Board Meeting - Febuary 11, 2016

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, February 11, 2016, at 9:00 a.m.  This meeting was preceded by notice duly published in the Hastings Tribune on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 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, Leonhardt, Cox, Cogley, Hartman, Odom, Goebel, Barfknecht, Thompson, Ptak, Quinn, Davis, Stange, 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 advised the Board that the Nebraska Municipal Power Pool (NMPP Energy) annual meeting and conference is in Grand Island March 29th - 31st. Anyone interested in attending should let him know.  Marv reported on the Supreme Court decision yesterday to stay the Clean Power Plan.  The next court hearing on the plan is scheduled for June.

Allen Meyer had no report.

Lori Hartman reported on personnel activities:

The HR department is advertising for an Electrical Engineer as well as two Mechanic Assistant positions; at Whelan Energy Center and the Pollution Control Facility.  All advertisements are to replace previous personnel.

Chairman Shoemaker asked for an update on the Alstom Power study to convert WEC-1 to natural gas.  Keith Leonhardt reported that he received a draft report on Monday, February 8th.  He and Tyson Quinn are in the process of reviewing the report.  A final report is expected in one month.

Chairman Shoemaker updated the Board on the Water Sustainability Fund application.

There was discussion on how the gas department would handle situations in the event of an emergency.  Lee Vrooman updated the Board on the gas department's current procedures.  There was a conversation on whether it may be beneficial to use GPS for locating gas lines.

Committee Reports

Comparability

Jeannette Dewalt reported to the Board that the Comparability Committee met on Monday, February 8th.  They will meet again in two weeks.

Improvement Districts – Policy on Transition Agreements

Chairman Shoemaker reported that the Transition Agreement Committee met on Wednesday, February 10th.

Land Lease Committee

Mr. Kully and Mr. Hunt reported that land leases have been signed for one year.  It was decided to remove this item from future agendas until the need arises to hear an updated report on land leases.

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

a. Review, correction or approval of minutes of January 28, 2016

b. Review of payroll for period ending February 6, 2016

c. Review and approval of checks issued February 5, 2016, with the exception of check no. 29339 to Kully Pipe & Steel

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

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Dewalt, to approve check no. 29339 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp. in the amount of $ 662.97.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker. Nays; None.  Kully abstained.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Dewalt, to approve recommendation of award for contract for PCF Upgrade of Secondary Digester to BRB Contractors of Topeka, Kansas for a total price of $1,141,000.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker, Kully. Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Kully, to approve Amendment No. 5 with HDR for Engineering Services for Secondary Digester.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Dewalt, Kully, Hunt, Shoemaker. Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Moved by Kully, seconded by Hunt, to approve the following work order:

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

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Shoemaker, to approve the following work order:

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

Don Cox presented an update on Wholesale Revenue and Purchase Power. A discussion amongst the Board and Liaisons ensued after which the Board directed staff to discuss with the City Administrator the exclusion of wholesales sales from the "in lieu of tax" transfer calculation in the 2016 HU budget which was approved by the City Council and after doing so to present update information on that matter to the City Council.

Mark Barfknecht presented a plan for HU's Change to a new fiscal year and how that affects PPGA.

The Board discussed the HU and PPGA Moody's Investor Service Reports.

Bob Davis gave a presentation on Worker's Compensation Claims.  New policies and protective equipment requirements are in place to assist in preventing injury to HU employees.  Mr. Odom thanked Mr. Davis for his participation in the newly created safety mission statement which was adopted at the Monday, February 8th City Council meeting.

There was a discussion of Parameters for Work to be charged to Intra-City Services Fund.  Mr. Schultes is awaiting response from Mr. Patterson and will report his findings to the Board.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Dewalt, that this Board go into Closed Session, which Closed Session is clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest and that said Closed Session will consist of a strategy session relative to negotiations.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Dewalt, Kully, Shoemaker. Nays; None.  Motion carried.

The meeting closed to the public at11:36 a.m.  The executive session consisted of Board Members, Council Liaisons, Marv Schultes, Dave Ptak, Don Cox, Al Meyer, Keith Leonhardt and Lee Vrooman.

Moved by Dewalt,  seconded by Kully, that the meeting be reopened to the public at 11:52 p.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.

The meeting adjourned at 11:53 p.m.