MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
TOWN OF LUSK
SEPTEMBER 5, 2023, 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, September 5, 2023.
Council Members Present: Mayor Doug Lytle, Council Members Dean Nelson, Tom Dooper, Chantry Filener, Ron Pfister
Also Present: Attorney Dennis Meier, Desirae Matthews-LeLeux, Clerk/Treasurer, Todd Skrukrud, Director of Public Works, Chief Bo Krein, Linda Frye, Grant Manager, Taylor Willis, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer, Sheila Youngquist, Utility Billing Clerk, Trevor Barner, Golf Course Superintendent, Joyce Hammer, Swimming Pool Manager, Mike Mayville, EMS Director, Sgt. Jacob Gordon, Doug Jergensen, Animal Control
Chief Krein led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
MAYOR LYTLE called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBER FILENER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, to approve a consent agenda for item numbers three (3) through six (6). MOTION CARRIED.
VOUCHERS FOR PAYMENT
14 County Tire Vehicle Repairs $201.54
AFLAC Payroll Deduction $762.74
Allbright’s True Value Supplies $1,729.60
ALSCO/American Linen Mat Rental $215.26
APT US&C Membership Renewal Matthews $159.00
Aquaflow Int’l, Inc. Water Metering System $1,598.00
ARS Flood & Fire Cleanup Transfer Station Fire Cleanup $34,851.97
BankCard Center 2477 Parts & Supplies $702.65
BankCard Center 3814 Parts/Supplies/Equipment/Subscription/
Postage $2,212.67
BankCard Center 4389 Parts/Supplies $138.39
BankCard Center 7939 PD Parts/Supplies/Equipment/Training/ Postage/Subscriptions/Fuel/K-9 $2,700.15
Benzel Pest Control, Inc. Spraying Hahn Cabin $190.96
Black Hills Energy Gas Service $1,546.79
Body Builders Body Shop Golf Course Vehicle Repair $334.83
Boldon Diesel Services, LLC Garbage Truck Repair $210.22
Boldon Welding & Repair LLC Equipment Repair/Parts/Supplies $2,173.22
Border State Industries Inc. Electric Line Upgrade $4,656.72
Caselle Inc. Office Support & Maintenance $1,233.00
Century Link Phone Services $959.64
CMIT Solutions of WYCenter PD Firewall/Services $130.00
Connecting Point Copier Lease $650.99
Doyle J. Davies Municipal Judge $1,000.00
Decker’s Food Center Supplies $165.82
Delta Dental Employee Dental Insurance $974.35
Double Y Parts/Supplies $165.90
Douglas Embroidery Electric Dept Uniforms $284.85
Emergency Medical Products Inc Ambulance Supplies $2,240.60
Energy Laboratories INC. Water Samples $566.00
Fairbanks Scales, Inc Scale Maintenance $1,560.00
Fink, Jeremiah Reimburse PD Postage $10.65
First Net PD Phones/New Equipment $444.95
Franks Parts Company Parts/Supplies/Repairs $1,817.65
Gas Fire Services Vehicle Repairs $49.98
Grainger Shop Maintenance $224.31
Great American Financial Services Copier Lease $100.00
Hannah’s Golf Cars LLC Golf Course Equip Repair $3,417.34
Hawkins, Inc Chemicals $109.56
HDR, Inc Consultant Fees $5,149.93
Herren Bros. True Value Parts/Supplies $18.30
Hometown Country Sanitation Uniforms $399.00
Ideal Linen/Bluffs Shop Parts/Supplies $281.35
Interstate Batteries Sanitation Equipment Repairs $107.95
Jensen, Alexandra Utility Deposit Refund $79.34
Jergenson, Doug Monthly Wage Animal Control $1,400.00
Jirdon Agri Chemicals Golf Course Fertilizer/Chemicals $4,825.46
Lawson Products, Inc. Shop Tools/Supplies $273.73
LeLeux Enterpirse, LLC Monthly Wage Pro Shop $2,600.00
Lexipol PD Wellness App/Training $1,690.25
Lumen Phone, Long Distance $25.54
Lusk Herald Legal Advertising/Advertising $2,539.66
Lusk Lodging Tax Board Tax Distribution $8,845.81
M.C. Schaff & Associates, Inc Airport Improvement Project $10,472.00
Matheson Tri-Gas Inc. Ambulance Oxygen $98.12
Meier Building Rent $800.00
Meier Law Office Monthly Retainer $3,000.00
Harberts, Mike IT Services $2,375.00
Newman Traffic Signs Signs $195.88
Nio. County Weed & Pest Street Chemicals $60.00
Niobrara Chamber of Commerce Promotion $187.50
Niobrara County Library Internet Service $250.00
Niobrara County Treasurer Communications Contract $6,301.50
Niobrara Electric Association Utilities $49.96
Northwest Pip Fittings of Rapid City Water Parts/Supplies $233.68
One-Call of Wyoming Dig Tickets $21.75
Peaks & Prairies GCSA Golf Course Annual Membership/Dues $140.00
Port-A-Pots By TDS, Inc Transfer Station Equip Repair $702.04
QTPod Airport New Equipment $332.17
Radar Shop, The PD Recert Radios $113.50
Ranchers Feed & Supply Animal Control/Golf Course Supplies $117.91
Serres, Sandra & McCart, Jerry Utility Deposit Refund $26.02
Sinclair, Pine Bluffs Golf Course/Airport Fuel $6,487.50
Stella-Jones Corporation Electric Poles $14,530.00
Stinker Stores Inc Fuel $5,942.03
Summit Fire & Security Transfer Station Extinguisher $593.00
TDS Trash Collection Tipping Fees Transfer Station $4,914.02
Tollman, Rhonda Reimburse Postage $34.40
Torrington Office Supplies Supplies $161.68
Turbo Diesel Service, Inc Golf Course Equip Repair $290.15
Underground Enterprises Transfer Station Fees $2,100.00
Visionary Communications Inc. Internet Service $541.31
W.M.P.A. Power Purchase $115,592.89
WAMCAT Membership Dues $225.00
Western Medical Management Ambulance Billing Fees $1,774.68
WY Dept of Revenue Uniform Assessment $177.03
WY Dept. of Workforce Services Worker’s Compensation $2,324.40
WY Educators Benefit Trust Employee Insurance $32,153.00
Wyoming Machinery Corp Street Equip Repair $2,625.91
WY Retirement System Government Contribution $16,559.77
Total Vouchers $331,230.42
MANUAL CHECKS - August 2023
Gordon, Jacob Per Diem/K-9 Training $ 914.50
