Board Meeting - March 13, 2014

A regular meeting of the Board of Public Works was held at the Hastings Utilities Board Room on Thursday, March 13, 2014, at 9:00 a.m.  This meeting was preceded by notice duly published in the Hastings Tribune on Tuesday, March 11, 2014, 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, Shoemaker

Absent:  Dewalt, Kully

Also Present:  Schultes, Meyer, Sanders, Hartman, Heyen, Odom, Goebel, Ptak, Cogley, Crecelius, and Laura Bernero (Hastings Tribune)

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.

Marv Schultes reported that the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled in the city’s favor on the Central Community College Source Gas case.

Schultes reported that Hastings Utilities is now operating in the Integrated Marketplace with the Southwest Power Pool.

Schultes informed the Board that a PPGA Board Meeting will be held at the WEC-2 Conference Room on March 20th.  An agenda was included in the Board packet.

Ron Sanders and Jim Heyen shared two awards the Pollution Control Facility has won at the Nebraska Water Environmental Association Meeting.  One was the 2013 Gold Safety Award, which is their top safety award.  The other was the Scott Wilbur Outstanding Facility Award.

Sanders explained the DART Safety Record of OPPD and how Hastings Utilities compares.  Hastings Utilities keeps track of all accidents, not just DART.

Al Meyer reported that there are no major operational issues at this time on both WEC1 and 2.

Chuck Shoemaker mentioned that he would like to visit with the Board regarding an item from their PPGA Committee meeting.  He will provide information during the Executive Session.

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

a. Review, correction or approval of minutes of February 27, 2014 

b. Review of payroll for period ending March 8, 2014

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

Willis Hunt updated the Board on the 2014 Comparability Study.  The Comparability Committee recommends that the Board obtain the services of Nebraska Personnel Consultants LLC to conduct a comparability study for all the positions at Hastings Utilities.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve a contract with Nebraska Personnel Consultants LLC in accordance with their January 8, 2014, proposal to conduct a comparability study for all positions at Hastings Utilities.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve checks issued March 7, 2014.   Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Shoemaker, to approve Work Order EL-285. Installation of a three-phase overhead transformer bank to serve the new Dollar General store east of 3rd Ave., south of East Park St.  Estimated Cost:  $   8,545

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

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Hunt, to approve Work Order EL-288.  Installation of a three-phase overhead transformer bank on Blaine Ave. ½ mile north of 70th St. to serve new irrigation wells.  Estimated Cost:  $   3,000

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

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Hunt, to approve Work Order EL-297.  Provide for the fabrication, installation and startup of the Well 27 Triplex Pump System and Pilot Study.  Estimated Cost:  $248,735

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

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve Work Order WA-298.  Provide for the design, construction and operation of one Aquifer Storage and Restoration (ASR) Pilot Injection Well.  Provide minimum of five monitoring wells using roto-sonic drilling.  Estimated Cost:  $252,821

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

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve Work Order PL-771.  PL-661 Replace dust suppression system in the basement of the coal dumper building at WEC-1. Estimated Cost:  $104,429

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

There were no new items discussed under Miscellaneous and Future Agenda Items.

During Board Member Comments, Hunt suggested that Hastings Utilities get a formal agreement with the City for the maintenance and operation of Fisher Fountain.  Shoemaker asked Schultes to visit with the City Administrator and the Mayor to see if they have an interest in an agreement.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Hunt, that this Board go into Closed Session, which Closed Session is clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest in that said Closed Session will consist of a strategy session relative to negotiations and litigation.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Krieger, Hunt, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

The meeting closed to the public at 11:20 a.m.  The executive session consisted of Board Members, Council Liaisons, the Board’s Attorney, and staff.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Hunt, that the meeting be reopened to the public at 12:12 p.m., and that no decisions were made nor official actions taken during said Closed Session.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Krieger, Hunt, Krieger, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 12:12 p.m.