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Record of Proceedings

Hastings Utility Board Regular Meeting – December 11, 2025

Utility Board — Thursday, December 11, 2025
BodyHastings, Nebraska
SessionUtility Board
DateThursday, December 11, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

3:35

I would like to call the Hastings Utility Board.

3:38

December eleventh, twenty twenty-five, to order.

3:40

So with that, please, uh, roll call.

Unassigned speaker

3:43

Bill

Speaker 2

3:43

Heitzman?

Speaker 1

3:44

Yes.

Speaker 2

3:44

Jeanette Dual.

3:46

Scott Coles?

Speaker 1

3:47

Yes.

Speaker 2

3:47

Susan Miski?

3:49

Yes.

3:49

Regret.

Speaker 1

3:50

Yes.

3:51

Please stand for Pledge of Allegiance.

4:22

So moved.

4:25

Second.

Speaker 2

4:27

Heitzman?

Speaker 1

4:28

Yes.

Speaker 2

4:28

Cole?

4:29

Yes.

4:30

Yes.

4:30

Right.

Speaker 3

4:31

Yes.

Unassigned speaker

4:33

A notice of the regular meeting was published in the Hasting Tribune on Tuesday, December 9th, 2025, pursuant to the Nebraska Revised Statute Section 84-1412.

Unassigned speaker

4:44

The

Speaker 1

4:45

public is advised that a copy of today's agenda and all reproducible written material, which will be discussed at today's meeting is located at the back of the conference room.

4:55

Also, a current copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is posted on the south wall of the airport conference room, which is accessible to members of the public.

5:05

With that, managers' communication.

Speaker 4

5:08

Thanks, Bill.

Unassigned speaker

5:09

I got uh just a few announcements here uh again with uh the holiday season and things getting colder.

Speaker 4

5:14

Um watching uh different things like uh space heaters, stuff like that.

5:20

Uh they uh they can lead to uh some some higher bills and rates.

5:24

Uh we're always happy to help look into some stuff if people got some concerns or questions.

5:28

Customer service is a great resource.

5:30

We've got uh share the warmth is in full swing now, so appreciate uh staff and all the entities in the city that help out with that.

5:39

Um I do want to uh officially uh announce uh Shane Stone has taken the role of the director of administration uh effective this week.

5:47

So he is in full swing there.

5:49

Uh appreciate it, Shane.

5:51

Look forward to what you'll do with the with our team there.

5:54

Um we have uh at this point we don't have a lot for the January meeting, so uh talked to a few of the board member members.

6:02

We will consider whether or not we need to have that meeting.

6:05

So we'll likely be canceling that January meeting.

6:07

It falls right on the the League of Municipality Utility meeting down in Lincoln.

6:11

So we'd be a pretty sparse group.

6:13

Um we'll send out an official meeting.

6:15

Uh if it's make sure nothing else comes up here in the next week or two.

6:19

Um I am gonna turn it over to Brandon Lubkin uh for an announcement here.

6:24

Uh, if you would please, Brandon.

Speaker 5

6:27

Morning, everybody.

6:28

Uh I talked to Derek first thing this morning.

6:32

Uh just wanted to bring everybody up to speed.

6:34

We have uh uh the contractor that's providing the service of the uh video inspections for the sewer system.

6:42

Um they are out today, and uh I was in and out of a meeting with that contractor and head of streets Steve Riley and my staff.

6:52

We're gonna be working on Burlington today, so it's gonna be it's gonna be a bit of a mess, just so you all know uh for any communications you all get on that.

7:03

Um the goal is to be done today.

7:06

They brought two uh TV TV slang video camera uh systems out.

7:11

They're gonna try to go as fast as they can.

7:14

Uh Steve Riley has a plan on how to direct traffic.

7:17

Uh we're gonna try to avoid the busiest intersections being 14th and 12th.

7:23

The particular system we're looking at is from 6th up to 14th.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Energy Management██████████████████████████████████34%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Fiscal Sustainability███████████████████19%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████10%
Public Engagement███████7%
Water And Wastewater Management███████7%
Economic Development████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Hastings Utility Board Regular Meeting – December 11, 2025

The Hastings Utility Board met on December 11, 2025, at 9:00 AM in the Airport Conference Room at Hastings Municipal Airport. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Bill Hitesman and adjourned at 9:45 AM. Key topics included the fiscal year 2024-2025 year-end financial summary, an update on the water conservation plan pilot, and approvals of contracts with the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) for renewable energy certificate transfers and amendments to the firm electric service agreement.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes of the November 13, 2025, regular meeting (moved by Meeske, seconded by Kvols; all ayes; absent: Dewalt). Note: The agenda motion to adopt the current agenda incorrectly referenced "December 12, 2025"; the meeting took place on December 11, 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No citizen communications were made.

