Board Meeting - May 1, 2014

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS

 A regular meeting of the Board of Public Works was held at the Hastings Utilities Board Room on Thursday, May 1, 2014, at 9:00 a.m.  This meeting was preceded by notice duly published in the Hastings Tribune on Tuesday, April 29, 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, Dewalt, Kully

Also Present:  Schultes, Meyer, Sanders, Hartman, Ptak, Cox, Leonhardt, Odom, Goebel, Crecelius, Sekora, Waite, McCoy, Barfknecht, Laura Bernero (Hastings Tribune), Allison Petr and Randy Knapp from McDermott & Miller, and guest Jack Giddings

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.  He also declared a quorum of members present.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

There were no public comments.

Allison Petr and Randy Knapp from McDermott & Miller were present on the 2013 Audit.   Allison Petr presented the Hastings Utilities 2013 Annual Audit where she noted that McDermott & Miller has issued a clean audit opinion. 

McDermott & Miller submitted proposals for performing the 2014-2016 Audits and 2014 Quarterly Financial Reviews and the Board discussed the proposals. 

Moved by Kully, seconded by Dewalt, to accept McDermott & Miller’s proposal to perform the 2014-2016 Annual Audits to be presented to the Board of Public Works at the end of May for an estimated amount of $12,000 for 2014, $12,350 for 2015, and $12,700 for 2016, and to accept their proposal to perform the Quarterly Financial Review for an estimated cost of $2,500 per quarter.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Kully, Dewalt, Hunt, Shoemaker, Krieger.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Marv Schultes reported that the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the CASPR Rule, which will impact Whelan Energy Center Unit 1 environmental compliance requirements.

He also reminded the Board that as of today, May 1, HU’s share of the WEC-2 will increase from 10 MW to 15 MW.

Al Meyer reported that the WEC-2 scheduled maintenance outage began on April 18th.  They plan to complete the outage and put the unit back on line on May 7th.  WEC-1 is experiencing a steam leak and will require a short outage currently scheduled for May 16th to repair the leak.

Chuck Shoemaker reminded the Board that today is Give Hastings Day, a day to give charitable donations to Hastings charities.

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

  a. Review, correction or approval of minutes of April 17, 2014

  b. Review of payroll for period ending April 19, 2014

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

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Dewalt, to approve checks issued April 25, 2014, with the exception of check 22736 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp.   Roll Call:  Ayes; Krieger, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Kully, Hunt.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Hunt, to approve check 22736 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp. in the amount of $483.85.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Dewalt, Hunt, Shoemaker, Krieger.  Nays; None.  Kully abstained.  Motion carried.

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

 - General Operating Fund against the Electric Fund – $2,407,853.42

 - General Operating Fund against the Combined Fund - $2,911,681.00

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

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve the following work orders:

    GA-300   New 4” gas main on East 12th St., 260’ east of Showboat Blvd. east to UPRR R-O-W.   Estimated Cost:  $32,498

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

The Board discussed the Agenda Item 12 -  Discussion of Process for Filling Exempt from City Service Positions and the need for the discussion in light of the recent City Council Resolution 2014-14, which deals with the process of hiring.  Shoemaker submitted a list of questions and clarifications to Attorney Ptak and would like to give him time to answer the questions.  Shoemaker will appoint a committee to deal with the resolution and how that affects any policy the Board may want to consider.

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Krieger, to postpone Item 12 – Discussion of Process for Filling Exempt from City Service Positions.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Dewalt, Krieger, Shoemaker, Kully, Hunt.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

A discussion was held on street light projects.  Keith Leonhardt reviewed with the Board upcoming street lighting projects.  A discussion was held on the Thom Subdivision street lighting consideration.  The Board considered asking Thom Subdivision residents if they want the lighting.  Some members felt if there has been no request for the lighting, the street lighting budget could be used in other crucial areas that are needing the lighting.  It was suggested that staff check with the Police and Fire Departments to see if safety is a concern in an unlighted subdivision.

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Hunt, that staff contact the Police and Fire Departments to ask about public safety and the need for lighting in the Thom Subdivision and other expanded areas that are not currently lit, include a map of unlit areas, annually review the areas, and report back to the Street Lighting Committee.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Dewalt, Hunt, Kully, Shoemaker, Krieger.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Keith Leonhardt gave a presentation on the current Electric Overhead/Underground Policy, pros and cons of both, a recommended changes to the policy.  The Board would like staff to incorporate the proposed changes into the policy and bring it back to the Board for action.

There were no Miscellaneous and Future Agenda Items to discuss.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Dewalt, 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, Dewalt, Hunt, Kully, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

The meeting closed to the public at 11:14 a.m.  The executive session consisted of Board Members, Council Liaisons, the Board’s Attorney, and staff. 

Moved by Kully, seconded by Krieger, that the meeting be reopened to the public at 11:41 a.m., and that no decisions were made nor official actions taken during said Closed Session.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Kully, Krieger, Shoemaker, Dewalt, Hunt.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

There were no additional Board Member comments.

The meeting adjourned at 11:41 p.m.