Board Meeting - June 30,2016

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, June 30, 2016, at 9:00 a.m.  This meeting was preceded by notice duly published in the Hastings Tribune on Tuesday, June 28, 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, Leonhardt, Hartman, Thompson, Cogley, Cox, Ptak, Odom, Goebel, Vrooman, Patterson, Stange, Russ Batenhorst (KHAS-TV), 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 New York Times requested public information regarding Energy Pioneer Solutions.  Staff released the same information that was given in a previous request from the Wall Street Journal.  He also informed the Board that the YWCA will be holding the annual 4th of July parade at Fisher Fountain on Monday, July 4th from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Al Meyer reported that WEC had a brief planned outage in the early morning hours of June 23rd.  In addition, the peak hour so far this year was reported at measuring 87.4 MW.

Lori Hartman reported on the following personnel activities:

  • A File Clerk was hired for the Business Office and will begin work on Tuesday, July 5, 2016
  • Continuing to advertise for the Mechanical Engineer position
  • Advertising for a Mechanic Assistant and Lead Plant Mechanic at WEC
  • Lori discussed the new law concerning the Fair Labor Standards Act which will go into effect on December 16, 2016

Chairman Shoemaker shared an article reporting about the Cooper Nuclear Plant and Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant.  There was discussion on HU's information on page 21 of the monthly report which calculates cost per MW/hour.

Chairman Shoemaker recognized and publicly thanked Nathan Cummins for five years of service at Whelan Energy Center.

Committee Reports:

  • Comparability – No Report
  • Update on Hiring of Manager of Utilities – No Report

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Kully, to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda:

  • a. Review, correction or approval of minutes of June 16, 2016
  • b. Review of payroll for period ending June 25, 2016
  • c. Review and approval of checks issued June 24, 2016, with the exception of check no. 30845 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp.
  • d. Approval of the following claims:
    • - General Operating Fund against the Electric Fund - $2,907,237.08
    • - General Operating Fund against the Combined Fund - $2,583,899.40

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

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Dewalt, to approve check no. 30845 to Kully Pipe & Steel Corp. in the amount of $10,851.61.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Dewalt, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Kully abstained.  Motion carried.

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

EL-361  Installation of a single-phase underground electric line and padmount transformer to serve the new Viaero Communications Tower east of Don Henry Power Center  Estimated Cost:  $5,005

EL-362   Extension of a 3-phase underground electric line and padmount switch for an addition to the Cancer Center on Kansas Avenue south of 9th Street Estimated Cost:  $42,995

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

Discussion began on the approval of retirement of the Manager of Utilities and appointment of the Interim Manager of Utilities.

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

The meeting closed to the public at 9:15 a.m.  The executive session consisted of Board Members, Council Liaisons, Dave Ptak, and Marv Schultes and Lori Hartman for part of the session.

Moved by Dewalt, seconded by Hunt, that the meeting be reopened to the public at 9:58 a.m., and that no decisions were made nor official actions taken during said Closed Session.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Dewalt, Hunt, Shoemaker, Kully.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

The Board continued discussion on the approval of retirement of the Manager of Utilities and appointment of the Interim Manager of Utilities.  The Board decided to have the agenda item put on the next HU Board meeting on July 14, 2016.

Moved by Hunt, seconded by Kully, to approve the Director Appointment Form for PPGA.  Roll Call:  Ayes; Hunt, Kully, Dewalt, Shoemaker.  Nays; None.  Motion carried.

Kevin Schawang gave a presentation on Cyber Security at Hastings Utilities.

The Board reviewed the April 2016 Monthly Report.

Marty Stange gave a presentation on the ASR Water Project.  It was suggested that the presentation be available for the public to view on the Hastings Utilities website.

Keith Leonhardt answered questions on natural gas mains with mechanical fittings.

The meeting adjourned at 11:13 a.m.