Utilities
Board Meeting - May 15, 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 15, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. This meeting was preceded by notice duly published in the Hastings Tribune on Tuesday, May 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, Leonhardt, Heyen, Odom, Goebel, Crecelius, Sekora, Barfknecht, 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. He also declared a quorum of members present.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
There were no public comments.
Marv Schultes reported that Fisher Fountain has been repaired and was turned on in time for Mother’s Day.
Schultes reported that six Hastings civic entities (including Hastings Utilities) have teamed up to launch a marketing campaign aimed at showcasing Hastings to prospect business and industry owners, visitors, and citizens. The new branding initiative will be unveiled to the public on Tuesday, May 20th at 5:00 p.m. at The Lark. Board members are invited to attend the unveiling.
Schultes reported that the storm on Sunday, May 11th impacted the 115 KV tie to Sutton. It was out of service for two days but has been repaired and is back in service.
Al Meyer reported that WEC-2 came back on line on May 8th, one day later than planned. The WEC-1 outage to fix the steam leak has been deferred. They will continue to watch the leak and repair it as necessary.
Schultes and Jim Heyen reported that the Pollution Control Facility construction is moving towards completion. The plant addition is not fully operational but meeting permit requirements.
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Krieger, that the following items on the Consent Agenda be approved:
Roll Call: Ayes; Dewalt, Krieger, Shoemaker, Hunt, Kully. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, that upon the recommendation of the Merit Award Committee, to approve a Safety Merit Award to all Hastings Utilities’ Employees. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Kully, Shoemaker, Dewalt. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully, that upon the recommendation from staff, to award a contract (Contract No. 2014-05 IC-23) for new and replacement concrete at HU facilities to Heartland Concrete & Construction for a total of $133,090.42, which includes all applicable sales tax, and that the Chairman of the Board be authorized to enter into contract with said company accordingly. Roll Call: Hunt, Kully, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Krieger. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve Amendment No. 3 to Coal Supply Agreement between Hastings Utilities and Ag Processing, Inc., and that the Chairman be authorized to sign said Amendment. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Kully. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Dewalt, to approve checks issued May 9, 2014, with the exception of check 22885 to Krieger Electric Co., check 22887 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp., check 22928 to Sullivan Shoemaker PC LLO, and check 22804 to Industrial Park East Water System. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Dewalt, Kully, Krieger, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Kully, seconded by Hunt, to approve check 22885 to Krieger Electric Co. in the amount of $5,237.69. Roll Call: Ayes; Kully, Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Krieger abstained. Motion carried.
Moved by Krieger, seconded by Hunt, to approve check 22887 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp. in the amount of $13,960.97. Roll Call: Ayes; Krieger, Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Kully abstained. Motion carried.
Moved by Krieger, seconded by Hunt, to approve check 22928 to Sullivan Shoemaker PC LLO in the amount of $2,895.37, and check 22804 to Industrial Park East Water System in the amount of $1,000.00. Roll Call: Ayes; Krieger, Hunt, Dewalt. Nays; None. Shoemaker abstained. Motion carried.
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Krieger, to approve the following work orders:
Roll Call: Ayes; Dewalt, Krieger, Shoemaker, Hunt, Kully. Nays; None. Motion carried.
The February 2014 Monthly Report was presented and discussed.
A discussion took place on Stores Charges added to work orders. The Board would like to consider a written policy on the procedure for determining the stores charge percentage each year. Staff will draft a policy and bring it back to the board for consideration.
Jim Heyen and Ron Sanders gave a presentation on Biosolids Application Options. They will get more information on Alternative Option 2 (Cost of Producing Class A Biosolids) and compare to current practices and bring back to the Board for further discussion. The land acquisition option will be discussed in executive session.
The Board reviewed the staff’s recommendation for the Overhead/Underground Policy changes.
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Kully, to approve Resolution No. 2014-03 changing the Overhead/Underground Policy.
Staff will work with the City Attorney and draft a new resolution with the new recommended changes.
Moved by Krieger, seconded by Dewalt, to table Resolution 2014-03. Roll Call: Ayes; Krieger, Dewalt, Hunt, Kully, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
The Board reviewed the current city code on water services. The Board directed staff to work with the City Attorney to draft an ordinance which would expand the water service policy, asked staff for a presentation on the ramifications of the changes and the costs of amending this section of the code.
Under Board Member Comments, Mr. Hunt mentioned that the City has hired a broker to help the City look at different quotes for Worker’s Compensation. Mr. Schultes said that would include Hastings Utilities. Mr. Hunt also mentioned that Mr. Samuelson spoke to the City Council at their meeting on nitrates in the water. Mr. Samuelson is planning to speak to the Board at their next meeting.
The Hastings Tree Board has requested to meet with Hastings Utilities’ staff to coordinate tree planting efforts. Steve Cogley will meet and coordinate with the Tree Board.
Scott Krieger reported that Marv Schultes, Marty Stange, and he attended the Upper Big Blue Natural Resource District (UBBNRD) meeting. They have formed a committee to decide how they can help financially with Hastings’ nitrate problem.
Under Miscellaneous and Future Agenda Items, the Board decided to hold a discussion on accepting lowest and best policy and informal bidding at the next meeting. The Board would like to review the attorney’s opinion on the policy.
Moved by Kully, 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 real estate negotiations. Roll Call: Ayes; Kully, Dewalt, Hunt, Shoemaker, Krieger. Nays; None. Motion carried.
The meeting closed to the public at 11:38 a.m. The executive session consisted of Board Members, Council Liaisons, the Board’s Attorney, and staff.
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Krieger, that the meeting be reopened to the public at 12:10 p.m., and that no decisions were made nor official actions taken during said Closed Session. Roll Call: Ayes; Dewalt, Krieger, Shoemaker, Hunt, Kully. Nays; None. Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.