Discussion Items

  • Finance: End of Year 24-25 Summary (presented by Jaci Higgins):

    • Electric Department: Operating revenue $60,177,632 (100% of budget), operating expenses $57,701,133 (96% of budget), net change in financial position $3,205,309. Additional revenue from increased usage, rate increase, and higher SPP sales (generation) in FY25 compared to FY24.
    • Gas Department: Operating revenue $10,279,600 (101% of budget), operating expenses $10,894,241 (91% of budget). Expenses lowered due to retirements and time charged to the highway project; rate increase in effect for FY25.
    • Water Department: Operating revenue $8,611,630 (96% of budget), operating expenses $5,485,525 (95% of budget). Revenue strongly tied to precipitation; minimal issues with operating wells this year (one well repair can be almost $100,000).
    • Sewer Department: Operating revenue $7,363,747 (91% of budget), operating expenses $4,424,545 (96% of budget). Main contributor to revenue decrease compared to FY24 is a decrease in contamination surcharges. Large increase in net position ($3,059,969 vs $1,383,519 budgeted) is due to a transferred lift station accounted for as contributed capital (non-cash). Cash summary provided: Electric $13.5M, Gas $13.6M, Water $4.3M, Sewer $1.2M.

  • Operations: Conservation Plan Update (presented by Brandan Lubken):

    • Phase 1 pilot program: Smart yard irrigation incentive via Aqualytics. To date, 16 volunteers (employees and some board/council members) have signed up; goal of 30 devices. Three parks are considering participation. Pilot is internal for one year before potentially opening to the public.
    • Phase 2: Tiered water rates for residential customers. A request for pricing for a cost-of-service study was issued December 5; bid award expected January 5. The study will investigate tiered rates. Conservation plan submitted to the Little Blue NRD on November 21 and was well received. The plan is mandated by LBNRD; Upper Big Blue NRD has no current requirements.

  • Administration: Contract to Transfer Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to the City of Hastings between COH and WAPA (presented by Shane Stone):

    • New contract (25-UGPR-146) allowing Hastings to claim and market RECs from WAPA's hydro power. Transfer fees are small (approx. 2 cents/export, 1 cent/import). RECs can be sold or retired. Contract runs through 2050. Board approved motion to recommend to city council (moved by Kvols, seconded by Meeske; all ayes; absent: Dewalt).

  • Administration: Amendment to Contract for Firm Electric Service to the City of Hastings, Revision 1 to Exhibit B, and Revision 1 to Exhibit C, between COH and WAPA:

    • Updates to existing contract (12-UGPR-1029): addition of REC transfer section, updated general provisions, removal of outdated meter reading requirement (Exhibit B), and clarification of WAPA's 2015 SPP membership (Exhibit C). Board approved motion to recommend to city council (moved by Kvols, seconded by Rutt; all ayes; absent: Dewalt).

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: Consent calendar – Minutes of November 13, 2025.
  • Approved: Move to recommend the REC transfer contract (25-UGPR-146) and the firm electric service amendments (12-UGPR-1029) to Hastings City Council for final approval.
  • Noted: The January 2026 regular meeting is likely to be canceled due to conflicts with the League of Municipalities Utility meeting in Lincoln.
  • Noted: The board acknowledged the successful launch of the water conservation pilot program and ongoing efforts.

Meeting Transcript

I would like to call the Hastings Utility Board. December eleventh, twenty twenty-five, to order. So with that, please, uh, roll call. Bill Heitzman? Yes. Jeanette Dual. Scott Coles? Yes. Susan Miski? Yes. Regret. Yes. Please stand for Pledge of Allegiance. So moved. Second. Heitzman? Yes. Cole? Yes. Yes. Right. Yes. A notice of the regular meeting was published in the Hasting Tribune on Tuesday, December 9th, 2025, pursuant to the Nebraska Revised Statute Section 84-1412. The public is advised that a copy of today's agenda and all reproducible written material, which will be discussed at today's meeting is located at the back of the conference room. Also, a current copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is posted on the south wall of the airport conference room, which is accessible to members of the public. With that, managers' communication. Thanks, Bill. I got uh just a few announcements here uh again with uh the holiday season and things getting colder. Um watching uh different things like uh space heaters, stuff like that. Uh they uh they can lead to uh some some higher bills and rates. Uh we're always happy to help look into some stuff if people got some concerns or questions. Customer service is a great resource. We've got uh share the warmth is in full swing now, so appreciate uh staff and all the entities in the city that help out with that. Um I do want to uh officially uh announce uh Shane Stone has taken the role of the director of administration uh effective this week. So he is in full swing there. Uh appreciate it, Shane. Look forward to what you'll do with the with our team there. Um we have uh at this point we don't have a lot for the January meeting, so uh talked to a few of the board member members. We will consider whether or not we need to have that meeting. So we'll likely be canceling that January meeting. It falls right on the the League of Municipality Utility meeting down in Lincoln. So we'd be a pretty sparse group. Um we'll send out an official meeting. Uh if it's make sure nothing else comes up here in the next week or two. Um I am gonna turn it over to Brandon Lubkin uh for an announcement here. Uh, if you would please, Brandon. Morning, everybody. Uh I talked to Derek first thing this morning.

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