Sheridan City Council Meeting — November 2, 2026

The Sheridan City Council met on November 2, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:54 p.m., with Mayor Bridger presiding. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, an invocation by Joel Bingman, and a moment of silence for Paul Del Rossi, described as a devoted city champion who died earlier that day in Billings.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved after council pulled the Sheridan Recreation District rules and regulations from consent and moved them to new business.
• Council approved the consent agenda: minutes of the regular council meeting of October 19, 2026; minutes of the special council meeting of October 22, 2026; and claims.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No member of the public signed up to speak, and no one came forward during the public comment period.

Community Updates

• Christine Dietrich presented for Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Bighorns. She said the local affiliate has operated in Sheridan for 32 years and expanded into Buffalo; Habitat International is marking 30 years. She was recently elected to the Habitat for Humanity International U.S. Council, described as the first Wyoming representation in 50 years. Programs include traditional homeownership with 30-year 0% interest loans, home repairs, a temporary crisis fund, and a housing land trust. The affiliate is on houses 80 and 81, has served 103 families and 311 individuals through the traditional program, and welcomed five new partner families that week. Home repairs had nine completed year-to-date and served 42 people; the temporary crisis fund ran out of money before year-end because demand exceeded available anonymous funding. Weston Village had 29 of 30 homes sold or under contract, with certificate of occupancy on the 30th home in October. Buffalo's Eagle Summit project is planned for 24 lots plus five acres of community space. Dietrich confirmed that GPET funds discussed for Sheridan were not used in Buffalo and were strictly for traditional Habitat ownership programs.
• Cassie Sundberg and Rachel Ramsey presented a Zonta Club of the Wyoming Bighorns proclamation. The club is in its third year as a chartered Zonta club and is participating in the 16 Days of Activism from November 25 to December 10. Zonta International was described as having more than 26,000 members in 64 countries and more than 1,100 clubs, with the Zonta Says No campaign active since 2012. A panel discussion is scheduled for November 18 at 5:30 p.m. at The Hub with the Advocacy and Resource Center, Sheridan Memorial Hospital sexual assault nurse examiners, a Sheridan College criminal justice instructor, and Levi Dominguez of the Sheridan County Sheriff's Office. Orange ribbons will be placed on downtown trees around November 23-24 and removed December 11. The proclamation designates November 25, 2026 as Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women Day in Sheridan.

Staff Update: Fleet

• Fleet and Administrative Coordinator Heather Kaplinski reported that when she began working on fleet at the end of FY23 there was no master list. She built one from physical files, Google files, and CityWorks, then had divisions verify it. The shared master fleet spreadsheet includes owned assets, surplus history, tentative replacement schedules, and insurance information.
• The city fleet contains 393 assets, excluding small and attractive inventory. That includes 7 passenger vehicles outside police and fire; 36 police assets; 55 light-duty trucks up to one ton; 5 heavy-duty class 4, 5, and 7 vehicles; 13 dump trucks; 2 vacuum trucks; 3 sweepers; 42 pieces of equipment; 25 trailers; 11 trailer-mounted equipment items; 27 utility vehicles; 17 solid waste, recycling, and hook-lift trucks; 15 Sheridan Fire Rescue assets; 57 lawn, parks, and golf assets; 39 snow equipment items; 6 forklifts; 1 scissor lift; 6 generators; and 29 miscellaneous items.
• Over the last four years, the city purchased 109 assets and expensed almost $10.8 million. In FY26 the city had received 21 of 23 budgeted assets, awaiting a fire engine replacing Engine 2 and a bucket truck. In the current year, 12 of 19 budgeted assets had been received, with six police and passenger trucks expected by the end of January and the second fire engine replacing Engine 1 expected in the third quarter of calendar 2027. Surplus activity over four years produced almost $710,000 in net proceeds from 76 of 85 surplused assets; some items were returned, scrapped, or transferred, including an ambulance to Wyoming Regional EMS.
• The city uses Cartegraph as its asset management system, excluding fire and police, with data tracked from January 2025 forward. The Vehicle Replacement Rating score is on a 1-to-100 risk scale but is not expected to be useful for six to eight years. Fuel cards are through WEX, with 1.7% off the posted pump price credited quarterly; on-site tanks remain with Farmers, with a 2% discount. Kaplinski said estimated replacement costs assume a 5% annual increase and described the fleet as improved, perhaps a B-minus, while warning that a full citywide replacement schedule would require significant reserve funding.
• Council members praised the level of detail and tracking in the fleet update.

