OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Hastings, Nebraska/Utility Board
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Hastings Utility Board Regular Meeting, August 13, 2026

Utility Board — Thursday, August 13, 2026
BodyHastings, Nebraska
SessionUtility Board
DateThursday, August 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 54:25

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

2:13

Like to call the meeting to order.

2:15

I'm Jeanette D.

2:16

Wall.

2:17

This is the Hastings Utility Board, and we're at the airport conference center at the Hastings Municipal Airport.

2:24

It's August thirteenth, twenty twenty-six, nine AM.

2:28

And could I get a roll call, please?

Speaker 2

2:29

Jeanette Dwell?

Speaker 1

2:30

Yes.

Speaker 2

2:31

Scott Coles?

2:31

Yes.

2:32

Susan Meskey?

2:33

Yes.

2:33

Reg Rutt?

2:34

Yes.

2:34

Pat Mertens.

Speaker 3

2:35

Yes.

Speaker 1

2:36

Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.

3:00

Could I get a motion to adopt the current agenda for the August thirteenth, twenty twenty six meeting?

3:05

So moved.

Speaker 2

3:10

Dwell.

3:11

Yes.

3:12

Calls?

3:12

Yes.

3:13

Meeskey?

3:13

Yes.

3:14

Right?

Speaker 4

3:14

Yes.

3:15

Mertons.

3:16

Yes.

Unassigned speaker

3:18

The

Speaker 1

3:18

official notice of the regular meeting was published in the Hastings Tribune on Tuesday, August eleventh, twenty twenty six, pursuant to the Nebraska revised statutes section eighty-four dash fourteen twelve.

3:31

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

3:41

Also a copy of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act is open is posted on the south wall of the chamber council, which is accessible to members of the public.

Speaker 5

3:56

Just real quick, I I would like to thank uh everybody who showed up uh to the the mayor's budget festival at the auditorium.

4:04

I thought that went nice.

4:06

So I don't know what uh I don't know if it has an official name, but uh it was uh a good opportunity for us to talk to some uh some of the the ratepayers and get some questions answered.

4:17

Appreciate all staff that uh volunteered their time to show up there, so and thank you to everyone for all the questions and input on the budget.

4:24

I think we're in a hopefully in a good spot as we get ready for uh another year.

4:28

So that's all I

Unassigned speaker

4:29

have.

Unassigned speaker

4:30

Okay,

Speaker 1

4:31

do we have any communication with the board

Speaker 2

4:34

members at all?

Speaker 1

4:35

Okay.

4:36

We'll move on to citizen communication.

4:40

Seeing none, we have a consent agenda.

4:43

Could I get a motion to approve?

Speaker 6

4:45

So moved.

Speaker 2

4:47

Second Dwalt.

4:51

Yes.

4:52

Colles?

Speaker 6

4:52

Yes.

4:55

Yes.

4:55

Martins.

4:56

Yes.

Unassigned speaker

5:00

We'll move on to the regular agenda.

Speaker 1

5:01

Do we have any unfinished business, Derek?

5:04

Okay.

5:04

We'll move on to finance and the general business.

5:10

The chamber, are you guys ready to go ahead and present?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development█████████████████████████████████████37%
Water And Wastewater Management████████████████████████24%
Procedural██████████████14%
Budget Equity Analysis████████8%
Affordable Housing██████6%
Public Engagement█████5%
Workforce Development████4%
Technology and Innovation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Hastings Utility Board Regular Meeting - August 13, 2026

The Hastings Utility Board met on August 13, 2026, at 9:00 AM in the Airport Conference Room at Hastings Municipal Airport. All five board members were present (Jeanette Dewalt, Scott Kvols, Susan Meeske, Regg Rutt, Patt Mertens). The meeting covered the Chamber/HEDC annual report and funding request, approval of water, sewer, and community solar farm ordinances, fee schedule adjustments, utility budget approval, and election of officers. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes of the July 23, 2026, Utility Board meeting.

