Board Meeting - June 12, 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, June 12, 2014, at 9:00 a.m.  This meeting was preceded by notice duly published in the Hastings Tribune on Tuesday, June 10, 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, Kully, Dewalt

Also Present:  Schultes, Meyer, Sanders, Ptak, Hartman, Leonhardt, Quinn, Goebel, Odom, Cox, Strom, Liehr, Detour, Patten, Nissen, Thompson, Jim Headley (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.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully, to approve the recommendation to award Hastings Utilities employees, Donna Patten and Mike Nissen Humanitarian Merit Awards for the donation of five gallons of blood each at the Hastings Utilities blood drive.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Kully, Shoemaker, Dewalt, Krieger.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Marvin Schultes reported a meeting with AGP was held on 6/11/2014 in the Hastings Utilities board room.  AGP visited with staff on their expansion and discussed any utility needs.

Al Meyer reported that WEC-2 experienced a plant outage on 6/2/2014.  WEC-2 was off line for 6 hours due to plugged sensing line in the furnace. WEC-1 had some equipment impacted by the 6/3/2014 storm.  There was damage to the shroud in the cooling tower as well as tips on the fan blades.  The Board asked if there were any outages due to the 6/11/2014 storm, and Mr. Meyer reported that there were no major outages; however, there were outages on 6/3/2014 involving trips of the breaker serving Central Community College as well as a recloser at Lochland.

Chairman Shoemaker addressed the committee of Board members, Hunt, Krieger, and Kully, City Attorney Ptak, and Council Liaison Goebel regarding the Public Bidding Committee.  It was decided to postpone any meeting until the board committee members can discuss possible meeting dates.

Chairman Shoemaker discussed how the agenda is set, and who sets the agenda items and whether a policy is needed.  Chairman Shoemaker would like the Board to act collectively, as a Board, and further discuss at a future date if a policy should be in place. 

Chairman Shoemaker asked the Board if we have a policy in place with regard to Net-Metering.  Mr. Schultes will check on this and report back to the Board.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Dewalt, to approve the minutes of May 29, 2014 on the Consent Agenda. Roll Call:  Ayes; Krieger, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Hunt, Kully.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Dewalt, that upon the recommendation from staff, to award a contract (Contract No. 2014-05 IC-27) for HVAC Modifications for Influent Pump & Solids Pump Station at the Pollution Control Facility (PCF) to K-T Heating & Air Conditioning for a total in the amount of

$135, 900.00 and that the Chairman be authorized to sign the contract.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Krieger, Dewalt, Hunt, Kully, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve the following Work Order:

SW-305    Replace HVAC Influent Pump Building Dry Side and Primary Clarifier Building at PCF.  Estimated Cost:  $202,661

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

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, that upon the recommendation from staff, to award a contract (Contract No. 2014-05 IC-28) for Water Main Improvements to General Excavating for a total in the amount of $635,971.65 and that the Chairman be authorized to sign the contract.

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Krieger, to amend the motion to include the approval of related work orders:

WA-302      New 10” water main on Burlington Avenue from 12th Street to 14th Street, and crossing at 15th Street.  Estimated Cost:  $506,986

WA-306      Installation of 10” DIP water main on East 9th Street from Ronan Drive to Ash Avenue.   Estimated Cost:  $259,927

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

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, that upon recommendation from staff, to award a contract (Contract No. 2014-05 IC-28) for Water Main Improvements to General Excavating for a total in the amount of $635,971.65 and that the Chairman be authorized to sign the contract, and to approve the following work orders:

WA-302      New 10” water main on Burlington Avenue from 12th Street to 14th Street, and crossing at 15th Street.  Estimated Cost:  $506,986

WA-306      Installation of 10” DIP water main on East 9th Street from Ronan Drive to Ash Avenue.  Estimated Cost:  $259,927

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

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully, to write off uncollectible accounts in the amount of $29,953.71 for accounting purposed only and that staff be instructed to continue collection efforts on these accounts. 

The Board discussed the accounts and will work with Board Attorney Dave Ptak on this matter.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Dewalt, to table the motion to write off uncollectable accounts.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Dewalt, Kully, Shoemaker, Krieger.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Don Cox introduced the Board to the newly appointed Manager of Customer Accounting at Hastings Utilities, Mr. Brian Strom.  The Board welcomed him to Hastings Utilities. 

Don Cox and Jim DeTour gave a presentation on the SPP Integrated Market.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Dewalt, to approve checks issued June 6, 2014, with the exception of check 23073 to Industrial Park East Water System, check 23156 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp., and check 23201 to Sullivan Shoemaker PC LLO.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Krieger, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Hunt, Kully.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Kully, seconded by Hunt, to approve check 23073 to Industrial Park East Water System, in the amount of $4,500.00 and check 23201 to Sullivan Shoemaker PC LLO in the amount of $3,226.12.

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

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve check 23156 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp. in the amount of $3,930.91.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Dewalt, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Kully abstained.     Motion carried.

Schultes presented the March 2014 Monthly Report and the Quarterly Report. 

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 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 and that said Closed Session will consist of a strategy session relative to real estate and contract negotiations.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Krieger, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Hunt, Kully.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

The meeting closed to the public at 11:00 a.m.  The executive session consisted of Board Members, Council Liaisons, the Board’s Attorney, and staff. 

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Kully, that the meeting be reopened to the public at 11:16 a.m., and that no decisions were made nor official actions taken during said Closed Session.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Dewalt, Kully, Hunt, Shoemaker, Krieger.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, that the next regular meeting date be changed from July 3, 2014 to June 26, 2014.  Roll Call:  Hunt, Krieger, Dewalt, Kully, Shoemaker.   Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Krieger, to table Discussion of Possible Commercial Water Service Replacement (Ordinance No. 4395).  Roll Call:  Dewalt, Krieger, Shoemaker, Hunt, Kully.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Chairman Shoemaker stated the Agenda should reflect last meeting’s tabled motion even though the Board was not ready to discuss it.  In the future, the tabled item should be brought forward and re-tabled if necessary.

Schultes informed the Board that Nathan Bren was hired as an Electrical Engineer at Hastings Utilities.  He will begin work on June 16th.  

The meeting adjourned at 11:47 a.m.