Sheridan City Council Meeting - May 4, 2026

The regular meeting of the Sheridan City Council was called to order on May 4, 2026, at 7:00 PM (presumed). The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, an invocation by Greg Green of Illuminate Church, and roll call. All council members were present. The agenda was approved unanimously. The meeting featured three proclamations, a detailed 2026 construction project update from the city engineer, and council reports.

Proclamations

• National Police Week 2026: Police Chief Travis Katiska presented the 2025 annual report, noting 10,661 calls for service, 737 custodial arrests, and a 30% decrease in mental health holds (from 679 to 476 welfare checks). The proclamation recognized May 10–16, 2026 as Police Appreciation Week and May 15 as Peace Officer Memorial Day. Chief Katiska also highlighted a safe exchange location at the police department and that two officers will attend National Police Week in Washington, D.C.
• Pedestrian Awareness Month: Kate Gladden, daughter of Julie Fitzsimonds (killed in a crosswalk on May 28, 2025), read a proclamation declaring May 2026 as Pedestrian Awareness Month. She announced a pedestrian awareness walk on May 30 at 9:30 AM starting at the Sheridan Inn, featuring the campaign slogan “Eyes Up Lives Saved.” The proclamation noted that pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. have increased by 50% over the past decade and that Wyoming has high per capita pedestrian fatality rates.
• Nurses Week 2026: Jennifer Raspond, President of the Wyoming Nurses Association, accepted a proclamation designating May 6–12, 2026 as Nurses Week. She noted that Sheridan County has more than 400 nurses serving the community. The proclamation highlighted nurses as the largest healthcare profession in Wyoming.

Staff Update: 2026 Construction Projects

City Engineer Thomas Marneau presented a comprehensive update on 16 city and private utility projects. Key points included:

• Microsurfacing: 62,000 square yards south of 11th Street between Highland and Ridgeway Avenues, estimated to take one week. Quick-cure additive allows traffic within hours.
• Pavement Rehabilitation & Rotomill Overlay: Terra, Turner, Riverside, and South Sheridan (from Brundage to the bridge) following water line work. Includes drainage improvements.
• South Downtown Phase 1: Whitney and Shergee streets (historic area) – utilities replacement, drainage, and maintaining historic look. Funded by cap tax.
• East Downtown: Laux and Works streets between Main and Gould – construction began May 4, 2026, awarded to Falcon Construction for $876,000 (below estimate). Includes drainage and ADA improvements.
• Laux & Highland Traffic Light Replacement: Due to a truck accident last year; work began May 4, expected to last 3–4 weeks.
• Blacktooth Park: Finishing landscaping and irrigation; future phases may include paving and accessibility improvements.
• Emerson Park: Public meeting on May 20, 2026, to discuss improvements (tennis courts, parking, playground). Funded by a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant ($450,000 with $450,000 city match).
• Landfill Projects: Evaporation pond construction (DEQ-funded, 75% grant), new administrative building ($3 million awarded to Axe Build), and Cell 9 closure with cap extension.
• Wastewater Treatment Plant: North and South clarifier replacements nearly complete ($2.6 million); larger upgrades (HVAC, pumps, headworks, belt filter, electrical) to be awarded soon.
• Private Utility Projects: MDU, Blue Peak, Visionary, and Range Communications expanding services; city managing permits.
• Grand Central Station Phase 2: RV park off Fifth Street – 13 additional spaces and new bathhouse pending final inspection and Chapter 25 compliance, including entryway corridor landscaping.
• Story House PUD: 84 lots, final acceptance anticipated August 2026.
• Elmwood Estates: Subdivision with 104-unit apartment building; drainage and traffic plans approved, construction ongoing.

Council members expressed strong support for the fifth and sixth penny sales tax funding for capital projects, noting that these taxes do not fund salaries.

Consent Calendar

The consent agenda was approved unanimously. Items included:

• Raw water service agreement with Mullinax Incorporated.
• Approval of the Wyoming Department of Transportation (YDOT) agreement for acceptance of East Fifth Street.
• Minutes from the regular council meeting of April 20, 2026.
• Claims.

Council briefly discussed the raw water rate structure, noting that the city has a single rate for raw water, not tiered by volume.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public came forward to speak.

Council Comments & Board Reports

• CEDA: No new report; working on a north-end project and job description.
• NUI (Northeast Wyoming Alliance): No recent meetings.
• Critical Air Service Team: Meeting May 14, 2026; service remains strong.
• SAWS (Sheridan Area Water Service): Quarterly meetings; upcoming meeting on Park Reservoir at the county building.
• SPAC (Sheridan Public Arts Committee): Bumpers sculpture removed for East Downtown construction; sculptures relocated; vandalism to cranes at South Park repaired; artist Austin Camille headed to Cody.
• DSA (Downtown Sheridan Association): Preparing for Winefest and Third Thursdays; a kiosk project nearing completion.
• City Administrator Stu: Reminded council of budget presentation on May 5, 2026 at 5:30 PM; city council election filing begins May 14–29 (excluding Memorial Day); Sheridan will host statewide debates for U.S. House of Representatives in early August.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda approved unanimously.
• Consent calendar approved unanimously.
• Proclamations for Police Week, Pedestrian Awareness Month, and Nurses Week were recognized and adopted.
• Council members expressed concerns about the condition of Grand Central Station RV Park (phase one) and urged that landscaping and code compliance be completed before phase two is approved. City staff assured they are tracking the issue and have a mechanism to withhold operational approval until all requirements are met.
• No formal votes were taken on the construction projects or other items; the update was informational.
• The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 PM (estimated).