Board Meeting - January 29, 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, January 29, 2015, at 9:00 a.m.  This meeting was preceded by notice duly published in the Hastings Tribune on Tuesday, January 27, 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

Absent:  Shoemaker

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

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.

Marvin Schultes informed the Board that the Central Plains Energy Project (CPEP) settlement was reported in the Omaha World Herald, which Hastings Utilities was involved in. Schultes also reported that per Board request he, along with Ron Sekora and Lee Vrooman met with Dave Wacker on Wednesday, January 21st after the coordination meeting with City Engineering.  Mr. Wacker said he has no communication concerns and he will let Schultes know if any occur and Mr. Schultes will do the same with Mr. Wacker.

Lori Hartman reported on personnel activities, open positions and the Healthy Me program.

Acting Chairman Dewalt reported that the City Council took an action on the downtown Hastings Hotel/Auditorium project at their last meeting.

Under Committee Reports, Krieger reported on the Street Light Committee.

Kully reported on the Bidding Policy Committee.

Acting Chairman Dewalt announced Service Anniversaries and recommendations for Merit Awards:  Service Anniversaries –Albert Boner, 30 years; Brandan Lubken, 5 years; Travis Tinsman, 5 years. Merit Awards - Ben Pallas, Carol Crecelius 10 gallons of blood donated for the Hastings Utilities bloodmobile.  The Board applauded their donations.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully, to approve the Merit Awards for Ben Pallas and Carol Crecelius.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Kully, Dewalt, Krieger.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Hunt, that the following items on the Consent Agenda be approved:

a. Review, correction or approval of minutes of January 15, 2015
b. Review of payroll for period ending January 24, 2015

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

Discussion was held regarding bringing Item #7 from the table, Addendum #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), tabled from the 12/30/2014 meeting.  There was no vote.  This item will be brought back as a new agenda item when the status on the flood plain is known.

Marvin Schultes presented the November 2014 Monthly Report.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Hunt, to approve the OneBeacon America Insurance Company Settlement.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Krieger, Hunt, Kully, Dewalt.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Krieger, seconded by Kully, to approve checks issued January 23, 2015, with the exception of check 25428 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Krieger, Kully, Hunt, Dewalt.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Acting Chairman Dewalt reminded the Board to email or visit with the Manager or Assistant Manager prior to the board meeting with any questions regarding the check list.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve check 25428 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp. in the amount of $1,893.46.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Dewalt. Kully Abstained. Nays; None.  Motion carried.

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

- General Operating Fund against the Electric Fund – $3,628,407.86
- General Operating Fund against the Combined Fund - $4,209,158.79
- Electric Revenue Fund – Redemption of Outstanding Electric System Revenue Bonds, Series 2005 - $6,082,445.62

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

Under Miscellaneous and Future Agenda Items, the Board asked staff to provide an update from the Street Lighting Committee at the next meeting.

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

The meeting closed to the public at 10:05 a.m.  The executive session consisted of Board Members, the Board's Attorney, Council Liaisons, and Schultes.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, that the meeting be reopened to the public at 10:40 a.m., and that no decisions were made nor official actions taken during said Closed Session.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Dewalt, Kully.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 10:41 a.m.