Utilities
Board Meeting - June 26, 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 26, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. This meeting was preceded by notice duly published in the Hastings Tribune on Tuesday, June 24, 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, Leonhardt, Goebel, Odom, Strom, Barfknecht, Crecelius, Cameron Trumble (McDermott & Miller), Dave Wacker and Jack Newlun (City), and 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.
Cameron Trumble from McDermott & Miller presented the 1st Quarter Financial Review as prepared by McDermott & Miller.
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 and that said Closed Session will consist of a strategy session relative to real estate and contract negotiations. Roll Call: Ayes; Krieger, Kully, Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
The meeting closed to the public at 9:23 a.m. The executive session consisted of Board Members, Council Liaisons, the Board’s Attorney, Dave Wacker and Jack Newlun from the City, and HU staff.
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Hunt, that the meeting be reopened to the public at 10:18 a.m., and that no decisions were made nor official actions taken during said Closed Session. Roll Call: Ayes; Dewalt, Hunt, Kully, Shoemaker, Krieger. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Under the General Manager Report, Al Meyer reported that WEC-2 experienced a two day outage starting on June 18th because of a problem with the Boiler Feed Pump. Marv Schultes reported that a large number of customers experienced power outages because of significant wind events the past two weekends.
Chuck Shoemaker congratulated the following employees for their years of service to Hastings Utilities.
David Sheppard – 25 years in the Gas Department, L. Don Brown – 25 years in the Gas Department, Marina Richards – 5 years in the Engineering Department, and Gary Wintermute – 35 years at the Whelan Energy Center.
Shoemaker commented that he would like to discuss a policy on setting the agenda at a meeting in the near future.
Shoemaker encouraged the Board to attend next year’s APPA National Conference that will be held in Minneapolis. He and Marv Schultes recently attended the conference in Denver and felt it was very relevant and worthwhile.
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Krieger, that the following items on the Consent Agenda be approved:
Roll Call: Ayes; Dewalt, Krieger, Shoemaker, Kully, Hunt. Nays; None. Motion carried.
The PPGA Meeting Minutes of April 28, 2014, were distributed.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully, to bring from the table the discussion on uncollectible accounts. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Kully, Shoemaker, Krieger, Dewalt. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully, to write off uncollectible accounts in the amount of $29,953.71 for accounting purposes only and that staff be instructed to continue collection efforts on these accounts. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Kully, Krieger, Dewalt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Krieger, seconded by Dewalt, to bring from the table the discussion on Resolution 2014-03 – Overhead/Underground Policy Changes. Roll Call: Ayes; Krieger, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Hunt, Kully. Nays; None. Motion carried.
The Board discussed amendments to the policy.
Moved by Kully, seconded by Krieger, to amend Resolution 2014-03 Overhead/Underground Policy Changes (paragraph 9). Roll Call: Ayes; Kully, Krieger, Dewalt, Hunt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Kully, seconded by Krieger, to approve Resolution 2014-03 Overhead/Underground Plicy Changes as amended. Roll Call: Ayes; Kully, Krieger, Shoemaker, Hunt, Dewalt. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Kully, to bring from the table the discussion on Possible Commercial Water Service Replacement - Ordinance No. 4395.
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Hunt, to recommend approval to the Mayor and City Council of Ordinance 4395 (Commercial Water Service Replacement). Roll Call: Ayes; Dewalt, Hunt, Kully, Shoemaker, Krieger. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Krieger, seconded by Hunt, to approve checks issued June 20, 2014, with the exception of check 23304 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp. Roll Call: Ayes; Krieger, Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Kully. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve check 23304 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp. in the amount of $6,514.44. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Shoemaker, Dewalt. Nays; None. Kully abstained. Motion carried.
Moved by Krieger, seconded by Kully, to approve the following claims:
Roll Call: Ayes; Krieger, Kully, Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Dewalt, to approve the following work order:
EL-293 Replace existing underground direct-buried primary cable with ducted cable and install new single-phase padmount transformers south of Kingston Dr., west of Prospect Ave. in Kingswood Plaza. Estimated Cost: $71,979
Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Dewalt, Kully, Shoemaker, Krieger. Nays; None. Motion carried.
The April 2014 Monthly Report was presented and discussed.
There were no Miscellaneous and Future Agenda Items added or discussed.
The Board asked Dewalt and Shoemaker to work with Schultes, Ptak and Hartman on developing a new performance appraisal form. The Manager’s evaluation will be completed after the new form is developed.
Under Board Member comments, the Board decided to add the item “Discussion of Setting the Board Agenda” on the next agenda. At that time, the Board will also discuss the order of “Board Member Comments” on the agenda.
The meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m.