Board Meeting - November 24, 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 Monday, November 24, 2014, at 1:00 p.m.  This meeting was preceded by notice duly published in the Hastings Tribune on Friday, November 21, 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, Shoemaker, Kully, Dewalt

Absent:  Krieger

Also Present:  Schultes, Meyer, Vrooman, Cogley, Hartman, Leonhardt, Ptak, Odom, Goebel, Crecelius, Tony Hermann (Hastings Tribune), 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.

Jack Giddings spoke to the Board during public comments.  He expressed his displeasure that some of the utility rates are going up January 1, 2014, even though Hastings Utilities has reserves of $57,000,000.  The Chairman told Mr. Giddings that the Manager will respond in a letter to his questions.

Lori Hartman reported on activities in hiring.

Chairman Shoemaker shared with the Board a customer letter he had received which expressed displeasure on the ASR Water Project.

Chairman Shoemaker signed a certificate and congratulated Betty Liehr for 15 years of service, who is retiring December 5th from the Business Office.

There were no reports from committees.

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

   a. Review, correction or approval of minutes of November 13 and 18, 2014
   b. Review of payroll for period ending November 15, 2014

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

Discussion was held on items on the PPGA meeting minutes.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Dewalt, to recommend approval to the Mayor and City Council of a Settlement Agreement with Source Gas to settle the Central Community College natural gas transfer.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Kully.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Kully, to bring the previous recommendation on Ordinance No. 4409 for reconsideration from the table.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Dewalt, Kully, Hunt, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Discussion on original recommendation was had by the Board

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Kully, to amend Ordinance No. 4409 to include the position of Director of Safety to the list of positions subject to the ordinance.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Dewalt, Kully, Hunt, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Kully, to recommend the amended Ordinance No. 4409 to the Mayor and City Council.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Dewalt, Shoemaker, Kully.  Nays;  Hunt.  Motion carried.

The Board asked the City Council Liaisons to consider this ordinance at their December 8th meeting, instead of the January 12th meeting.  Goebel did not think that would be a problem because he was the one who asked for the postponement until their January 12th meeting, in order for the Board to have time to reconsider the ordinance.

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Kully, to bring from the table the consideration of approval of a Process for Filling Hastings Utilities' FLSA Exempt Positions.  Roll Call: Ayes; Dewalt, Kully, Shoemaker.  Nays; Hunt.  Motion carried.

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Shoemaker, to approve the Process for Filling Hastings Utilities' FLSA Exempt Positions to be effective following the approval of Ordinance No. 4409.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Dewalt, Shoemaker, Kully, Hunt.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Shoemaker, to approve checks issued November 19, 2014, with the exception of check 24869 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Dewalt, Shoemaker, Hunt, Kully.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

The Board asked that a spreadsheet be prepared to show the construction expenditures at the Pollution Control Facility and any outstanding expenses, along with any retainage on the project.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Dewalt, to approve check 24869 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp. in the amount of $563.10.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Kully abstained.  Motion carried.

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

- General Operating Fund against the Electric Fund – $3,353,616.50
- General Operating Fund against the Combined Fund - $2,027,504.95

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

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

EL-313   Installation of a three-phase overhead transformer bank to serve added load
for Consolidated Concrete Company at 2000 N. Baltimore Ave. 
Estimated Cost:  $  7,099
EL-315   Installation of a three-phase underground electric line and padmount
transformer for service to Bimbo Bakery USA at 317 S. Elm Ave.                                  Estimated Cost:  $14,913

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

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Kully, to approve the following work order:

SW-310  Gas detection equipment at PCF Influent Pump Building and Solids Complex.
Estimated Cost:  $97,863
Roll Call:  Ayes; Dewalt, Kully, Hunt, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.
 

The September 2014 Monthly Report will be presented at the next meeting, along with a quarterly report.

During Board Member comments, Hunt asked the Board to get together to develop a plan for street lighting.  The Board will discuss this item at the December 29th meeting.

Dewalt reminded staff to prepare the PCF capital expenditure report, besides the information on the bond proceeds that was previously furnished.

Hunt  said that he appreciated the information in the packet on the application for funds for the ASR Project and also requested that flood plain information be available at the next Board meeting.

Moved by Hunt, 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 negotiations.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Kully, Shoemaker, Dewalt.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

The meeting closed to the public at 2:30 p.m.  The executive session consisted of Board Members, Council Liaisons, the Board's Attorney, Schultes, Meyer, and Hartman.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully, that the meeting be reopened to the public at 2:55 p.m., and that no decisions were made nor official actions taken during said Closed Session.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Kully, Dewalt, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 2:56 p.m.