K-9 Working Dogs International LLC New K-9 Training and pickup $ 14,682.32
Circuit Court of Niobrara County Writ of Wages, Garnishment $ 911.56
Clerk of District Court, Second Judicial Writ of Wages, Garnishment $ 348.56
Wyoming Child Support Writ of Wages, Garnishment $ 207.69
Wyoming Child Support Writ of Wages, Garnishment $ 160.61
Wyoming Dept of Revenue Wyoming Sales Tax $ 5,332.33
Postmaster Utility Mailings $ 323.20
AVI PC Engineering Engineering Fees $ 55,916.40
Oftedal Construction, Inc Contractor Payment $ 838,983.64
Wyoming Dept of Transportation Airport Fuel License Renewal $ 25.00
WY First Aid & Safety Supply First Aid Supplies $ 804.01
Circuit Court of Niobrara County Writ of Wages, Garnishment $ 871.26
Clerk of District Court, Second Judicial Writ of Wages, Garnishment $ 348.56
Wyoming Child Support Writ of Wages, Garnishment $ 368.30
Total $ 920,197.94
Visitors:
Jim Hollon approached the council providing a map in preparation for a request in a zoning change for lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 south of the hospital between Mayes & Ballancee. They are currently limited residential and would like it changed to general residential to broaden the market and provide an opportunity for those moving to Lusk to make an investment. He will be requesting another two lots which are east of Ballancee, north of parcel D that will be brought to the assessor for a legal description, giving him six lots in total. He stated that a party recently purchased a location near the hospital to build a clinic. There was discussion on the location as well as clinics in limited residential zoning. The council is the zoning board and there is a process that will have to be followed for a change. Mr. Hollon thanked the council for their time and was happy to answer any questions and looks forward to working with them.
Department Updates:
Updates were given by Trevor Barner, Linda Frye, Mike Mayville, Joyce Hammer, Chief Krein, Desi LeLeux and Todd Skrukrud. Sgt Jacob Gordon introduced K-9 Xana and answered questions.
Old Business:
COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER FILENER, to approve Ordinance No. 11-20-740, An Ordinance Amending Existing Ordinance 11-20-740 at Paragraph (G) to Change the Automatic Annual Rate Increase for Water from Two Percent (2%) to Five Percent (5%), on third reading. Mayor Lytle clarified that the purpose of the increase was because of our debt-to-income ratio to keep qualifying for loans for the infrastructure project. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER FILENER, TO approve Ordinance No. 11-15-410, An Ordinance Amending Existing Ordinance 11-15-410 at Paragraph (5) to Change the Automatic Annual Rate Increase for Sewer from Two Percent (2%) to Five Percent (5%), on third reading. MOTION CARRIED.
New Business:
Livestock permit renewal for Carrie Olson was tabled.
COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER FILENER, to approve the livestock permit renewals for Dean Nelson. COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON ABSTAINED. MOTION CARRIED.
Two proposals were received for interim financing for Phase 2 Sewer: Lusk State Bank and CoBank. LeLeux explained that to use the USDA funds obligated for sewer in the amount of $747,000 we must go through interim financing, anything over $500,000. COUNCIL MEMBER FILENER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER PFISTER, to approve the proposal from Lusk State Bank with a fixed rate of 3.45% with no fees or penalties. COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER ABSTAINED. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER FILENER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, to approve moving the credit cards from Bank of the West to Banner Capital and allow the mayor to apply. COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER ABSTAINED. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER FILENER, to approve Resolution No. 23-23, a Resolution Authorizing a Change in Signatory for Bank Accounts and Credit Cards. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER FILENER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, to approve and implement the Capital Improvement Plan. MOTION CARRIED.
Ordinances 8-15-120, 8-15-130, and 8-15-150 were tabled to give the council time to research the ordinances.
COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER FILENER, to move into executive session for contract and personnel at 6:03p.m. MOTION CARRIED.
The council reconvened into regular session at 6:49p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER, to approve Chief Krein to negotiate a contract for the use of the state fueling site and authorize the mayor to sign the contract. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER FILENER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER, to approve the animal control contract as amended with the increase of wage and sovereign immunity. MOTION CARRIED.
The council thanked Chief Krein and accepted his resignation. The mayor requested to appoint Sgt. Jacob Gordon as interim chief. COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, to approve the mayor’s request. MOTION CARRIED.
The next regular Council meeting will be Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
Douglas E. Lytle, Mayor
ATTEST:
Desirae Matthews-LeLeux, Clerk/Treasurer
Public Notice No. 5984. Published in The Lusk Herald on September 13, 2023.
