Sheridan City Council Meeting - October 20, 2025
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Sheridan City Council Meeting - October 20, 2025
This regular meeting of the Sheridan City Council was held on October 20, 2025 at 5:30 PM. The council addressed routine business, public hearings, and several policy updates including a revised public records policy and a bid award for Blacktooth Park Phase 6. Key financial and operational updates were provided by staff and community organizations.
Community Updates
- Operation Greenlight for Veterans Proclamation (November 4–11, 2025): Presented by Jessica Bryant of the VFW Auxiliary. Councilmember Brands expressed gratitude for volunteer work. The proclamation was read and acknowledged.
- National First Responders Day Proclamation (October 28, 2025): Presented by City Administrator Stuart McRae, emphasizing public works as first responders. Proclamation acknowledged.
- Museum at the Bighorns Update: Chip King (Director of Operations) and Carrie Edinger (Museum Director) reported on the new downtown location. Opened June 12 with extended summer hours. Construction of exhibit space on track, hoping to offer tours by Christmas Stroll. Summer downtown tours served 90 youth. Partnerships with YMCA, schools, and Whitney Benefits announced. Upcoming exhibits: 2026 – Jasmine Spear Johnson photographs for 150th Battle of Little Bighorn; July–December – American Indian Days for America's 250th anniversary.
Staff Updates
- Quarterly Budget Review (Q1: July–September 2025): Presented by City Treasurer Darla Hawkins. General fund salary/benefits are top expense. Capital outlay over budget due to additional pump parts for cemetery; covered by contingency. Sales and use tax revenue at $1.7 million of $5.9 million budget, tracking above last year. Investments: $10M and $5M CDs matured; current funds held in a First Federal shadow account earning 4.19% interest, fully insured. No concerns raised. Councilmember Brands asked if anything to be concerned about – Hawkins responded no.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ricky Taylor: Commented on a weekend event at Main Street and Coffeen Avenue featuring vulgar banners referencing sexual acts against President Trump and ICE. Requested city council consider an ordinance to prohibit lewd references to sexual acts in public gatherings. He stated he does not hold council responsible but asked for consideration.
Public Hearings
- PL-25-31 / Ordinance 2299 – Rezone 1 acre from R1 to B1 at 1039 2nd Avenue East: Presented by Thomas Murno (Engineer). Applicant Q Construction LLC seeks B1 zoning for multifamily residential. Adjacent land uses include hotels, restaurants, auto repair, single-family/multifamily. Planning Commission recommended approval unanimously. No public comments received. Council held first reading. Vote: Motion carried unanimously via roll call (7 ayes).
- Restaurant Liquor License #12 – Ownership Transfer from Cowboy Cafe 2 LLC to KMR Enterprises LLC: Presented by City Clerk Ashley Foster. Administrative transfer; new owners intend no changes. Business deal closing scheduled November; if not completed, license expires with current owner. Council approved. Vote: All in favor, motion passed.
Consent Agenda
- Approved: Smith Alley West use agreement, minutes of October 6, 2025 regular meeting, and claims (noted short due to computer glitch; remainder to be added next cycle). Vote: All in favor.
Old Business
- PL-25-24 / Ordinance 2298 – Third/final reading of rezone 31.85 acres from R1 to B1 at 900 block E 5th Street (Elmwood): Presented by Thomas Murno. Condition requiring revised legal description with surveyor stamp satisfied. Planning Commission recommended approval. Council held third reading. Vote: Roll call – 7 ayes, motion passes.
New Business
- Adoption of Revised Public Records Policy: Presented by Ashley Foster. Clarifies process under Wyoming statute; does not change public access. Adds retention policy, step-by-step process, exemptions, and administrative updates. Fees moved to master fee schedule. Councilmember Lightnum requested continued updates on legislative changes. Vote: All in favor, motion passes.
- Bid Award to Highland Inc. for Blacktooth Park Phase 6 – $222,478: Irrigate approximately 5 acres around the all-inclusive playground and bathroom facility. Work includes underground piping, topsoil, and seeding (spring 2026). Funded by GPET and public benefits. Council member Wood noted large bid difference between low and high bidders; staff to confirm bidders' locations. Vote: Motion carried with a second from Patzig; passed.
Council Comments & Committee Reports
- C.D. Sharon Economic Education and Development Authority: Mayor reported no new developments.
- Critical Air Service Team: Holiday flight added; no major items.
