MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
TOWN OF LUSK
JANUARY 2, 2024, 5:00 P.M.
The Town Council of the Town of Lusk met in regular session at 4:59 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
Council Members Present: Mayor Doug Lytle, Council Members Dean Nelson, Tom Dooper, Chantry Filener, Ron Pfister
Also Present: Attorney Dennis Meier, Todd Skrukrud, Public Works Director, Taylor Willis, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer, Interim Police Chief, Jacob Gordon, Mike Mayville, EMS Director, Royce Thompson, Electric Supervisor & Airport Manager, Linda Frye, Grant Writer
Mayor Lytle led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
MAYOR LYTLE called the meeting to order at 4:59 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER, to approve a consent agenda for item numbers three (3) through six (6). MOTION CARRIED.
VOUCHERS FOR PAYMENT:
AFLAC- Payroll Deduction $1,272.30; Allbright’s True Value-Supplies $2,850.89; ALSCO/American Linen-Mat Rental $107.63; Black Hills Energy-Gas Service $1,228.62; Border State Industries Inc.-Electric Parts/Supplies $1,018.32; B-Right Testing Inc-Electric Safety Equipment $729.56; Brown, Caprice-Utility Deposit Refund $26.14; Caselle Inc.-Office Support/Maintenance/Software $2,258.00; Casper Star-Tribune-Police Dept Advertising $350.00; Century Link-Phone Services $1,215.48; Colorado Golf and Turf Golf Course-New Equipment $19,714.20; Connecting Point-Copier Lease $100.00; Doyle J. Davies-Municipal Judge/Supplies $1,066.00; Decker’s Food Center-Supplies $69.01; Delta Dental-Employee Dental Insurance $991.15; Emergency Medical Products Inc-Ambulance Supplies $221.89; Energy Laboratories INC.-Water Samples $682.00; Farwest Line Specialties-Electric Safety and Training $142.47; Fife, Joseph C.-Youth Football Ref $60.00; First Net-PD Phones $445.50; Franks Parts Company-Parts/Supplies/Repairs/Fuel/Oil $1,448.60; Freudenthal & Bonds, P.C.-Sewerage Revenue Bond Fees $7,500.00; Gasfire Services-Water Dept/Shop Vehicle Repairs $70.74; Gordon, Jacob-Reimburse K-9 Unit $53.48; Gordon, Kristen-PD Cleaning $80.00; Great American Financial Services-Copier Lease $100.00; Harberts, Michael-IT Support $305.00; HDR, Inc-Consultant Fees $13,450.23; Interstate Batteries-Sanitation Equipment Repair $145.95; Jergenson, Doug-Monthly Wage Animal Control $1,540.00; Kunerth, Hunter & Sarah-Utility Deposit Refund $55.91; Lumen-Phone, Long Distance $21.41; Lusk Herald-Legal Advertising/Advertising $1,951.16; Lusk Lodging Tax Board-Tax Distribution $5,802.81; Matheson Tri-Gas Inc-Ambulance Oxygen $425.74; Meier Building-Rent $800.00; Meier Law Office-Monthly Retainer $3,000.00; Niobrara Chamber of Commerce-Promotion $187.50; Niobrara County Library-Internet Service $250.00; Niobrara County Treasurer-Communication Contract $6,301.50; Niobrara Electric Association-Utilities $50.71; One-Call of Wyoming-Dig Tickets $45.75; Pitney Bowes Global Financial-Lease Charges $163.53; Pitney Bowes Purchase -Power Postage $520.99; Ranchers Feed and Supply-Supplies $368.11; Sinclair, Pine Bluffs-Airport fuel $4,518.80; Stinker Stores Inc-Fuel $5,743.20; Summit Fire & Security- Fire Dept Extinguisher Service $128.00; TDS Trash Collection Serv.-Tipping Fees $3,208.47; Thompson Safety LLC-First Aid Training $525.00; Torrington Office Supplies-Supplies $180.46; Underground Enterprises-Transfer Station Fees $2,625.00; Visa 0681-Subscriptions/Supplies/ Training/Postage/Fees $622.04; Visa 0699-Supplies/Fees/Support $118.81; Visa 0707-PD Subscription/Supplies/Postage $384.20; Visa 0715-Ambulance Supplies $284.36; Visionary Broadband-Internet Service $562.80; W.M.P.A.-Power Purchase $97,552.27; Western Medical Management-Ambulance Billing Fees $629.88; WEX Bank Fleet-Fuel $828.29; WY Dept of Environmental Quality-Transfer Station Post-Closure Premium $5,554.43; WY Dept of Revenue-Sales Tax $6,610.84; WY Dept. of Workforce Services-Worker’s Compensation $1,960.42; WY Educators Benefit Trust-Employee Insurance $32,218.25; WY First Aid & Safety Supply-Shop First Aid Supplies $268.00; WY Office of State Lands & Investments-Loan Payment DW219 $6,750.49. Total Vouchers: $250,462.29.
