Utilities
Board Meeting - December 3, 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 3, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. This meeting was preceded by notice duly published in the Hastings Tribune on Tuesday, December 1, 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 thanked the Board and Council for their work on the 2016 Budget. It was approved by the City Council at their meeting on November 23, 2015.
The Board decided to change their Thursday, December 31, 2015 board meeting to Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at 9 a.m.
Schultes mentioned that he invited Dave Rippe from HEDC to the meeting so that he would be included in the conversation on extending utilities on the new truck route. Further discussion took place later in the meeting.
Al Meyer informed the Board that WEC-2 was taken off line on November 19th at midnight due to a weak market and could be off line for some time because of the market conditions. Meyer will keep the Board informed on any changes to that status. Mike Hernandez said that the Southwest Power Pool can require the unit to be operational in 17 hours, but in the winter, it may take more time to bring the plant back on line. PPGA has a telephone conference every week to keep all informed on unit status.
Discussion was held on utility services to a proposed Gerhold Concrete Company, Inc. at 42nd Street and Showboat Rd. Discussion, including information on costs from a presentation from Ron Sekora, took place. Dave Rippe reminded the Board that the City Council adopted the 2008 Comprehensive Plan and said that this spot has been deemed by our community for a comprehensive planning effort to be an area for growth. The discussion included whether this was a good application for the economic development dollars in the budget. Rippe asked that those funds be used to enhance a project to differentiate Hastings from other communities to win a project.
Moved by Shoemaker, seconded by Hunt, to express the Board of Public Works' willingness and ability to provide water, sewer, gas and electric services to 42nd St. and Showboat Rd. site at the normal policy considerations relative to out-of-district connection fees that we would generally charge to a user at this site, and to provide the additional recommendation that a non-potable water well not be allowed at this site. Roll Call: Ayes; Shoemaker, Hunt, Dewalt, Kully. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Lori Hartman reported on personnel activities:
- Interviewed and made an offer, which was accepted, for the Secretary III position. A tentative start date is 12/28.
- Applied and received a training grant from the State of Nebraska, and have been working with Central Community College on conducting leadership training. One session was conducted in November; one will be scheduled for January and one for February.
Chairman Shoemaker announced Service Anniversaries for December 2015: Steve Piranio – 35 years at Whelan Energy Center, John Flanigan – 35 years in Combined Department, Donna Patten – 20 years at Whelan Energy Center, Mark Johnson – 5 years at Whelan Energy Center, and Andy Quig – 5 years at Whelan Energy Center.
Committee Reports
a. Comparability
Dave Ptak gave a presentation to the Employee Committee on new comparability laws and how comparability works.
b. Budgeted Labor
Lori Hartman is working on the new organizational charts. This committee report can be moved to Miscellaneous and Future Agenda Items so that it will only be brought up when the committee is ready with new information.
c. Improvement Districts – Policy on Transition Agreements
Discussion moved to later in the meeting.
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Kully, that the following items on the Consent Agenda be approved:
a. Review, correction or approval of minutes of November 12 and November 16, 2015
b. Review of payroll for periods ending November 14 and 28, 2015
c. Review and approval of checks issued November 25, with the exception of check no. 28577 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp.
Roll Call: Ayes; Dewalt, Kully, Hunt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Hunt, seconded Dewalt, to approve check no. 28577 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp. in the amount of $794.59. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Kully abstained. Motion carried.
Moved by Kully, seconded by Hunt, to approve the following claims:
- General Operating Fund against the Electric Fund – $2,993,587.10
- General Operating Fund against the Combined Fund - $2,127,736.18
Roll Call: Ayes; Kully, Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Kully, to approve the following work orders:
EL-344 Installation of a three-phase overhead transformer bank west of Blaine Ave., north of 94th St Estimated Cost: $ 4,500
WA-320 N. Baltimore Ave. ASR Project: South Shore Dr. Sanitary Sewer Metering Manhole. Estimated Cost: $36,965
Roll Call: Ayes; Dewalt, Kully, Hunt, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Al Meyer presented three updated Refined Coal Agreements and explained the reason for the updates.
Moved by Hunt, seconded by Dewalt, to approve the Updated Refined Coal Agreements between HU, PPGA, and RCF 5, LLC. Roll Call: Ayes; Hunt, Dewalt, Kully, Shoemaker. Nays; None. Motion carried.
Board Member Comments:
Hunt suggested that HU and the NRDs look at the practicality and implementation of raising irrigation wells to use the water from the top where the nitrates are most prevalent. Shoemaker asked Hunt to visit with staff with his suggestions and come back to the Board with a report.
Hunt commented on the report from the Chamber of Commerce that was included in the packet.
Dewalt asked when the Residency Requirement Policy would be ready to discuss. Schultes remarked that it would appear on the next agenda.
Dave Ptak informed the Board that there is a new ruling on pole attachment fees. He is currently reviewing the new rules.
Committee Reports
c. Improvement Districts – Policy on Transition Agreements
Dave Ptak is currently working on comparisons and he will get that information to the Committee.
Chuck Shoemaker stated that he would like to review Committee Appointments after the first of the year but may wait to see if a new Board Member gets appointed.
There was no Executive Session.
The meeting adjourned at 11:10 a.m.