Public Notice No. 5244

Public Notice

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
TOWN OF LUSK
APRIL 2, 2019
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 April 2, 2019.
Council Members Present:    Mayor Doug Lytle, Council Members Rebecca Blackburn, Calvin Carstensen, Tom Dooper, and Dean Nelson
Also Present: Linda Frye, Clerk/Treasurer; Cassandra Matney, Deputy Clerk; Todd Skrukrud, Director of Public Works; Dennis Meier, Town Attorney; Sean Duffy, Golf Course Superintendent; Bo Krein, Chief of Police; Officer Matt Smith; James Santistevan, Parks/Cemetery, Emergency Management; Doug Jergenson, Animal Control; John Eddy, Water/Sewer Superintendent; Cory Wilcox, Shop Mechanic/EMT Director; Bruce Himes, Streets/Sanitation Superintendent; Pete Kruse, Electric Department
MAYOR Lytle called the meeting to order at 5:05 PM.
Office Smith led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, to approve the agenda as printed, second by COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN. MOTION CARRIED.
VOUCHERS FOR PAYMENT
Absolute Solutions    Homeland Security           $366.56
AFLAC    Payroll Deduction           $927.93
Allbright’s True Value    Supplies/ New Equip./Maint./Repairs        $1,149.51
ALSCO/American Linen    Mat Rental           $150.84
BankCard Center    Postage/Supplies/Homeland Security/
    Repairs/New Equip./Support        $1,755.79
Blue Cross Blue Shield    Insurance      $27,147.79
Bluffs Sanitary Supply    Shop Supplies           $101.98
Bruegger, Lisa    Recreation Misc.           $160.00
CNA Surety    Insurance Bond           $500.00
Caselle    Contract Support        $1,100.00
Casper Fire Extinguisher     PD New Equipment/Emergency Manage.           $384.00
Century Link    Phone Bill; Long Distance             $26.40
C&H Tire    Sewer Parts and Supplies        $1,912.04
Connecting Point    Copier Lease/Overage Fees           $378.69
Doyle J. Davies    Municipal Judge        $1,000.00
Decker’s Food Center    Office Supplies             $23.47
Delta Dental Plan    Employee Paid Insurance           $673.20
Emergency Medical Products Inc.    Ambulance Supplies           $306.79
Great American Financial    Copier Lease           $211.00
Great Western Trust Co.    WRS 457 Plan Deferred Comp           $300.00
Great Western Tire, Inc.    Parks Vehicle Repair           $685.64
Frank Parts Company    Parts/Supplies/Vehicle Repair/
    Snow Removal/Equipment Repair        $1,597.01
Interstate Batteries    Sanitation Equipment Repair/Parts           $202.17

