[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6309015,"mediaKeyId","2415207-e02d07bef4109e93eb2ee138b08ba5c6","parentId",2415207,"title","Casper moves toward automated phone payments to reduce card‑data risk and improve collections","audioSeconds",1001,"startMs",6239000,"endMs",7240000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415207-e02d07bef4109e93eb2ee138b08ba5c6&start=6239&end=7240","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2415207-e02d07bef4109e93eb2ee138b08ba5c6/thumbnail_6239000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6309015/Casper/Natrona/Wyoming/Casper-moves-toward-automated-phone-payments-to-reduce-carddata-risk-and-improve-collections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309015-2def4d219075c9a77a21c891c86ee833/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170558&Signature=QnglNk4Hx711V0L9wGyBciKzKudnje6L668GeXszm07mTq0y-rUc9ki1~VAwEWwyt09jqxlu0Jk8kzdxhM6H0iH9zTIiRRUZboGNiTk1po9N729wrbh3mQT4-Tol7p~uuz3R3aRNyC5m802jxyPfRGVHFlGWoia0z53ZIYoaFjUG2BhsRiKJQQEL1qFg2gEMYBgda-BT-ao1e3z7epgZGl-ghXB2YQlsgCYN0sTGri8iE6bOTjUfvt5XiGmMwrd1hPqNUlzEbGVPzPmAg6-hwElevXpqZ4liiq4B4F5QRRkaTRgUogKk-W9IoaP6TJLE9MzDATxJmPTluQm0J0NCRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-26T13:49:02Z","article","The Casper City Council heard a staff proposal to move credit‑card and bank‑account phone payments to a secure automated phone system so customers can enter payment details directly rather than providing card numbers to staff by voice.

Accounts Receivable Supervisor Brandy Coyle told council the shift is intended to reduce the security risk of live staff taking card numbers and to free customer‑service staff to spend more time helping residents with billing issues and delinquency prevention. Coyle said staff currently handle about 12,000 phone payment interactions per year and that moving to an automated system would allow the department to increase outreach to customers on the delinquent list in the week before shutoff.

“We currently based off of our average phone calls that we take daily, we touch, over 12,000 payments every year coming in to us on the phone,” Coyle said. She proposed a phased rollout over roughly three months with billing notices, a press release, social media and on‑call staff help to shepherd customers through the change. Coyle also said the city would preserve free payment options: in‑person payments, mailed checks, a drop box, and an automatic bank‑withdrawal (easy pay) option with no fee.

Councilors discussed customer access and special‑needs situations, including whether older or homebound residents could get live assistance. Coyle said staff would be available to help customers use the automated system via a conference‑call process and planned to keep an option on the phone tree that leads to making a payment directly. Councilors also asked about disputed transactions and fraud; Coyle said staff see 5–10 disputed transactions in a typical year and that eliminating phone‑taken card numbers could reduce that risk.

Staff described fees associated with card and e‑check transactions; councilors agreed the benefit of improved security and higher collection rates outweighed the transaction fees and signaled support to proceed. Councilors highlighted a customer‑service benefit: freeing staff time to reach a larger share of the delinquent list prior to shutoff so residents receive notice and assistance rather than an abrupt service interruption.

