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Casper council adopts budget amendment, awards $800,000 mineral-royalty grant for water mains, and approves Sparks liquor license
Summary
The council adopted a third amendment to the FY2026 budget, unanimously approved an $800,000 mineral royalty grant agreement to replace prioritized water mains (bringing total water-main work this year to $2,850,000), authorized a $7,024.50 demolition lien, and approved a new bar-and-grill liquor license for Sparks (one abstention).
The Casper City Council on May 19 adopted a third amendment to the city's FY2026 budget, unanimously approving the resolution after public comment and staff presentation.
City Manager Janine Jordan told the council that the State Lands and Investment Board awarded an $800,000 mineral royalty grant to the city to replace priority water mains. Jordan outlined four replacement locations and linear feet: Poplar Street between 25th and 29th (1,600 feet); 29th Street between Poplar and Kaufman (900 feet); Yellowstone Highway (1,100 feet); and Jim Bridger Drive between DeSmit Street and Bel Air Street (645 feet). "We have appropriated funds in the budget already in the amount of $2,048,665, so with this $800,000 grant from the state that will bring our total water main replacement work for the year to $2,850,000," Jordan said. The council approved the grant agreement resolution unanimously.
Separately, the council adopted a resolution authorizing a demolition lien of $7,024.50 to be levied at 1169 North Jackson Street; no public comments were offered and the motion passed with all councilors voting aye.
The council also considered a liquor-license application (new bar-and-grill license number 1414) for Gruner Brothers Brewing doing business as Sparks at 150 West 2nd Street. Ben Gruner spoke in favor, describing plans for a full kitchen and local downtown investment. The council moved to approve the application; the motion passed with Councillor Pollock recorded as abstaining and all other councilors voting aye.
On zoning, council approved on third reading a zone-change ordinance for Lot 4 Methodist Church addition subdivision with a unanimous vote.
Votes at a glance - Adopted: Third amendment to FY2026 budget (motion passed, all councilors voted aye). - Approved: Mineral royalty grant agreement with State Lands and Investment Board for $800,000 to support water-main replacements (motion passed, unanimous). - Approved: Demolition lien of $7,024.50 for 1169 North Jackson Street (motion passed, unanimous). - Approved: New bar-and-grill liquor license #1414 for Sparks at 150 W 2nd St (motion passed; Councillor Pollock abstained, others voted aye). - Approved: Zone change ordinance on third reading for Lot 4 Methodist Church addition subdivision (motion passed, unanimous).
The meeting included multiple consent resolutions and appointments approved by minute action. Many items passed unanimously; council did not vote on expanding open-container boundaries on May 19 and instead scheduled further study.
