Board Meeting - February 12, 2015

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, February 12, 2015, at 9:00 a.m.  This meeting was preceded by notice duly published in the Hastings Tribune on Tuesday, February 10, 2015, 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, Shoemaker

Also Present:  Schultes, Meyer, Vrooman, Cogley, Ptak, Leonhardt, Crecelius, Hartman, Goebel, Odom, and Tony Hermann (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 the PPGA Board met on February 5th and are looking at refinancing the 2007 Series Bonds.  This could result in a large savings for PPGA members.

Shoemaker remarked that since he was absent at the last few meetings, he viewed the recordings on the internet of the meetings.  He said that having the ability to view that at his leisure is a plus and recommended to the Council Liaisons that the City Council look into this for their meetings.

Shoemaker asked if any new information has been presented on the flood zone on the North Baltimore project.  Staff said that no new information is available.

Dewalt remarked that the Employee Committee meeting minutes mentioned a report that Lori Hartman had presented on fringe benefit changes.  She asked that Hartman forward that report to the Comparability Committee.

Lori Hartman reported on hiring and personnel activities.

The Street Light Committee members said they will give their committee report during Agenda Item 10 – Discussion of Street Lighting.

Shoemaker said he will send out his recommendation for 2015 Committee Assignments in the next Board packet and will ask the Board to ratify the assignments at the next meeting.

The Bidding Policy Committee had nothing to report at this time.

Chuck Shoemaker congratulated the following employees for their years of service to Hastings Utilities.

Stephen Schmidt – 10 years at the Whelan Energy Center, Allen Meyer – 35 years in Administration, Ronald Cox – 15 years at the North Denver Station, and Myron Sadler – 35 years at the Whelan Energy Center.  He also congratulated and thanked William McKay for his 34 years of service at the Whelan Energy Center.  Mr. McKay is retiring February 16th.

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.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Dewalt, that upon the recommendation from staff, to award a contract for a CPM Truck Cab & Chassis with Non-Overcenter Material Handling Aerial Device and Line Body (Contract HU 2015-01 FC-02 B.I. 2.62) to the following:

Hansen International of Grand Island, Nebraska, in the amount of $71,680.00 for the cab & chassis, Altec Industries, Inc., St. Joseph, Missouri, in the amount of $135,983.00 excluding sales tax for the line body and aerial device, and accepting the bid of $43,000.00 from the Hastings Parks Department for the trade-in., and that the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to enter into contracts with said companies accordingly.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Kully, Krieger.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, that upon the recommendation from staff, to award a contract for Fire Protection System for Units 4 & 5 Turbine Lube Oil (Contract HU 2015-02 FC-04 B.I. 2.10) to Nebraska Fire Sprinkler Co., of Alda, Nebraska, in the amount of $95,500 which includes applicable sales tax, and that the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to enter into contract with said company accordingly.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Shoemaker, Dewalt, Kully.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Discussion took place on revisions to the Refined Coal Agreements which were approved last year.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully, to approve the Assignment and Assumption of the Coal Purchase Agreement, the Refined Coal Sales Agreement, and the Ground Lease Agreement from RCJ 2, LLC to RCF 5, LLC, subject to final legal review for the refined coal process at WEC, and that the Chairman of the Board be authorized to sign said agreements.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Kully, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Krieger.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Scott Krieger and Jeff Kully gave an update on the Street Lighting Committee recommendations to replace all street lighting with LED fixtures/bulbs when a repair or replacement is made.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Kully, to approve the recommendation from the Street Lighting Committee to cause all street light repairs and bulb replacements to be done with LED lighting.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Krieger, Kully, Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Krieger, to approve checks issued February 6, with the exception of check no. 25562 to Krieger Electric Co., check no. to 25565 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp., and check no. 25603 to Sullivan Shoemaker PC LLO.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Dewalt, Krieger, Kully, Hunt, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Kully, seconded by Dewalt, to approve check 25562 to Krieger Electric Co. in the amount of $18,334.00.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Kully, Dewalt, Hunt, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Krieger abstained.  Motion carried.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Dewalt, to approve check 25565 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp. in the amount of $3,365.87.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Krieger, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Hunt.  Nays; None.  Kully abstained.  Motion carried.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Hunt, to approve check 25603 to Sullivan Shoemaker PC LLO in the amount of $1,061.77.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Krieger, Hunt, Kully, Dewalt.  Nays; None.   Shoemaker abstained.  Motion carried.

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

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

There were no Board Member comments,

Under Miscellaneous and Future Agenda Items, Odom shared a route and estimate sheet to connect fiber to City Buildings.

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

The meeting closed to the public at 10:07 a.m.  The executive session consisted of Board Members, the Board's Attorney, Council Liaisons, and staff.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, that the meeting be reopened to the public at 11:12 a.m., and that no decisions were made nor official actions taken during said Closed Session.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Dewalt, Kully, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 11:12 a.m.