Sheridan City Council Meeting – January 19, 2026

The Sheridan City Council met on January 19, 2026, with Mayor Bridger presiding. Councilmember Brands was absent. The meeting included community updates, a human trafficking prevention proclamation, a second-quarter budget review, several liquor license approvals, a major PUD amendment, and a failed motion regarding a business park final plat. A special meeting was announced for January 26, 2026, to consider the Sheridan County Housing Land Trust grant request.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the consent agenda, including the minutes from the regular council meeting of January 5, 2026, and the claims list.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mindy Garner addressed the council, expressing concerns about city services and enforcement, referencing a street sweeper incident, a flat tire caused by a broken street post, and her son's legal issues. She also mentioned a neighbor's suicide related to online exploitation. She said she plans to pursue the matter.
• No public comments were heard on the liquor license items or the Teal Springs PUD amendment.

Discussion Items

• Downtown Sheridan Association Update: Executive Director Zoila Perry presented highlights from the past year, including Third Thursday events averaging 3,000–5,000 attendees, the pow wow with 370 parade participants and roughly 1,600 attendees, Main Street Monster Mash with over 1,000 participants and 46 businesses, and a holiday shopping spree that generated $172,133 in downtown spending from 2,497 entries. She also announced upcoming events, including a Peeps-themed Easter art show, and noted volunteer opportunities.
• Human Trafficking Proclamation and Uprising Update: The council recognized January 2026 as Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Terry Markham of Uprising described trafficking patterns in Wyoming, including non-familial, familial, and online-based trafficking. He cited ICAC data showing over 1,600 cyber tips in 2025, and noted that 1 in 10 surveyed youth in Wyoming (ages 12 and up) reported experiencing sextortion. He also reported the state's first teen suicide linked to sextortion in Saratoga. Uprising has reached over 7,000 youth and conducted more than 1,000 awareness events.
• Second Quarter Budget Review: Staff presented the first quarterly budget review for fiscal year 2026, covering revenue and expenditures as of December 31, 2025. Councilmember Lightnum asked about lower-than-expected public benefit fund revenues; staff explained that timing of payments and modified accrual accounting affected the numbers, and that the fund historically meets its goal by year-end.
• Liquor License Approvals:
  • Approved a new bar and grill license for Smith Alley Brewing Company (150 North Main Street). Councilmember Lightnum noted the brewery will hold dual licenses but will only pay the higher fee per statute.
  • Approved the ownership transfer of restaurant liquor license #12 for Cowboy Cafe (138 North Main Street) from KMR Enterprises to KIMR Enterprises, an administrative change due to tax ID issues.
  • Approved the ownership transfer of retail liquor license #7 for Ice House (412 Whitney Lane) from Penalty Box LLC to Ice House LLC, a 100% ownership transfer for tax and operational purposes.
• Teal Springs PUD Amendment (Ordinance 2300-26): City Planner Kelly Schroeder presented the proposed amendment to the Teal Springs PUD Phase One Master Plan. The amendment changes dwelling unit size requirements and adds a geotechnical report requirement for each lot. All property owners in the PUD signed consent letters, and the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval. Councilman Patzig asked about floodplain and geotech details; engineer Jeff Feck of Morrison-Maierle confirmed topsoil was stripped and replaced, and that no fill occurred in the floodway. Matt Frisbee of Teal Springs provided a project update. The council approved the amendment on a unanimous roll call vote.
• Buckingham Iron Business Park Final Plat (Resolution 3125): Kelly Schroeder reviewed the county subdivision into six lots off East Ridge Road, with council recommendations for water infrastructure and paving of Bucking Iron Circle. A motion to approve was made but died for lack of a second. The mayor noted that four people wished to speak, but the council moved on to committee reports without taking further action.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the meeting agenda and consent agenda.
• Approved three liquor license actions (Smith Alley Brewing, Cowboy Cafe ownership transfer, Ice House ownership transfer).
• Approved the Teal Springs PUD amendment on a unanimous roll call vote (all present council members voted aye).
• Failed to act on the Buckingham Iron Business Park final plat; the motion was not seconded.
• Announced a special meeting for January 26, 2026, to consider the Sheridan County Housing Land Trust request.