Sheridan City Council Regular Meeting - February 2, 2026

The Sheridan City Council met in regular session at 5:30 PM on February 2, 2026. The meeting included a community update from CHAPS Equine Assisted Services, the second reading of a PUD amendment, final acceptance of public infrastructure, a resolution authorizing a grant application for a new fire engine, and council comments and committee reports. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) was originally scheduled to present but canceled due to a scheduling mix-up.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved with an amendment to move the final acceptance of public infrastructure for Gillespie Draw Subdivision from the consent calendar to new business.
• The consent calendar included minutes from the regular council meeting of January 19, 2025 (noting that the transcript states 2025; given today's date of February 2, 2026, this may be a typo for January 19, 2026), and claims. Mayor Bridger recused himself from item 167 due to a conflict of interest. The consent calendar was approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public signed up to speak, and none came forward.

Community Update: CHAPS Equine Assisted Services

• Kristen Marcus, Executive Director, reported on the past year. CHAPS served 341 individuals in 2025-2026, breaking their record for the fourth consecutive year and growing by 10%. Of those, 173 were veterans, 77 were youth, 59 were adults, and 32 were aged community members. 201 (approximately 60%) received mental health services through programs for at-risk youth, women, veterans, and domestic violence survivors.
• A program evaluation conducted with the University of Kentucky, presented by Marcus, found with 95% confidence and statistical significance that CHAPS improves mood, decreases anxiety, improves focus, and improves engagement among veterans. Full results are expected in the coming months.
• CHAPS had 90 volunteers in 2025, including one volunteer, Bliss Ragsdale, who donated 550 hours and earned a gold medal from the Governor's office through Serve Wyoming. The organization brought in a new horse after one was euthanized due to health issues.

Discussion Items

• Second Reading of PL-25-37 / Ordinance 2230 (TL Springs PUD Amendment): City Planner Kelly Schroeder presented the second reading of a major amendment to the TL Springs PUD Phase One Master Plan. The amendment would (1) replace the requirement that homes be between 2,500 and 4,000 square feet with a minimum of 1,800 square feet, and (2) replace the slab-on-grade/no-basement requirement with a geotechnical investigation for each lot to determine appropriate foundation types. All property owners within the subdivision signed letters authorizing the amendment, 23 surrounding property owners were notified, and a legal ad and property sign were posted. No public comments were received. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval. The council voted 7-0 to approve the ordinance on second reading.
• Final Acceptance of Public Infrastructure for Gillespie Draw Subdivision Fire Hydrant: This item was moved from the consent calendar to new business. City staff (Dan) confirmed that the contractor, Wagner, remains responsible for a one-year warranty period from final completion (December 2025), even after the city accepts ownership. The council approved the final acceptance.
• Resolution 0226 – Mineral Royalty Grant (MRG) Application for Fire Engine: Fleet and Administrative Coordinator Heather Kaplinski requested approval to submit an MRG application for $710,000 toward purchasing a new fire engine. The application is due February 19, 2026, with state consideration on June 18. The city must match 100% of the grant; $250,000 is already budgeted for the purchase in the FY26 budget. The council approved the resolution and authorized Public Works Director Hans Mercer to act on all matters related to the application.

Council Comments & Committee Reports

• Mayor Bridger reported on upcoming meetings: Economic Development Task Force, Northeast Wyoming Alliance, Critical Air Service Team (March 12), and Government Affairs (February 25). He also promoted the "Gnome Around Town" event in downtown Sheridan from February 5-14.
• SAWS: No report, but noted a meeting next Monday to discuss a grant application for improved connectivity, water quality, and fire capacity.
• SPAC (Sheridan Public Arts Committee): Greg reported ongoing fundraising for base repairs and a successful puzzle contest at Luminous, with about nine teams participating. The event may be repeated quarterly.
• Downtown Sheridan Association: The association released its 2026 calendar of events (February–November), is undergoing reaccreditation, and approved its budget.
• Joint Powers Board: Steve reported from the January 27 meeting. The board reviewed summary statistics of youth citations in 2025, elected new officers (Pam Clyer as chair, Ann Perkins as vice chair, Sharon Kane as secretary-treasurer/at-large). Administrator Dan Lindley is retiring in a few months; the board plans to promote from within and leave the resulting vacancy unfilled to save money. The budget is lean and expenditures are down.
• Landfill Punch Cards: Stu announced that new punch cards for dump fees are being mailed to all city residents. Each resident (not just account holders) will receive one card with six coupons. If lost, cards will not be replaced, and the computer system is no longer used. The change simplifies administration and reduces conflicts at the scale house. New residents will receive punch cards through a proposed welcome packet.
• Recycling Truck Purchase: Dan and Heather reported a decision to cancel the order for a dual-arm recycling truck and instead purchase a second single-arm truck. The dual-arm manufacturer (Libris) requested a $13,000 price increase, prompting a review. The dual-arm cost $480,000 versus $450,000 for a single-arm, and the decision saves $30,000. Staff concluded the dual-arm did not provide significant operational savings, and the single-arm offers higher capacity and fleet standardization. The vendor confirmed the same pricing for the additional single-arm truck.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda approved with the amendment to move the Gillespie Draw infrastructure item to new business.
• Consent calendar approved (minutes and claims), with Mayor Bridger recusing from item 167.
• Ordinance 2230 (TL Springs PUD amendment) approved on second reading by a 7-0 roll call vote.
• Final acceptance of public infrastructure for Gillespie Draw Subdivision fire hydrant approved.
• Resolution 0226 authorizing the MRG application for $710,000 for a new fire engine approved.
• Council was informed of the staff decision to purchase a single-arm recycling truck instead of a dual-arm, resulting in $30,000 in savings; no formal vote was taken.