MANUAL CHECKS -December 2023
Circuit Court of Niobrara County-Writ of Wages, Garnishment $330.76; Wyoming Child Support-Writ of Wages, Garnishment $345.22; STC Construction Inc-Contractor Payment $449,678.23; AVI PC Engineering-Engineering Fees $3,564.40; AVI PC Engineering-Engineering Fees $21,621.59; Jassman, David-Refund overpayment $69.70; Kupke, Ridge-Rec Football Ref $60.00; Oftedal Construction, Inc-Contractor Payment $191,026.10; Circuit Court of Niobrara County-Writ of Wages, Garnishment $330.76; Wyoming Child Support-Writ of Wages, Garnishment $345.22; AVI PC Engineering-Engineering Fees $25,320.91; Oftedal Construction, Inc-Contractor Payment $500,868.87; WY Dept of Environmental Quality-Tank Registration Fee $200.00; Norberg, Rory-Per Diem, Water Samples $20.00; Postmaster-Utility Mailings $316.74; AVI PC Engineering-Engineering Fees $23,828.08; Oftedal Construction, Inc-Contractor Payment $90,389.30; Hickory Creek Catering-Reissue Lost Check $1,300.00; Circuit Court of Niobrara County-Writ of Wages, Garnishment $333.83; Circuit Court of Niobrara County-Writ of Wages, Garnishment $530.79; Crane Finance-Writ of Wages, Garnishment $109.04; Wyoming Child Support-Writ of Wages, Garnishment $345.22. Total: $1,310,934.76.
ACH - December 2023
Lusk State Bank-Health Savings Account $6,708.41; Elevon-Office Credit Card Fees $356.00; Wyoming Retirement System-Government Contribution $25,327.28; Xpress Bill Pay-Online Bill Pay Fees $119.00; Verizon Wireless-Ambulance Phones $72.33. Total: $32,583.02
Visitors:
Jessie Reed addressed the council regarding the TeamMates Mentor Program that she took over as Program Coordinator at the school. She shared what the program is about and that they are looking for adult mentors particularly more male mentors. It is for mentees 3rd – 12th grades and it would only be during school hours for 30-60 minutes. Anyone can become a mentor with a successful background check.
Mayor Lytle recognized HDR Engineering that was in the audience to answer any questions.
Department Updates:
Department updates were given by Royce Thompson, Mike Mayville, Linda Frye, Sgt Gordon, Taylor Willis, and Todd Skrukrud. Mayor Lytle shared the audit findings and Linda clarified about having separate GL accounts.
New Business:
COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, to approve the livestock permit renewal for Robyn Jefcoat. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER FILENER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER, to approve the new airport hangar lease for Shannon Bruegger. MOTION CARRIED.
COUNCIL MEMBER PFISTER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER FILENER, to approve Resolution No 24-1, A Resolution Designating a Depository of 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.
COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER FILENER, to approve Ordinance No. 3-5-130, An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 3-5-130 of the Town of Lusk, Wyoming to Delete the Cemetery Fees Set Forth Therein and to Allow the Governing Body to Set Such Fees By Resolution From Time to Time, on first reading. Mayor Lytle explained that right now we have to go through three readings in order to change the fees and with the amendment the governing body has the power to set the fees as they see fit. MOTION CARRIED.
Ordinance No. 10-5-130, An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 10-5-130 of the Town of Lusk, Wyoming to Require Snow Removal from Sidewalks in Business Areas of the Town. There was discussion on liability and complaints. Fails for lack of motion on first reading.
There was a discussion on nuisances regarding junk. There is a nuisance ordinance. Mayor Lytle explained that it is difficult to enforce the ordinance because of the legal fees and costs associated. Attorney Meier explained the legal side of enforcing the ordinance. He checked with other municipalities and our ordinance reads about the same. Some have jail terms to enforce their ordinances. We have contempt power to enforce by statute. Mayor Lytle explained that we have had complaints regarding the zoning and the junk in these areas and that they may need to look into changing some of the zoning and how do they determine what is junk. Tabled for further discussion.
Levi Clark with Niobrara Electric Association addressed the council asking for the use of the golf course for a golf tournament on June 14th or 15th with reduced green fees for scholarship. He said the date can be changed if it needs to. Council member Dooper would like to see a list of past tournaments and stated Coe should have something to do with it and that Friday is better. Tabled for more information.
COUNCIL MEMBER DOOPER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER FILENER, to move into executive session at 5:43 p.m. MAYOR LYTLE, COUNCIL MEMBERS DOOPER, FILENER AND PFISTER VOTED AYE, NELSON VOTED NAY. MOTION CARRIED.
The council reconvened into regular session at 6:18 p.m.
Mayor Lytle requested the Town Council to approve the appointment of Jacob Gordon as Chief of Police. COUNCIL MEMBER FILENER MOVED, SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER PFISTER to approve the Mayor’s appointment. MOTION CARRIED. Town Attorney Dennis Meier administered the swearing in of Jacob Gordon as Chief of Police of the Town of Lusk.
The next meeting is February 6, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 6:23 p.m.
Douglas E. Lytle, Mayor
ATTEST:
Taylor Willis, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer
Public Notice No. 6026. Published in The Lusk Herald on January 17, 2024.
