Hastings City Council Worksession: EPA Superfund & Heartland Pet Connection - February 16, 2026

The Hastings City Council held a worksession on February 16, 2026, at the Hastings Municipal Airport. The meeting featured two major discussion items: an update on the ongoing EPA Superfund site status and a presentation from the Heartland Pet Connection regarding its operations and funding. Several members of the public testified on the Heartland Pet Connection agenda item.

Consent Calendar

• The council voted 8-0 to adopt the current agenda for the February 16, 2026 worksession.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Carol Hoffman (Adams County resident): Expressed strong support for Heartland Pet Connection, detailing her positive experience adopting her dog "Hank" and praising the facility's cleanliness and thorough vetting process.
• Dr. Chuck Neumann (Veterinarian, 50+ years): Voiced support for the organization, contrasting the current facility favorably with the old shelter, which he described as an "Auschwitz with a gas chamber." He praised the current staff and their work with animal temperament.
• John Northrop: Supported Heartland Pet Connection, citing an average of three adoptions per day. He urged the council to approve the requested increase in support.
• Aimee Birch (Volunteer, 20+ years): Spoke in support of the organization, highlighting the extensive volunteer training protocols and the high quality of animal care.
• Gabriel Anderson: Expressed support, noting that while the community raised money to build the shelter, the city must fund its ongoing operations. He suggested the city consider funding spay/neuter clinics for feral cats.
• Karen Doer: Shared a positive adoption experience, stating staff were excellent at matching animal temperaments with owner lifestyles.
• Tammy Craig (Veterinarian, Hastings, 30 years): Opposed the request for an increase. She requested the council deny the $80,000 funding request, citing a lack of a concrete plan, concerns over reduced spay/neuter leading to more litters, failure to comply with state rabies vaccination mandates, and a specific case ("Shadow") where an animal was euthanized sight unseen. She demanded a full independent audit of the organization.
• Dick Lebeau: Acknowledged the work of the organization but questioned where money was spent, stating that the council should demand a clear, focused financial plan before providing additional funds.
• Sam Johnston (Former HPC shelter worker/CSO): Raised concerns about transparency, specifically regarding euthanasia rates and animal disposition. He presented figures showing low reclaim/adoption rates for cats (e.g., 223 intakes in 2019 with only 21 reclaimed) and asked for a breakdown of animal outcomes.
• Robert Lemke: Questioned what happens to animals if they are euthanized.

Discussion Items

1. Update on EPA Superfund Site Status

• Presenters: City Attorney Michael Sullivan and former city staff member Marty Stange.
• History & Legal Context: Sullivan provided a background on the 1980 Superfund law and the city's designation as a Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) at four of the seven designated subsites in Hastings.
• Subsite Status: Sullivan detailed the status of various subsites, including the Second Street site (police station, cleanup nearing completion Spring 2026) and the North and South Landfills. The South Landfill remains the most active site, with ongoing groundwater testing and potential cleanup costs estimated between $1.5 million and $16 million. The Second Street and North Landfill obligations are largely resolved or reduced to maintenance and deed restrictions.
• Drinking Water Safety: In response to a question from Mayor Jay Beckby, Sullivan stated he has the "greatest confidence" in the city's drinking water because it is "tested more than anywhere in the country." Stange confirmed compliance sampling costs the city $55,000 to $85,000 annually and that water meets all federal and state guidelines.
• Wellhead Protection & Institutional Control: Marty Stange discussed the city's Institutional Control Area (ICA) for well permitting, which requires permits for all wells in a defined area to monitor for volatile organic compounds and ensure public safety. The program complements the city's overall wellhead protection plan. Stange also mentioned a legislative bill (LB 1028) regarding funding for the state's nitrate legacy.

2. Presentation by Heartland Pet Connection

• Presenters: Jennie Theesen (Shelter Manager), Jake Klabenes (Board Treasurer), Tara McDaneld (Board President).
• Financial Overview: Klabenes presented the financial history. The current city contract is approximately $67,000. The cost per animal is $212. In the 2025 fiscal year, HPC took in 772 animals, 709 of which came from the city jurisdiction. The contract did not see an increase for over a decade. The current contract includes a CPI escalator, but operational costs have risen faster, resulting in a deficit.
• Current Cash Position: Klabenes stated that with lower winter animal intake and an influx of Christmas donations, the organization "will probably make it to April" if funding stays flat.
• Funding Request: Klabenes clarified that the previous discussion of an $80,000 request was actually $40,000 for the current fiscal year and $40,000 for the next. He stated the organization is not currently making a formal request but is "presenting our case."
• Cost-Saving Measures: Theesen presented cost-cutting proposals. An implemented change to a donated food supply saves roughly $6,500 annually. A proposal to delay spaying/neutering until after adoption was considered but rejected due to the long-term risk of increasing the unwanted pet population.
• Operations: Theesen detailed the organization's temperament testing process, noting 30 years of combined experience and various certifications. They currently have roughly 25 volunteers.
• Council Feedback:
  • Councilmember Fong stressed that fundraising is a core duty of a non-profit board, pushing back on the statement that the HPC board is "not a fundraising board" by stating "you have to fundraise."
  • Councilmember Huntley encouraged other council members to tour the facility.
  • Councilmember Rowan asked for clarification on requested amounts.
  • Councilmember Anderson noted the complexity and value of the facility's operations, including a hospice program for terminally ill animals.
  • Councilmember Hoffman inquired about meetings with city staff and audits. HPC stated no specific meetings have occurred on the books since a prior general meeting and that an audit is not required due to cost. HPC offered to let the city review their books.
• Transparency and Data: Several council members requested better data on intakes, adoptions, reclaims, and euthanasia rates to counter public criticism. HPC agreed to provide a detailed breakdown of these numbers, as well as offer quarterly reports to the city moving forward.

Key Outcomes

• EPA Superfund: No action was taken. The meeting was informational. Council members and the mayor reiterated confidence in the safety of the municipal drinking water based on the testimony provided.
• Heartland Pet Connection:
  • No Immediate Vote: The council did not take a vote on the funding request.
  • Negotiations Initiated: City Administrator Mark Funkey stated that based on the "will of council," city staff would begin contract negotiations/addendum discussions with Heartland Pet Connection. Any new contract would need approval from the HPC Board and the City Council.
  • Data Transparency: HPC agreed to provide detailed adoption, reclaim, and euthanasia statistics to council members and for public release.
  • Future Reporting: HPC offered to provide quarterly financial and operational updates to the council.