Board Meeting - January 30, 2014

A regular meeting of the Board of Public Works was held at the Hastings Utilities Board Room on Thursday, January 30, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. This meeting was preceded by notice duly published in the Hastings Tribune on Tuesday, January 28, 2013, and by notices duly posted in the lobby of Hastings Utilities, 1228 North Denver Avenue, and the City Hall, 220 N. Hastings Avenue, and was therefore open to the public.

Present: Hunt, Krieger, Kully, Shoemaker

Absent: Dewalt

Also Present: Schultes, Meyer, Sanders, Odom, Goebel, Ptak, Stange, Cox, Leonhardt, Crecelius, Barfknecht, Laura Bernero (Hastings Tribune), Bridget Haahr and Mindy Oman (McDermott & Miller), Dave Rippe (HEDC), and Kaleena Fong (Adams County CUB)

Chairman Shoemaker stated that the Board of Public Works is subject to the Open Meetings Laws and acknowledged that the Open Meetings Law poster has been posted in the room.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

There were no public comments.

Don Cox gave a brief update on natural gas pricing. He reported that there is significant upward pressure on natural gas and propane prices because the colder weather is affecting the supply and infrastructure across the nation.

Marv Schultes informed the Board that new technology has provided another option for mercury control at the WEC-1. The Board will be asked to consider approving a Confidentiality Agreement at their next meeting.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Kully, that the following items on the Consent Agenda be approved:

  1. Review, correction or approval of minutes of January 16, 2014
  2. Review of payroll for period ending January 25, 2014

Roll Call: Ayes; Krieger, Kully, Hunt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.

The Board received the 3rd Quarter Financial Review from McDermott & Miller and Mindy Oman and Bridget Haahr from McDermott & Miller presented the report.

The Board further examined and discussed the Peer Review Study by Black & Veatch. Board Member Hunt asked for a time frame for the Aquifer Storage and Restoration Project. Staff will mail that to the Board and Liaisons.

A discussion continued on the HEDC Branding Plan. Scott Krieger stated that he wanted to publicly support the project in light of some negative comments from the general public. Dave Rippe (HEDC) stated that our community needs to sell ourselves. Kaleen Fong (Adams County CUB ) explained that a committee will review the expenditures of monies contributed by Hastings Utilities and others to the project and a time line will be established.

Moved by Kully, seconded by Hunt, to approve Resolution No. 2014-01 for Insurance Coverage for the Combined Utility Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2003, Combined Utility Revenue Bonds, Series 2006, and Combined Utility Revenue Bonds, Series 2012. Roll Call: Ayes; Kully, Hunt, Shoemaker, Krieger. Nays; None. Motion carried.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Kully, to approve Resolution No. 2014-02 for Insurance Coverage for the Electric System Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2005 and Electric System Revenue Bonds, Series 2011. Roll Call: Ayes; Krieger, Kully, Shoemaker, Hunt. Nays; None. Motion carried.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve a Notice of Construction of Utility Improvements on 42nd Street as amended and to authorize the Chairman of the Board to sign the notice. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Shoemaker, Kully. Nays; None. Motion carried.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Kully, to approve checks issued January 24, 2014, with the exception of check 21834 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp. and check 21876 to Sullivan Shoemaker PC LLO. Roll Call: Ayes; Krieger, Kully, Hunt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve check 21834 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp. in the amount of $1,984.72. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Kully abstained. Motion carried.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Hunt, to approve check 21876 to Sullivan Shoemaker PC LLO in the amount of $3,382.75. Roll Call: Ayes; Krieger, Hunt, Kully. Nays; None. Shoemaker abstained. Motion carried.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully, to approve the following claims:

  • General Operating Fund against the Electric Fund – $2,290,958.81
  • General Operating Fund against the Combined Fund - $3,336,632.16

Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Kully, Shoemaker, Krieger. Nays; None. Motion carried.

Moved by Kully, seconded by Krieger, to approve the following work orders on the Consent Agenda:

PL-656 Replace the existing PLC communication data highway and hardware at the WEC.

Estimated Cost: $307,238

SW-303 New 8" PVC sanitary sewer main along 26th St. from Elm Ave. to the East 300'.

Estimated Cost: $ 34,372

Moved by Kully, seconded by Krieger, to amend the previous motion to approve work order:

PL-656 Replace the existing PLC communication data highway and hardware at the WEC.

Estimated Cost: $307,238

Roll Call: Ayes; Kully, Krieger, Shoemaker, Hunt. Nays; None. Motion carried.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Kully, to approve work order

SW-303 New 8" PVC sanitary sewer main along 26th St. from Elm Ave. to the East 300'.

Estimated Cost: $ 34,372

Roll Call: Ayes; Krieger, Kully, Shoemaker. Nays; Hunt. Motion carried.

The discussion of Mission Statement and Core Values was postponed to the next meeting.

The November 2013 Monthly Report was presented and discussed.

Under Miscellaneous and Future Agenda Items, the Board added a Discussion of Street Lighting to a future meeting.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Kully, that this Board go into Closed Session, which Closed Session is clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest and for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual, which individual has not requested a public meeting, in order to discuss certain matters relating to personnel. Roll Call: Ayes; Krieger, Kully, Hunt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.

The meeting closed to the public at 11:25 a.m. The executive session consisted of Board Members, Council Liaisons, the Board's Attorney, the Manager of Utilities and the Assistant Manager of Utilities.

Moved by Kully, seconded by Krieger, that the meeting be reopened to the public at 11:40 a.m., and that no decisions were made nor official actions taken during said Closed Session. Roll Call: Ayes; Kully, Krieger, Hunt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.

There were no further Board Member comments.

The meeting adjourned at 11:40 p.m.