total $5,781.50
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN, to approve the list of vouchers as presented. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, to approve the Treasurers Report, Financial Condition and Manual Checks. The report will be filed for audit. MOTION CARRIED.
Mayor Lytle moved item f. Bids for Police Department ATV on the agenda above item e. Request for Budget Changes First Reading.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting on December 1, 2020. MOTION CARRIED.
Department Updates:
Royce Thompson reported that the Airport Improvement Project is 90% complete.
James Santistevan stated that there would be a drive through vaccination clinic January 12th from Noon to 6:00 p.m. at the Fairgrounds in the beef barn for section 1B. The wind storm that came through before Christmas did some damage to the Silver Cliff, trees, and fences. James will let the weather service know about this.
Chief Krein gave information on the number of incidents for December. There will be some spring training and employee evaluations.
Linda informed the Council on the RD Apply through the USDA, Bruce Perryman AVI Engineer will be here for a meeting Wednesday at 4:00 p.m., and the first neighborhood meeting for the infrastructure project will be Tuesday January 12th at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. at the shooting sports building at the Fairgrounds. There is an application out for a transfer of a retail liquor license.
Todd stated that the shelter at Washington Park is approximately 75% complete, there is one more load of tires to be shipped out, and the Town has been working with AVI on the infrastructure project, at the neighbor meeting Bruce Perryman should have 50% of the design plan and they have started working on the numbers for Phase II.
Old Business:
The Christmas gathering is cancelled. There is a possibility of having something during the summer. The service awards will be given out at the next Council meeting.
New Business:
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN, to approve Resolution No. 20-18, A Resolution Establishing a Policy for Discharging Certain Account Receivable Balances that are Determined Uncollectable by the Town of Lusk. The Council had questions on the process that the Office uses to collect past due accounts. The Town uses two collection agencies and if no contact information is available, the account is turned over to collections. The Ambulance billing company suggests to the Town when an account needs to be turned over to collections and the office makes the final decision. There was a discussion on the property owner being responsible for the utility bill. Mayor Lytle asked Attorney Meier to write up an Ordinance for the property owner to be responsible for the bill if the renter does not pay. The Town will look at raising the deposit and reconnect fees. Mayor Lytle, Council Members Blackburn, Carstensen, and Dooper voted aye, Council Member Nelson voted nay. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER 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 the Wyoming Association of Risk Management amended and restated Joint Powers Agreement. MOTION CARRIED
COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, to approve Resolution No. 20-19, A Resolution Establishing Rates Pursuant to Chapter Nine, Title 5 of the Lusk Municipal Code, Entitled “Dogs and Cats”. MOTION CARRIED.
Chief Krein received two bids for 2021 Polaris Ranger. COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN, to accept the low bid of $38,176.28 from Drive Powersports and Marine of Casper. MOTION CARRIED.
Linda presented to the Council a request for changes to the 2021 budget to include line items for the infrastructure project and increase the budget for the police department vehicles that were damaged by another driver and received hail damage. Mayor Lytle read the amounts. COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER, to accept the budget changes as presented on the first reading. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN to move into executive session for legal matters at 5:45 p.m. MOTION CARRIED.
The Council reconvened into regular session at 6:20 p.m.
The next regular Council meeting will be Tuesday February 2, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned
at 6:23 p.m.
Douglas E. Lytle, Mayor
ATTEST:
Linda M. Frye, Clerk/Treasurer
Public Notice No. 5559. Published in The Lusk Herald on January 13, 2021.