Discussion Items

Chamber/HEDC Presentation and Funding Request

  • Shannon from the Chamber and HEDC presented a slideshow reviewing 2025 activities, including site marketing, housing progress, and workforce initiatives.
  • The request for funding was $175,000 for HEDC and $30,000 for the Chamber, the same amount as the previous two years.
  • A board member inquired about increasing the HEDC funding to $200,000, but it was noted that the request was to maintain the current level while the organizations realign. The original request was approved unanimously. n

Water Ordinance Approval (Ordinance 4839)

  • The ordinance introduces a three-tier residential rate structure designed to promote conservation. Users consuming 15 CCF or less will see a lower bill, while overall revenue will increase by 1.5%. The board recommended approval to City Council.
  • Approved unanimously. n

Sewer Ordinance Approval (Ordinance 4840)

  • The ordinance proposes a 10% increase over three years for all rate classes except the CMS (rural) class. Rates for other classes remain unchanged. The board recommended approval to City Council.
  • Approved unanimously. n

Community Solar Farm Ordinance Approval (Ordinance 4841)

  • The annual review of credits for customers enrolled in the solar farm resulted in an updated credit rate based on the previous 12 months' savings. The board recommended approval to City Council.
  • Approved unanimously. n

Fee Schedule Changes

  • Proposed changes included lowering the disconnect charge due to AMI meter remote capabilities, increasing after-hours reconnect and same-day turn-on fees to better cover costs, and adjusting temporary disconnect/reconnect fees. A discussion included educating customers and real estate agents about the fees. The board recommended approval to City Council.
  • Approved unanimously. n

Utility Budget Update and Approval

  • Larry Fox reported that a formula error in Draft 1 of the gas capital improvement budget was corrected in Draft 2, increasing expenditures by $451,000. No other changes were made.
  • The board approved the electric, gas, water, and sewer budget as proposed, to be forwarded to City Council. A discussion about the timing of City Council review was noted but not finalized. n

Election of Officers

  • Scott Kvols was nominated and elected Chairman.
  • Jeanette Dewalt was nominated and elected Vice-Chairman.
  • Susan Meeske was nominated and elected Secretary.
  • All elections were unanimous.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous approval of consent agenda, Chamber/HEDC funding ($175,000 + $30,000), water ordinance 4839, sewer ordinance 4840, community solar farm ordinance 4841, fee schedule changes, and the utility budget.
  • The budget and ordinances will be forwarded to Hastings City Council for final approval.
  • New officers elected: Chairman Scott Kvols, Vice-Chair Jeanette Dewalt, Secretary Susan Meeske.

Meeting Transcript

Like to call the meeting to order. I'm Jeanette D. Wall. This is the Hastings Utility Board, and we're at the airport conference center at the Hastings Municipal Airport. It's August thirteenth, twenty twenty-six, nine AM. And could I get a roll call, please? Jeanette Dwell? Yes. Scott Coles? Yes. Susan Meskey? Yes. Reg Rutt? Yes. Pat Mertens. Yes. Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. Could I get a motion to adopt the current agenda for the August thirteenth, twenty twenty six meeting? So moved. Dwell. Yes. Calls? Yes. Meeskey? Yes. Right? Yes. Mertons. Yes. The official notice of the regular meeting was published in the Hastings Tribune on Tuesday, August eleventh, twenty twenty six, pursuant to the Nebraska revised statutes section eighty-four dash fourteen twelve. The public is advised that a copy of today's agenda and all reproducible material, which will be discussed at today's meeting is located at the back of the council chambers. Also a copy of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act is open is posted on the south wall of the chamber council, which is accessible to members of the public. Just real quick, I I would like to thank uh everybody who showed up uh to the the mayor's budget festival at the auditorium. I thought that went nice. So I don't know what uh I don't know if it has an official name, but uh it was uh a good opportunity for us to talk to some uh some of the the ratepayers and get some questions answered. Appreciate all staff that uh volunteered their time to show up there, so and thank you to everyone for all the questions and input on the budget. I think we're in a hopefully in a good spot as we get ready for uh another year. So that's all I have. Okay, do we have any communication with the board members at all? Okay. We'll move on to citizen communication. Seeing none, we have a consent agenda. Could I get a motion to approve? So moved. Second Dwalt. Yes.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com