- SPAC/DSA: Councilmember Wood reported Halloween sculpture decorating (through Oct 25), Hamburger Lewis repairs completed, DSA Monster Mash Oct 25 (Main St closed from Mandel to Works). Holiday kickoff events: Support Local, shopping sprees, Giving Local program. Christmas stroll button winner announced (7th grader).
- Justice Joint Board (Steve): Praised the board's work but noted privacy constraints.
- Administrator McRae: Announced cancellation of Pumpkin Fest due to lack of sponsors and failure to recycle pumpkins; hopes for private takeover. Final draft of City of Sheridan Transportation Plan open for public comment Oct 23–Nov 22. He will be out of town Oct 24–29; Hans Mercer acting administrator.
- Councilmember Lightnum: Invited to Liberty Musical Celebration of Freedom at WYO Theater on Nov 11 (Veterans Day), free tickets.
- Councilmember Patzig: Announced MDU public meeting on proposed utility rate increases on Oct 21 at 5:30 PM at Whitney Center for the Arts.
- Councilmember Brands: Mentioned Reese’s Cross America event on Dec 13; applications for purchases to be submitted.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Proclamations: Operation Greenlight for Veterans (Nov 4–11) and National First Responders Day (Oct 28).
- Approved Ordinance 2299 (Rezone 1039 2nd Ave East) – First reading passed unanimously.
- Approved Restaurant Liquor License Transfer – Cowboy Cafe – Unanimous.
- Approved Consent Agenda – Unanimous.
- Approved Ordinance 2298 (Elmwood Rezone) – Third and final reading passed unanimously.
- Adopted Revised Public Records Policy – Unanimous.
- Awarded Bid to Highland Inc. for Blacktooth Park Phase 6 ($222,478) – Unanimous.
- Motion to adjourn – Unanimous.
Meeting Transcript
Can we stand for the budget, please go on all the leaders to the flag of the United States of America for which it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice? Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the October 20, 2025 meeting. It's 530, we'll get going. First, we have our invitation tonight given to us by Harry Bowling. Welcome, Harry. Thank you for allowing me to come pray for you tonight with you. I can't stay long, but I just wanted to thank everyone for allowing the time of prayer. And I want to pray according to one of my earliest memories of my grandmother, looking out at the mountains and saying, I lift up my eyes to the hills. For once cometh my help, my help cometh from the Lord. And I look at the big horns, Lord, I thank you as we look at the big horns, we know our help comes from you. Lord, our help comes from you, and I pray that you would pour out buckets of blessing upon these leaders that are sitting here. Lord, it would run down their shoulders and onto the hands and the feet of those that serve our community, for the police force, for the fire department, for our teachers, for those that are ministering to our youth, for those that are helping seniors, for those that are feeding the hungry, for those that are providing services to those that are shut in, I pray that your blessing would flow down from these leaders onto everything that they touch, that they would be guided with wisdom beyond themselves, understanding and blessing, prosperity on this community, help our youth, help us to turn the corner with them and bring forth a new generation of people that are willing to sacrifice for even future generations beyond that. We ask all these things in the name of Jesus. Amen. Thank you again. Thank you. Ashley Row call members, please. Councilmember Lumen. Here. Councilmember Brands. President. Councilmember Wood. Here. Councilmember Lightnum. Present. Councilmember Whitesall. Present. Councilmember Patzig. Here. Mayor Bridger. Present. Thank you. Next we have our community updates. Community update, our first one is Operation. Oh geez. I'm just whipping through this thing. Can I get a motion to approve the uh agenda for the meeting? So moved. Sorry. Second, any discussion. Hearing none, all those in favor signified by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, that motion passes. Now we move on to community updates. The first one is Operation Greenlight for Veterans Proclamation, and with us is Jessica Bryant of VFW of the VFW Auxiliary Department of Wyoming. Welcome, Jessica. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Tonight I have the proclamation for Operation Greenlight for veterans for 2025. Whereas the residents of the City of Sheridan have great respect, admiration, and the utmost gratitude for all men and women who have selfishly served our country and community in the armed forces, and whereas the consider contributions and sacrifices for those who have served in the armed forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by citizens, and whereas the citizens of the city of Sheridan seeks to honor individuals who have made countless sacrifices for freedom by placing themselves in harm's way for the good of all. And whereas veterans continue to serve our community in the American Legion, veterans in foreign wars, religious groups, civil service, and by functioning as county veteran service organiz officers in 29 states to help follow former service members access more than $52 billion and federal health, disability, and compensation benefits for each year, and whereas approximately 200,000 service members transition to civilian communities annually, an estimated 20% increase of service members will transition to civilian life in the near future.
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