Ending: Council gave direction for staff to proceed with the automated phone payment option, implement phased communications to customers and retain no‑fee alternatives; staff will return with rollout details as the implementation schedule proceeds.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 25th, 2025 | City of Casper City Council Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","City staff proposed moving customer credit‑card payments to an automated phone system to reduce risk and free staff to increase collections outreach; council gave direction to proceed with implementation and public communications, with other free payment options to remain available.","taxTitle","Casper, Natrona, Wyoming","taxId",3791,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6309020,"Casper leaders back joining international \"Peace in Our Cities\" network to coordinate violence‑prevention work",3448,2790000,6238000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415207-e02d07bef4109e93eb2ee138b08ba5c6&start=2790&end=6238","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2415207-e02d07bef4109e93eb2ee138b08ba5c6/thumbnail_2790000.jpg","/articles/6309020/Casper/Natrona/Wyoming/Casper-leaders-back-joining-international-Peace-in-Our-Cities-network-to-coordinate-violenceprevention-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309020-6e21b727ee595c761f482e531e089336/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170558&Signature=DgmjAu796CnSMWGBVasSB~z8dGASsLpu2ZJMaxVtQ3vz5gC8gCRJbYRTUoAQbzUD-mx96utn9Nu0W1vOKGxoVm5OEb295NQrV8sFmOq0gv24f3rCwo6YmhXnkE06CN3MC9g~IBZoxE2hJNG4uwipSGd1E5Q2vb0NCi8uJzSUagAas9RRaQM9bXOnwDCRiIOEO7kCydDj1ob6hwfmIYmyf8jb5kBWTG6z5Fd0Vv1OKde8M5qHKO5iZJ~QdecljwTuVS0PsoBGpTjhUdUT7aqyGtvdfXtI2JBpvtiKOSqf3V8Yk2jYpZ2knZ8SnPeyl~NBGpFPzpF-2Icf7UbVtLU1eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Casper city staff and public‑health officials asked the City Council to join Peace in Our Cities, a voluntary global network of local governments and civil‑society partners that offers technical support, peer exchanges and small grants for coordinated violence‑prevention and community‑wellness strategies. The council agreed to move forward and asked staff to prepare a statement/resolution for formal consideration.

Anna Kinder, director of the Natrona County/Casper Health Department, and Jai (a task‑force co‑facilitator) presented results of a recent community assessment and the work of a local Chona Wellness Task Force. Kinder told the council that the task force had identified suicide, violence, bullying and mental‑health access as the priority concerns and recommended joining the network to access evidence‑based practices and coordination tools.

“Suicide and violence are the leading causes of premature death,” Kinder said, describing the task force’s focus on prevention, upstream interventions and coordinating existing community resources rather than replacing them. She said the local task force wants to reduce duplication across nonprofits and public agencies and to map programs so residents and partners can see shared goals and services.

Jai described Peace in Our Cities as a free, voluntary network that currently includes more than two dozen cities and partner organizations. He said network services include tailored expert support, peer exchanges, webinars and a small Peace Incentive Fund that can provide seed grants. Examples from other member cities included Edmonton’s city‑level safety strategy and international programs that combine youth engagement, vocational support and conflict‑resolution practice.

Councilors asked how membership would affect staff time and budgets. Kinder and Jai said joining the network itself carries no fee and that participation is voluntary; they said the city could join with the health department and other partners. Kinder said the health department already is pursuing short‑term funding for two community health workers and that many local agencies already participate in related coalitions (youth mental‑health collective, Natrona County Council for Safety and Justice). Several councilors urged the city to take a leadership step so the community can access network resources.

Several councilors expressed urgency and support. Council members and staff proposed a short next step: staff will prepare a resolution or short statement committing Casper to explore network membership and describing the council’s goals for coordinated violence prevention. The city manager said staff would prepare draft language and return with timing options for council action.

Ending: The council gave direction to pursue membership steps, ask staff to prepare a resolution and continue coordination with the health department and task force.","The council agreed to pursue membership in Peace in Our Cities, a free global network that offers technical assistance, peer exchanges and small grants to cities working to reduce violence and build community wellness; staff will prepare a resolution and return with language and next steps.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6309025,"Casper council authorizes submission of six requests for congressionally directed spending",1909,851000,2760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415207-e02d07bef4109e93eb2ee138b08ba5c6&start=851&end=2760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2415207-e02d07bef4109e93eb2ee138b08ba5c6/thumbnail_851000.jpg","/articles/6309025/Casper/Natrona/Wyoming/Casper-council-authorizes-submission-of-six-requests-for-congressionally-directed-spending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309025-edeb0b94e787fc00b57db539e2221a8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170558&Signature=auw99ocdeqC9ZezjKn2mnYM4VezcsNxrwn0CXOxUMxrUFTrG4h-K-P~CV1cw6GbT9PbE2HH38wUqbAo-a1B7BHHq0JP4qvk3eX54R2ndoKVEjgABu~S-kfME0h6xSKIHmI06GwMKOxJgXYF3ntxSrlhMvCf1zX651I-WoEBqgq82II9dQxY-JR35HC9Jbgx2tKLg~rThNrt5HR4goHkuttYXa6HV59vZ3gr~wfteWIqPcDUWqemWvBP30igsFVwaubMVqUWCtkL4se8r0fdwCfel2fD5Io4~sJCnRogn0gNhvH3Im~YDj6DGeg-87L27cU~vAfYtzH9zSR9fM8BQUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Casper City Council directed staff to submit six congressionally directed spending requests to the city’s U.S. House member, covering stormwater and flood prevention, police technology, improvements to a live firing range, covered parking for transit buses, Robertson Road traffic improvements and repairs to the North Platte interceptor sewer.

