Utilities
Board Meeting - March 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, March 12, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. This meeting was preceded by notice duly published in the Hastings Tribune on Tuesday, March 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.
Also Present: Meyer, Vrooman, Cogley, Ptak, Leonhardt, Crecelius, Hartman, Davis, Stuart, Stange, Strom, Odom, Goebel, and Will Vraspir (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.
Al Meyer reported that an engine compartment in the newest dozer at the Energy Center caught fire and did substantial damage. The insurance adjuster feels it was caused by coal dust combustion. Two older dozers will be used while the repairs are being made. A recommendation will be determined on a process to avoid this in the future.
Al reported that work on the air heaters in WEC-2 was substantial and the outage will be extended to March 19th. A good report was given on the coal burner nozzles which have been a problem in recent maintenance outages.
The maintenance outage for WEC-1 will begin on March 20th as scheduled.
Lee Vrooman reported that the Forest Land plat will be on the April Planning and Zoning Agenda, and an administrative plat can be done later which will show the recorded easements. The Board asked staff to see if this can be done before the plat goes to the P&Z to eliminate duplication. Staff will visit with Rod Davison (City Surveyor) to see what can be done.
Lori Hartman reported on hiring and personnel activities.
Chairman Shoemaker announced Service Anniversaries: Douglas Patrick – 30 years, Lance Conklin – 15 years, Thomas Belau – 35 years, Mark Turner – 25 years.
There were no committee reports at this time.
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Krieger, that the following items on the Consent Agenda be approved:
Roll Call: Ayes; Dewalt, Krieger, Shoemaker, Hunt. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Discussion was held on the UNL Research Agreement for Hastings Vadose Zone Study. Marty Stange explained the purpose of the study which will study how nitrates are migrating. The Board discussed asking the Upper Big Blue Natural Resource District to participate in the cost of the study as the results could be used statewide. Stange is looking at other grant funding that may also be available.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Dewalt, to table the consideration of the approval of the recommendation for a UNL Research Agreement for the Hastings Vadose Zone Study. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Krieger. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve Amendment No. 4 to HDR Engineering Agreement for Digester Cover Rehabilitation and Mixing Addition - Pollution Control Facility (B.I. 4.09) for an amount not to exceed $174,512.00. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Dewalt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Discussion was held on a recommendation to approve a resolution to renew the customer incentives for meter pit removal. There are 60 meter pits remaining. Some members felt that offering a larger incentive would help get the pits removed and other members felt that the recommended $600 would be enough incentive.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve the Recommendation of Resolution 2015-03 for Customer Incentives for Meter Pit Removal, which would reinstate the $600 incentive and would be valid through December 31, 2017.
Discussion followed.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Dewalt, to amend the motion to change paragraph 3 to $900 instead of $600 and the valid date from December 31, 2017 to December 31, 2016. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Dewalt, Krieger. Nays; Shoemaker. Motion carried.
Vote on main motion with amendment: Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Dewalt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Marty Stange gave an update on the North Baltimore Floodway Study. At this time, we are still waiting on the study and the design is on hold. The Board asked that this item be put on the next agenda.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve checks issued March 6, 2015, with the exception of check no. 25877 to Sullivan Shoemaker PC LLO. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Dewalt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Krieger, to approve check no. 25877 to Sullivan Shoemaker PC LLO in the amount of $598.64. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Krieger, Dewalt. Nays; None. Shoemaker abstained. Motion carried.
Moved by Krieger, seconded by Dewalt, to approve the following Work Orders:
Roll Call: Ayes; Krieger, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Hunt. Nays; None. Motion carrired.
There were no Board Member comments.
Under Miscellaneous and Future Agenda Items, Dewalt reminded that the North Baltimore Floodway Study be on the next agenda.
Moved by Krieger, seconded by Hunt, 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. Roll Call: Ayes; Krieger, Hunt, Shoemaker, Dewalt. Nays; None. Motion carried.
The meeting closed to the public at 10:35 a.m. The executive session consisted of Board Members, Council Liaisons, Al Meyer, Lee Vrooman, and Lori Hartman.
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Krieger, that the meeting be reopened to the public at 11:08 a.m., and that no decisions were made nor official actions taken during said Closed Session. Roll Call: Ayes; Dewalt, Krieger, Shoemaker, Hunt. Nays; None. Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 11:08 a.m.