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Council adopts reserve ordinance, revokes old policy; approves recreation-district renewal and routine purchases
Summary
Sheridan City Council on Aug. 18 approved an ordinance tightening rules for the city—s capital equipment and general fund reserves, revoked an older reserve resolution, renewed a five-year agreement for the Sheridan Recreation District and approved several consent-agenda purchases and appointments.
The Sheridan City Council approved an ordinance revising city code on capital equipment and the general fund reserve, revoked a prior reserve policy and voted to renew the Sheridan Recreation District agreement during its Aug. 18 meeting.
City Attorney Brad Timish presented the ordinance amending city code article 2-7, which sets limits and procedures for the capital equipment reserve and the general fund reserve. Timish told the council the ordinance limits the capital equipment reserve—s use to fleet and equipment and sets a statutory cap on the reserve at 10% of total city revenues. He said the proposed general fund reserve language would require the balance to be maintained at 25% of the general fund—s expenditures and set a process for using and replenishing that reserve after emergency transfers.
"That is a mouthful," Timish said during his presentation, and he described the ordinance as his final presentation of the item to the council. The council approved the third and final reading of Ordinance 2,294 on a recorded vote: Council member Lumen, Council member Weitzel, Council member Lightnam and Mayor Bridger voted Aye; Council member Patzak voted No. The mayor announced the motion passed.
The council also approved Resolution 23-325 to revoke Resolution 17-14, the earlier policy on the general fund reserve, by voice vote. The mayor stated he heard four ayes and declared the motion passed.
On other formal actions, the council approved a five-year renewal agreement to establish and maintain the Sheridan Recreation District, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2030. Steve Gage, Sheridan Parks Director, summarized the district—s history and governance; he said trustees serve staggered three-year terms and that the school district approved the agreement earlier the same day. The motion to renew passed by voice vote.
The consent agenda, approved by roll-call vote, included five items: award of a bid to Fremont Motor Company for three Dodge Durango Pursuit all-wheel-drive vehicles ($121,251), purchase of a wheel loader from Wyoming Machinery Company ($248,724.03), approval of the Aug. 4, 2025 meeting minutes, reappointment of Kevin Kessner to the Police Department Civil Service Commission for a three-year term (expiring 06/30/2028), and payment of claims. The clerk recorded unanimous ayes by those present on the consent items.
Council discussion included a failed attempt to amend the ordinance—s emergency-use language by defining "necessary operations." Council member Patzak proposed adding the phrase "indispensable functions required to preserve public safety, maintain essential infrastructure, and safeguard the life, liberty, and property of the citizens," but the proposed amendment lacked a second and was not considered. After the second and final reading motion, the ordinance passed as recorded.
What passed
- Ordinance 2,294 (third and final reading): Amends city code article 2-7 with new limits and procedures for the capital equipment reserve and the general fund reserve. Recorded vote: 4 Aye, 1 No (names as recorded in the roll call). Outcome: approved.
- Resolution 23-325: Revokes Resolution 17-14 regarding the general fund reserve. Outcome: approved (voice vote reported as four ayes).
- Sheridan Recreation District renewal (5-year agreement): Effective 07/01/2025—6/30/2030. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Consent agenda (five items): Vehicle bid ($121,251), wheel loader purchase ($248,724.03), minutes (08/04/2025), reappointment of Kevin Kessner (3-year term), and claims. Outcome: approved by roll call (all present voted Aye).
Council procedures and next steps
The ordinance sets specific procedures for transfers from the general fund reserve that would reduce the reserve below 25% of the general fund—s expenditures: the city administrator (or designee) must present the proposed emergency expenditure, explain why it is an emergency and why the city lacks other funds, and provide a plan to replenish the reserve. The ordinance also exempts nonrecurring revenues (for example, insurance settlements, grants, gifts or donations) from the calculation of required reserve balances; Timish cited recent insurance settlements for hail-damage roof repairs as an example of nonrecurring revenue that should not be used to compute the required reserve level.
No new fiscal transfers were approved at the meeting; council members asked for clarity on the ordinance language during the discussion and attempted, unsuccessfully, to add a narrower definition of "necessary operations." The council also revoked the older policy to avoid conflicts between the new ordinance and the previous resolution.
Recorded authorities and references cited in the meeting include Wyoming Statute 16-4-105 (reserve funds), Wyoming Statute 16-4-117 (interfund loans), Ordinance 2,294 and Resolution 17-14 (revoked).
