Board Meeting - December 30, 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 Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at 9:00 a.m.  This meeting was preceded by notice duly published in the Hastings Tribune on Friday, December 26, 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, Kully, Krieger. Dewalt

Absent:  Shoemaker

Also Present:  Schultes, Meyer, Vrooman, Cogley, Hartman, Leonhardt, Stange, Ptak, Goebel, Odom, Crecelius, Strom, Cox, Tony Hermann (Hastings Tribune), and Steve White (NTV)

Chairman Shoemaker was absent, therefore Acting Chairman Dewalt chaired the meeting.

Acting Chairman Dewalt 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.  She also declared a quorum of members present.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

There were no public comments.

Marv Schultes reminded the Board that the new water and sanitary sewer rates will go in effect as of January 1, 2015.

Al Meyer informed the Board that WEC-1 experienced a four hour shutdown on December 27th.  There was a failure on a component that required a repair.

Lori Hartman reported on activities in hiring. 

Acting Chairman Dewalt said the Board will need to meet in Executive Session but will do this later in the meeting.

There were no committee reports.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Kully, that the following items on the Consent Agenda be approved.

  a. Review, correction or approval of minutes of December 11, 2014
  b. Review of payroll for period ending December 13, 2014

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

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to write off uncollectible accounts in the amount of $33,070.28 for accounting purposes only and that staff be instructed to continue collection efforts on these accounts.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Dewalt, Kully.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

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

The meeting closed to the public at 9:10 a.m.  The executive session consisted of Board Members, Council Liaisons, the Board’s Attorney, and Schultes. 

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Kully, that the meeting be reopened to the public at 9:47 a.m., and that no decisions were made nor official actions taken during said Closed Session.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Krieger, Kully, Hunt, Dewalt.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

The Board discussed Addendum No. 1 to Engineering Agreement with JEO Consulting Group for the Design of the North Baltimore Ave. High Nitrate Water Storage Facility and Pump Station (B.I. 3.02). 

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully to Table Item  8. Approval of Addendum No. 1 to Engineering Agreement with JEO Consulting Group for the Design of the North Baltimore Ave. High Nitrate Water Storage Facility and Pump Station (B.I. 3.02) to the January 29, 2015 meeting.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Kully, Krieger.  Nays; Dewalt.  Motion carried.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve an Agreement with Hastings Economic Development Corporation for the 2015-2016 funding, and that the Acting Chairman be authorized to sign the agreement.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Kully, Dewalt.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully, to approve an Agreement with the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce for the 2015 funding, and that the Acting Chairman be authorized to sign the agreement.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Kully, Dewalt, Krieger.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Ron Sekora gave a presentation on LED Street Lighting.  Following the presentation, the Board asked the Street Light Committee to review the information and recommend how best to proceed with the conversion to LED street lighting in Hastings.  Because street light committee member Shoemaker will be out of town for the next two meetings, Krieger will ask the Chairman if Kully can temporarily replace him on the committee to proceed with information gathering and making a recommendation to the Board.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve checks issued December 26, 2014, with the exception of check 25135 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Dewalt, Kully.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Hunt, to approve check 25135 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp. in the amount of $3,545.52.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Krieger, Hunt, Dewalt.  Nays; None.  Kully abstained.  Motion carried.

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

 - General Operating Fund against the Electric Fund – $3,223,203.13
 - General Operating Fund against the Combined Fund - $3,776,835.15

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

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Kully, to approve the following Work Orders:

EL-317  Installation of a three phase overhead transformer bank for service to Rutt’s Heating & Air shop building on 1st Street between Bellevue Avenue and    Lexington Avenue at 1001 West 1st Street.                Estimated Cost:  $10,640
 
GA-309 Replacement 2” gas main on South Street, alley east of St. Joe Ave. to Colorado Ave. with 4” PE; and new 4” PE gas main on South St., Colorado Ave. to East
Side Blvd.                                                                    Estimated Cost:  $102,055
 
CO-152 Replacement of existing metal halide high bay lighting in the warehouse at 200 West 14th Street with LED fixtures.                       Estimated Cost:  $52,275

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

Schultes presented the October 2014 Monthly Report.

Dave Ptak reported that the closing on the Warner property will be January 5, 2015.

There were no Miscellaneous and Future Agenda Items.

The meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.