Jergenson, Doug    Animal Control Salary           $900.00
John Deere Financial    Golf Course New Equipment           $619.37
Meier Building    Monthly P.D. Rent           $800.00
Black Hills Energy    Gas Service        $1,590.25
Border State Industries    Electric New Equipment           $129.00
Lusk Herald    Advertising        $2,035.72
Lusk Lodging Tax    Lodging Tax        $1,833.62
Meier Law Office    Monthly Retainer        $3,000.00
MES-Rocky Mountain    Fire Dept. New Equipment        $1,000.00
Niobrara Chamber of Commerce    Promotion           $187.50
Niobrara County Library    Internet Service           $250.00
Niobrara County Treasurer     Communications Contract/Property Tax       $10,567.63
Nio. Electric Assoc.    Landfill Utilities             $41.88
One Call of Wyoming    Dig Tickets               $4.50
Whitaker Oil, Inc.    Fuel and Oil        $2,816.10
Platte County School    Drug Testing Consortium           $780.00
Century Link    Phones/Internet        $1,335.30
Rose Brothers Inc.    Equipment Repair             $53.00
TDS Trash Collection    Transfer Station Tipping Fees/Supplies        $4,513.39
Torrington Office Supply    Supplies           $194.22
Underground Enterprises    Transfer Station Hauling Fee        $1,500.00
Valley Motor Supply    Supplies/Vehicle Repair             $40.73
Verizon Wireless    PD & Ambulance Cell Phone           $326.09
Visionary Communications    Fire Dept. Misc. Internet             $92.74
WEBT  Employee    Life Insurance             $66.50
WMPA    Electrical Power Purchase    $120,024.44
Ferguson Waterworks    Metering/New Equipment        $7,763.00
Western Medical Management    Ambulance Billing           $288.31
Wilcox, Monica    PD Training           $390.00
WYCO Recycling    Recycling Rent/Trailer Haul           $450.00
WY Assoc. of Rural Water    Training Fees           $400.00
Wyoming Dept. Revenue    Wyoming Sales Tax        $6,336.48
Wyoming Dept. of Workforce Services    Workers Comp        $2,764.86
Wyoming Retirement    Government Contribution      $19,112.24
    Total Vouchers     $233,267.68
MANUAL CHECKS
March 2019
Bo Krein    Per Diem           $205.00
Alex Miller    Per Diem           $205.00
AVI Engineering    Water Well Replacement        $8,116.73
Lusk Post Office    Utility Billing           $220.92
    Total    $8,747.65
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN SECOND, to approve the list of vouchers as presented. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN MOVED, COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN 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 DOOPER MOVED, COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN SECOND, to approve the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held March 5, 2019. MOTION CARRIED.
Visitors:
Sabrina Kruse Executive Director, Josette Fitzwater Victim Witness Coordinator, and Marcie Bruegger Board Member from Helpmate Crisis Center & Crime Victim Assistance Program were present for the signing of two proclamations. Mayor Lytle read the Proclamations recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Abuse Prevention Month, after which Mayor Lytle signed both proclamations.
Katrina Skibicki representing the Alumni Golf Tournament Board asked the Council to waive the trail fees for their tournament for this year. Council Member Dooper asked if they also want a reduction in the charge for green fees. COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN, to approve to waive the trail fees and reduce the green fee cost to $15.00 per golfer for the Alumni Golf Tournament. MAYOR LYTLE, COUNCIL MEMBERS NELSON, BLACKBURN, AND DOOPER VOTED AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN VOTED NAY. MOTION CARRIED.
The department heads gave updates on their respective departments:
Cory reported that there are three new EMT’s and four students are taking the advanced classes at Casper College and should graduate in May. Mayor Lytle shared an email received from the Wyoming Women’s Center thanking Cory for his help during the recent snow storm. The Town had numerous emails stating what a good job the Town crew did during the storm. The Council thanked the Town crew for their excellent work.
Todd reported on the properties in the flood plain stating that we are at the point of getting them cleaned up and landscaping will be next. Anderson Surveying was talked to about the property on the hill, which they looked at and will get back to the Town. WYDOT is scheduled for boring on water tank hill for a geological study. There was a pre-bid meeting on Friday for the water well project. We will receive bids until April 9th, and they will be opened at that time. The Town will have to except a bid and there is a substantial completion date of July 1st. Late May or early June the Town will have a spring clean-up. Knife River looked at three alleys and the parking lot behind True Value that need to be repaired and will get the Town figures. The Town is working on some pictures of a potential bridge at Northside Park.
Old Business:
Bill Bauer from Wind Break Cable would like to take over the operation of the cable system in Lusk and is asking for the franchise transfer of the existing contract from Vyve to Wind Break Cable. COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN, to approve the transfer of the franchise contract from Vyve to Wind Break Cable. MOTION CARRIED. This requires a letter of consent or a copy of the minutes.
The Commercial Building Lease with Wyoming Newspaper, Inc. d/b/a “The Lusk Herald” expired April 1st. We have been on a month to month basis. Mayor Lytle explained that we have increased the rent in the lease with Sandrock Vision. The Town would like to get out of the leasing business and would like the leases to end at the same time. COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN, to approve a contract for Lusk Herald from April 1st, 2019 through March 31st, 2022 following the same provisions as Sandrock Vision excluding the last paragraph. Attorney Meier will draw up a contract and send it to the Lusk Herald and let them respond. COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER withdrew his motion. The Town will honor a month to month agreement and table this until a new contract can be agreed upon.
New Business:
Chief Krein gave the Council information on the bids for new vehicles. Council Member Carstensen asked Chief Krein to check the warranty on the vehicles. The maintenance and warranty on a lease would be just like a purchase. The lease includes upfit of the vehicles and is a four (4) year lease. There was a discussion on the best vehicles and option. COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER SECOND, to accept the bid from Bob Ruwart Motors for the leasing and upfit of two (2) units. Mayor Lytle asked for discussion. Attorney Meier asked the Council if they would be interested in a capital account or capital budget where the appropriations would not go away, and it would continue to accrue. This would help with buying and/or repairing equipment without borrowing any money or leasing.  The Town will work on setting up a capital budget. Mayor Lytle called for the question. MOTION CARRIED.

COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER, to accept the bid from Brian Peterson for the 1995 Chevy Blazer in the amount of $500.00 and the bid from Cory Wilcox for the 2004 Tahoe in the amount of $700.00. MOTION CARRIED.
Doug Jergenson, Animal Control Officer explained the 2018 and 2019 Niobrara Conservation District Cooperative Agreements. The 2018 agreement needs a signature for the Conservation District records. COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN, to approve the 2019 Niobrara Conservation District Cooperative agreement. MOTION CARRIED.
Mayor Lytle explained the BlueCross BlueShield Insurance changes. The Town will see an increase again this year of 5%. Mayor Lytle and Council Member Dooper met with employees to explain the changes and get their input. Mayor Lytle’s suggestion is to go to a higher deductible of $3,500.00 and give employees the deductible amount to put in a Health Savings Account. The employees will receive monthly payments for the $3,500.00. COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, COUNCIL MEMBER CARSTENSEN SECOND, to approve to change the BlueCross BlueShield Insurance deductible to $3,500.00 and have the employee setup health savings accounts, then the Town will give the employee the $3,500.00 to put into a health savings account, which will be divided up into monthly payments. MOTION CARRIED.
Mayor Lytle presented the first reading of the 2019 – 2020 budget department requests. Revenues are $5,749,047.00, expenditures $5,657,791.00, making a difference of $91,256.00. COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON MOVED, COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN SECOND, to approve the 2019 – 2020 budget on first reading. MOTION CARRIED. The Council and Employees will have a workshop on April 26th, starting at 9:00 a.m. to review the department requests.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER SECOND, to approve the renewal of Liquor Licenses as presented. MOTION CARRIED. There was a discussion on raising the license fee. These are in ordinance form and will need three (3) readings with a public hearing.
COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN, to approve the livestock permit for Annie Thayer. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER, to approve the renewal livestock permit for Adah Pflughoeft and Doyle Davies. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER, to convene into executive session at 6:05 p.m. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER BLACKBURN MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER, to reconvened into regular session.
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be Tuesday May 7, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.
TOWN OF LUSK, WYOMING
Douglas E. Lytle, Mayor
ATTEST:
Linda M. Frye, Clerk/Treasurer
Public Notice No. 5244. Published in The Lusk Herald on April 10, 2019.