Councilors said they supported making the applications so the congresswoman could consider them, but repeatedly pressed staff for details on required local matches and program-specific timelines before committing local funds.

The requests would use the congressionally directed spending process to seek federal support for infrastructure and public-safety needs. City staff described the six categories and said some requests could be routed through different federal programs (for example, water/wastewater pipe programs, FEMA, or public-safety grant tracks), which affects whether a local match will be required. Staff said some discretionary requests may carry no match while programmatic grants often do.

City staff outlined the six requests and key context: stormwater collection and flood prevention; police-technology investments (described as broadly covering body cameras, digital forensics and aerial drones); improvements at a live firing range for law-enforcement training; covered parking and gate upgrades for federally funded transit buses; roadway improvements on Robertson Road intended to address traffic flow near a proposed bridge and development; and continued federal support for the North Platte interceptor sewer, a long-running sanitary-sewer rehabilitation estimated by staff at roughly $40,000,000 for the whole project.

Councilors focused most of their questions on the police-technology request, where staff and Chief Black explained possible uses and limits. The police chief described drone capability for quick scene assessment, saying drones could “get there within 90 seconds” and provide a hovering aerial view that first responders could use before officers arrive. Councilors raised privacy and policing-style concerns and emphasized that technology should not replace frontline staffing; staff said the grant would not reduce sworn staffing levels and that cloud storage and digital-forensics tools would create ongoing operating expenses.

Councilor Gamroth and others asked what the typical local match would be if a program required one; staff said that matches vary by program and that some discretionary funds the congresswoman controls have required no match while other federal programs can require a 20% match or other amounts. Staff and councilors discussed an example figure: a hypothetical $3,000,000 award with a 20% match would require $600,000 of local or other funding. For the North Platte interceptor sewer, staff said the full project is far larger than any single congressional request, so the city would seek a portion of needed funding.

After discussion, the council gave staff direction to move forward with submitting all six requests and to return to council with prioritization guidance and clearer match estimates before the city would commit local funds for any required match. Several councilors asked staff to treat prioritization as a second-stage decision point if the congresswoman indicated support for some requests but not others.

Councilors and staff noted the federal process remained uncertain and could require multiple application cycles to secure funds; staff said the congresswoman’s discretionary support can produce quicker answers, while programmatic grants may require repeated attempts.

The city manager and other staff said they would coordinate next steps with the congresswoman’s office and bring additional details back to council on timelines, likely matches and which federal programs each request would be routed into.

Planning and budgeting questions were left open: councilors asked staff to avoid promising local match funds now and to return with specific funding commitments if any match obligations arise.

Ending: Councilors agreed the city should at least pursue the opportunity of congressional directed spending and then re-evaluate commitments once program and match details are known.","Casper city council gave staff direction to submit six congressionally directed spending requests covering stormwater, police technology, a firing range, bus sheltering, roadway improvements and a large sewer repair; councilors asked staff to return with prioritization and match details before committing to any local funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Casper moves toward automated phone payments to reduce card‑data risk and improve collections

Casper leaders back joining international "Peace in Our Cities" network to coordinate violence‑prevention work

Casper council authorizes submission of six requests for congressionally directed spending