Old Business: Rezone at 4250 Yellowtail Drive

• City Planner Kelly Schroeder presented the second reading of PL-26-39, Ordinance 2307-26, to rezone 26.30 acres at 4250 Yellowtail Drive, Lot 1 of Eagle View subdivision, from Higher Education District with a small R3 Residential strip to B2 Business District. The property is owned by Sheridan College and houses the college agri-park; the adjacent future high-tech business park phase two is in the light industrial area of the Wrench Ranch master plan phase two. Staff sent notices to six surrounding property owners, published a legal ad, and verified posting; no public questions, comments, or concerns were received. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval, and staff recommended approval.
• Schroeder said the assessor's office called after the first reading to clarify that property tax exempt status depends on both ownership and use; a city-owned parcel leased to a private business generating commercial income could likely be taxed. Councilmember Patzick said he had spoken against the rezone at first reading because of concerns about nonprofits and churches holding property for speculation or keeping land off the market and about tax-exempt property shifting the burden to other taxpayers. He said he would set aside his personal view and vote yes because the Planning Commission recommended approval, no public comment was received, staff supported it, and the request was a legal rezone. Schroeder confirmed the subject property is not currently in the Gateway District or Wrench Ranch master plan and a B2 rezone would not make it subject to that plan.
• The second reading passed on a roll-call vote with all recorded council votes in favor.

New Business: Sheridan Recreation District Rules and Regulations

• Alex Mock, executive director of the Sheridan Recreation District, presented the updated rules and regulations. Councilmember Patzick questioned whether board removal provisions and purchasing provisions conflicted with Wyoming statutes cited in the transcript as 18-9-201 and 18-9-202. He noted the rules allow the board to remove a director by two-thirds vote and allow the executive director to oversee purchasing with board supervision and approval, while the statutes discuss removal by the governing body and payment approval with the treasurer's signature. Mock said the rules were developed under attorney Christopher Sherwood, based on the 2003 rules and the city-school agreement, and that the main purpose of the update was to align with the agreement's change from five to seven board members. Mock said the board reviews and approves claims monthly, and requiring the treasurer to sign every check would make recruiting a volunteer treasurer difficult. He said the district has no immediate deadline, but changes would need to go back to the Recreation District Board and the school district, likely pushing final approval to December.
• Mayor Bridger raised concern about council-appointed members being subject to removal and supported legal review. Councilmember Patzick moved to postpone approval until the two issues are checked against Wyoming statute and corrected if necessary; the motion was seconded and passed 6-1.

Council Reports and Announcements

• CEDA is moving forward to fill its director position and is working on a job description and pay range.
• The Northeast Wyoming Alliance had no recent meeting; Kelly Miller sent legislative updates as the session approaches.
• The Critical Air Service Team reported airport construction, lit bollards along the pathway between regular and long-term parking, completed taxiways with a larger de-ice area, and reopened runway 14. Four flights will be added starting in January on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays; starting in June, all days will have three flights. Free airport parking was highlighted.
• Public hearings on changes to the Sheridan Area Water System operating and ownership agreements will be advertised for public comment; the first is November 18 at 9 a.m. in council chambers.
• DSA reported that the streets department provided snowplows for Monster Mash, which drew 975 kids and adults to the museum; holiday shopping spree runs all November; the Capitol Christmas Tree will be in Sheridan on December 9 from 6 to 8 p.m.; and an artist talk with Alston Littleton about the Iron Rider sculpture is November 7 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the museum, with the talk at 4:30.
• City Administrator reminded residents that Election Day is November 3 and that taking political signs from private property can result in trespassing or misdemeanor theft charges. He also noted upcoming gaming commission accountability measures for Calcutta fundraisers and the November 11 screening of Returning from Vietnam at Sheridan College. He congratulated Ashley for achieving Certified Municipal Clerk designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.
• A council member announced the Sheridan County Community Holiday Dinners will return December 6 at the Ramada from 4 to 7 p.m., with plans for 1,000 meals, Santa giving gifts to children, and free tickets required so organizers can count meals.
• A council member asked Public Works Director Hans about completion of the South Sheridan Avenue project and new WYDOT delineations; staff said they would research and respond. The mayor encouraged residents to continue patronizing businesses in the construction area.

Key Outcomes

• Rezone of 26.30 acres at 4250 Yellowtail Drive to B2 Business District approved on second reading as Ordinance 2307-26; all recorded council votes were in favor.
• Sheridan Recreation District rules and regulations postponed 6-1 pending legal review of board removal and payment approval provisions against Wyoming statutes; the item will return after review by the Recreation District Board and school district, likely in December.
• Consent agenda approved, including October 19 and October 22, 2026 meeting minutes and claims.
• No public comment was offered.
• The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m.