Utilities
Board Meeting - December 17, 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, December 17, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. This meeting was preceded by notice duly published in the Hastings Tribune on Tuesday, December 15, 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, Shoemaker, Dewalt
Also Present: Schultes, Meyer, Vrooman, Ptak, Leonhardt, Cogley, Crecelius, Hartman, Hernandez, Sekora, Odom, Goebel, Tony Hermann (Hastings Tribune), Dave Rippe (HEDC)
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 mentioned that he had attended a Nebraska Power Association meeting where the members, including OPPD, discussed that the electric rate structures are changing. Schultes informed the Board that they may want to consider an electric rate study in the future.
Schultes and Cogley also updated the Board on the sustainability funding grant. The final edits are being done on the grant application and it is expected to be submitted tomorrow or Monday, December 21st at the previously proposed $4.4 Million amount.
Al Meyer updated the Board on the operating status of WEC-2. The plant is still offline. The PPGA partners have agreed to bring the plant back online on December 29th.
Schultes visited with the Board about the letter from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) that was in the packet on a storm water violation of the permit at the WEC. A reply letter has been sent back to NDEQ to inform them that HU was not in violation in operations but that proper submittal of information was not taking place. Hernandez said that he has put in place a policy of documentation submittal that will meet the requirements of the permit.
Lori Hartman had no personnel activities to report on.
Chairman Shoemaker reported on a newspaper article indicating that Grand Island is purchasing a significant amount of wind energy in response to the Clean Power Plan. Schultes said that Hastings Utilities has options to run the natural gas units. Staff will prepare an update on Hastings Utilities' response to the Clean Power Plan that is scheduled to become effective in 2022.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Dewalt, to approve of an Agreement with Hastings Economic Development Corporation.
Chairman Shoemaker asked staff to have Dave Ptak review the proposed Agreements with HEDC and the Chamber of Commerce.
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Hunt, to table the Agreement with the Hastings Economic Development Corporation to the December 30, 2015 meeting, have Mr. Ptak review the contracts and do what needs to happen to make these 75% of the dollar amount so they end 9-30-2016 with our intention that we review these again in October 2016 to get to our City and Utility year so they are the same and to determine if the Board can authorize a longer term than the 12/9 month term of the proposed Agreement. Roll Call: Ayes; Dewalt, Hunt, Kully, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Hunt, to table the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce Agreement for the same reason as the HEDC Agreement. Roll Call: Ayes; Dewalt, Hunt, Shoemaker, Kully. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Kully, seconded by Dewalt 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 contract negotiations. Roll Call: Ayes; Kully, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Hunt. Nays; None. Motion carried.
The meeting closed to the public at 9:40 a.m. The executive session consisted of Board Members, Council Liaisons, Marv Schultes, Attorney Ptak, Don Cox, Al Meyer, Keith Leonhardt, Lee Vrooman, Ron Sekora, and Dave Rippe (HEDC).
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Kully, that the meeting be reopened to the public at 10:45 a.m., and that no decisions were made nor official actions taken during said Closed Session. Roll Call: Ayes; Dewalt, Kully, Hunt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Committee Reports
a. Comparability – no report
b. Improvement Districts – Policy on Transition Agreements – Ptak reported that bids came in lower than the Engineer's estimate and the project on 2nd Ave. will start in the spring. No further discussion on transition agreement parameters have yet taken place. Without the transition agreement, the assessment will go forward after the construction is complete
Moved by Kully, seconded by Dewalt, to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda:
a. Review, correction or approval of minutes of December 3, 2015
b. Review of payroll for period ending December 12, 2015
c. Review and approval of checks issued December 11, 2015, with the exception of check no. 28746 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp., check no. 28796 to Sullivan Shoemaker PC LLO, and check no. 28825 to SID #1 of Clay County, Nebraska
Roll Call: Ayes; Kully, Dewalt, Hunt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Dewalt, to approve check no. 28746 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp. in the amount of $136.51. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Kully abstained. Motion carried.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully, to approve check no. 28796 to Sullivan Shoemaker PC LLO in the amount of $549.89 and check no. 28825 to SID #1 of Clay County, Nebraska in the amount of $1,298.49. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Kully, Dewalt. Nays; None. Shoemaker abstained. Motion carried.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully, to approve Change Order #1 with ProEnergy Services for the Whelan Energy Center Unit 1 Mercury Removal System Construction (Contract HU 2015-03 FC-18) for a net addition of $2,046.65, and that the Mayor of the City of Hastings be authorized to sign the document. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Kully, Shoemaker, Dewalt. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Kully, to approve the following work orders:
EL-345 Installation of a three-phase overhead transformer bank west of Juniata Ave., south of 10th St. in Juniata for a new bakery at 909 Juniata Ave. Estimated Cost: $8,372
EL-346 Installation of a single-phase underground electric line for the new Hope Field Development south of B St., east of Lane E in Good Samaritan Village. Estimated Cost: $34,819
GA-320 New 2" gas main on C St., Lane G to 4th Ave. Estimated Cost: $18,337
WA-323 New 10" water main on Queen City Ave. from A St. to the north 200'. Estimated Cost: $40,249
Roll Call: Ayes; Dewalt, Kully, Hunt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
A Revised Residency Requirement Policy was discussed. Discussion also took place on the currently grandfathered exemptions and how the new policy will affect them. Vrooman indicated that the new policy will leave only two employees requiring further exemptions and they are only a couple of minutes out of the required time allowed. Hunt felt that the Board will need to re-exempt those two employees, but the rest of the Board felt the new policy will maintain those exemptions and thus no further action was needed by the Board in regard to those two exemptions from the new policy requirements.
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Hunt, to approve the Revised Residency Requirement Policy. Roll Call: Ayes; Dewalt, Shoemaker, Kully. Nays; Hunt. Motion carried.
Marv Schultes presented the September 2015 Monthly Report. Dewalt reminded staff that as this is the 3rd quarter report, she would like to have had staff prepare a more extensive report. Staff was directed to prepare that for the next meeting and also give a report on changes currently being reviewed to implement the nine month budget.
Under Board Member comments, Hunt asked for a report on the street light conversion progress, including the value of street lights purchased and still in stores.
Council Liaison Odom reported that a Fiber Committee is meeting to discuss connecting city facilities by fiber. Shoemaker offered the assistance of a Board Member or staff if needed at any time to help the committee. Odom said that Everett Goebel and he had put the following committee together to discuss connectivity. The current committee members are: Goebel, Odom, Kevin Schawang, Ron Sekora, Justin Wahl, Lindsey Stone, Dave Wacker, and Gene Boner.
Dave Ptak informed the Board that he will miss the December 30, 2015 meeting.
Chairman Shoemaker asked staff to visit with McDermott & Miller and see if they can give their quarterly review at a January meeting. The Board decided that the HEDC and Chamber Agreements will be put on the January 14th Agenda for action.
The meeting adjourned at 11:37 a.m.