Shane Docken

The draft Committee Meetings Agenda for the March 4, 2026, meeting covered several key areas. The Construction & Operations section included discussions on Capital Expenditures, Acceptance of Contracts and Payment of Final Estimates, a Change Order (WP2217) for pump engine overhauls, and Bids on Materials and Contracts. The Services & Extensions committee agenda included Main Extensions. The Personnel committee addressed Wage and/or Salary Increases and Ratification. The Judicial & Legislative committee planned to review the Second Legislative Report for 2026 and ratify the 2822 State Street acquisition.

The committee meetings commenced with a safety briefing covering emergency protocols, severe weather procedures, and evacuation routes. The first major agenda item addressed public hearing on proposed updates to the billing price book, presented by Financial Planning and Analysis. Key discussion points included annual price updates effective June 1st, which are generally cost-based but feature some fees designed to discourage undesirable behavior, such as service diversion charges, and certain fees priced below cost, like the turn-on charge for collection accounts, to assist customers in financial hardship. Specific proposed changes included adjustments to Field Services Labor rates and a 2% increase to regular turn-on fees, while holding the turn-on charge after non-payment flat at $75. The discussion also covered significant price increases for large water taps, driven by rising material and labor costs, and a substantial increase for residential gas meter replacement due to the inclusion of Electronic Transmitter and Receiver (ERT) material costs. The second part of the meeting reviewed proposed Capital Expenditures. Discussions included installing security fencing at the Plat West Water Treatment Facility to separate the site from growing adjacent neighborhoods. Another major topic involved proposing an arc flash risk assessment for the LNG facility to ensure staff safety and proper PPE usage. Furthermore, the board reviewed the proposal to replace aging underground gas regulator stations with above-ground stations to mitigate corrosion from road chemicals and improve maintenance access, leading to a board discussion regarding potential increased vulnerability to tampering and the required safety safeguards like SCADA monitoring and local shutoff capabilities. Finally, the schedule for a condition assessment of 1.46 miles of 12-inch cast iron piping was discussed to prioritize rehabilitation needs.

The meeting commenced with a safety briefing concerning updated COVID-19 precautions, including mask requirements and social distancing. Key discussion focused on Capital Expenditures, specifically system improvements and facility upgrades. For system improvements, a request for approximately $340,000 for design services for water main transmission mains for the Gemini development was reviewed, recommending the hiring of Olsen. Another item involved a $182,000 request for condition assessment of 1,700 feet of 12-inch cast iron water main in Dodge Street using the PICA Sea Snake tool to assess the pipe's condition before 2022 street work. Under Building Plants and Equipment, a $220,000 expenditure was recommended for the purchase of a used 2020 model year rubber tire loader to replace a failed unit, noting supply chain considerations. A $100,000 request for a master plan study of the operating center, built in the late 1960s, was discussed, with a recommendation to hire Leo A. Daly for the study. Finally, the board decided to table action on improvements related to the OPPD Standing Bear project due to ongoing term finalization. Separately, authorization was sought for contributing up to $1 million towards the estimated $1.5 million cost to strategically relocate a Verizon Wireless/American Tower cellular tower from an area needed for OPPD gas engine facilities to an adjacent location on the same property.

The meeting addressed several operational and capital expenditure matters. Key items included an emergency Certificate of Necessary Action (CNA) for repairs to the Florence low service pump number five, scheduled to be back in service by January 2021. Another significant CNA requested $1.75 million for consultant design services for the Florence site header piping improvements project, which involves upgrading piping dating back to the late 1880s. The board also reviewed a CNA for the purchase of approximately 90 additional mobile radio units for emergency communications system enhancement. Discussions also covered Change Order Number One for the 36th Street Edna Pump Station upgrade, involving replacement of a natural gas engine with an electrical motor and backup diesel generator. Furthermore, the board ratified Change Order Number Two for the headquarters building renovation, encompassing landscaping and security exterior features, and accepted final estimates for eight construction projects across water development, infrastructure, and plant improvement categories. Finally, agreements for proposed main extensions for two gas projects impacting numerous residential and commercial lots were reviewed.

The committee meeting addressed several agenda items, beginning with a safety briefing detailing emergency protocols, exits, and first aid locations. Key discussions involved proposed capital expenditures, including the purchase and installation of an ultrasonic gas meter at the OPBD North Omaha plant ($1.8 million), and upgrades to the SCADA system hardware and software at the 17th and 63rd Street propane air plant. System improvements included replacing an underground regulator station with a new above-ground station for enhanced operational flexibility. Additionally, plant engineering sought final acceptance for various projects, such as replacing an underground storage tank at Plat South, water main installations, and pavement repairs at the construction center. The board also reviewed a change order for the Plat West Lime Grit removal system upgrades, proposing a net increase of 3% to replace flexible hosing with permanent hard piping. Bids and contracts included the ratification of an extension for Cisco contact center support with Calabrio, which moves infrastructure to the cloud and incorporates advanced analytics for quality assurance. Other procurement items involved rejecting bids for chemical building fall protection and basin replacements due to exceeding budget, recommending a contract with Patriot Crane to move heavy shop equipment using insurance proceeds, and extending service agreements for elevator maintenance and ground maintenance at various water facilities.