Board Meeting - May 28, 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, May 28, 2015, at 9:00 a.m.  This meeting was preceded by notice duly published in the Hastings Tribune on Tuesday, May 14, 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, Dewalt, Shoemaker

Also Present: Schultes, Meyer, Vrooman, Ptak, Leonhardt, Cogley, McCoy, Barfknecht, Crecelius, Hartman, Cox, 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 Bond Refinance Issue closes this morning and will realize a net present value savings of approximately $14,000,000 for PPGA.

Mr. Hunt mentioned that he noticed delegates from Hastings Utilities were attending the APPA Annual Conference.  He asked who attended and who was eligible as a voting delegate.  Schultes said the he has attended regularly and has been the voting delegate for many years.  Shoemaker and Schultes are signed up to attend the conference.  The Board asked that this item be placed on the next agenda to discuss the "Voting Delegate" option and also to receive a report from those attending the meeting.

Al Meyer reported that WEC started processing refined coal yesterday and there have been no problems so far.

Hartman reported positions that are open at Hastings Utilities.  She is also reviewing job descriptions that  need to be updated.

Chairman Shoemaker announced Service Anniversaries for June 2015:  Keith Kinney – 35 years; Brenden Scherbarth – 20 years; Dennis Salmon – 45 years; Nicholas Kelley – 5 years; Michael Fraser – 35 years; Steve Cogley – 35 years; Peggy Stineman – 30 years; James Lemke – 35 years.

Shoemaker reported that he has been asked to sign a deed for the forest land purchased by Hastings Utilities.  This will transfer the property to the City of Hastings for use of Hastings Utilities.  The area is being platted and being brought into the City of Hastings.  Board Attorney and staff reviewed a plan for rail extensions on the property.  The Chairman asked staff to work with the consultant that drew up the plan to see if the design could be changed to allow more land for commercial development.  Staff will report back after visiting with the consultant.

There were no committee reports at this time.

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

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

Mr. Hunt mentioned that the minutes reflected that Hastings Utilities would have someone present at the Upper Big Blue Natural Resource Meeting on May 21st.  He asked who attended and asked for a report.  Schultes reported that the Hastings Utilities funding request was not going to be discussed at their meeting so nobody from HU attended.  There will be a committee meeting on June 9th and their Board Meeting on June 18th where attendance by HU may be desired.  Marty Stange is planning to attend the committee meeting on the 9th.  Chairman Shoemaker said that a representative attending from the HU Board with staff may be a good idea.

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Kully, to approve a Release of Easement for the Johnson Imperial Home Co. of Hastings, and to forward to the Mayor and Council for their approval.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Dewalt, Kully, Hunt, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Mark Barfknecht and Deb McCoy gave presentations on Indirect Allocation and Budgeted Labor.  The Board asked Barfknecht to visit with other utilities to see how they deal with allocations of general and administrative costs.  Barfknecht is attending the Nebraska League Accounting Conference and will visit with other utility accountants and report his findings back to the Board.  A discussion took place on changes to the budget to report labor costs.  Accounting will report each department's labor costs.  This revised report draft will be discussed at the next meeting.

The February 2015 Monthly Report was presented and discussed.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully to approve the recommendation from staff to accept the proposal from Black and Veatch to perform the Biennial Report for 2014 in the amount of $10,800.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Kully, Shoemaker, Dewalt.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully, to table the Recommendation for UNL Research Agreement for Hastings Vadose Zone Study.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Kully, Shoemaker, Dewalt.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

There is no new information on the North Baltimore Floodway Study.

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Hunt, to approve checks issued May 22, 2015, with the exception of check no. 26595 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp.   Roll Call:  Ayes; Dewalt, Hunt, Shoemaker, Kully.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

The Board will discuss farm leases and railroad leases at the next meeting.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Dewalt, to approve check 26595 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp. in the amount of $3,173.60.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Kully abstained.  Motion carried.

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

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

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

EL-330     Installation of three-phase underground electric lines and a padmount junction on Community Dr. from the Gausman building to west 350 ft. at Central Community College. Estimated Cost:  $ 27,097

EL-332     Installation of a three-phase overhead power line along Idlewilde Rd. from Wabash Ave. to Elm Ave.; and on Elm Ave. from Idlewilde Rd. to ½ mile north. Estimated Cost:  $105,926

GA-312    Replacement 2" PE gas main on Colorado Ave., 11th St. to 13th St.; and 13th St., lorado Ave. west 150'.  Estimated Cost:  $143,239

Roll Call:  Ayes; Kully, Dewalt, Shoemaker.  Nays; Hunt.  Motion carried.

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Shoemaker, 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; Dewalt, Shoemaker, Hunt, Kully.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

The meeting closed to the public at 11:05 a.m.  The executive session consisted of Board Members, the Board's Attorney, Council Liaison Goebel, Marv Schultes, Al Meyer, Lee Vrooman, and Lori Hartman.

Moved by Kully, seconded by Dewalt, that the meeting be reopened to the public at 11:42 a.m., and that no decisions were made nor official actions taken during said Closed Session.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Kully, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Hunt.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully, to table the following agenda items:

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

The meeting adjourned at 11:44 a.m.