HomeMy WebLinkAbout4-14-2026 HUCM Special MeetingMINUTES
Strategic Planning Meeting — Hutchinson Utilities Commission
Held at Southwest Initiative Foundation
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Commenced — 9:00 a.m.
Members present: President Don Martinez; Vice President Tom Lambert; Secretary Matt Cheney;
Commissioner Kathy Silvernale; Commissioner Jeremy Crosby; GM Jeremy Carter;
Others present: Dave Hunstad, Dan Lang, Jared Martig, Mike Gabrielson, Byron Bettenhausen and Angie
Radke.
5-Year HUC Outlook
• GM Carter started off by reviewing the Mission, Value Statement Goals and values of
HUC.
GM Carter reviewed the Operating budget forecast. Conversations were held on the
Electric and Natural Gas cash balances, restricted reserves, debt service payments, and
operating and capital reserves. Operating reserves included more conversations on
operating cash available, catastrophic, rate stabilization and PILOT reserve amounts.
• GM Carter reviewed the HUC Fleet Program. The fleet program has 3 priority ratings;
Critical, Very Important and Important. Critical includes equipment that is
frequently/daily used to maintain infrastructure and system reliability. Very Important
includes equipment that is used in a less frequent manner but needed for field
operations/infrastructure. Important includes administrative/transportation vehicles for
HUC employees. GM Carter reviewed the graphs of the overall annual funding levels,
which includes the trade in value along with an inflation factor. Staff has also reviewed
the HUC Fleet Program and has identified equipment/trucks that can be kept longer if
needed to maintain a current consistent funding level.
• GM Carter provided an update on the funding mechanisms which included Rate
Stabilization funds, cash designations, unrestricted cash balance and retail rates which led
into cost -of -service study discussions.
Cooling Tower Repair Project
Board and Staff discussed the Cooling Tower Repair Project. Conversations were held on
pipe coating and cathodic protection concerns, soil samples, costs — is there an insurance
claim, and timelines.
Transmission Projects
• Board and Staff discussed the Transmission projects along with the financing options that
are available along with the timing of the projects.
Generation Wholesale Model
• Board and Staff discussed the Generation Wholesale models which included Generation
Fleet Make-up, Wholesale Generation Financial Outlooks, Generation Fleet Cost Options
and Natural Gas Pipeline Capacity. Conversations were also held on Bonding and
Financing Options.
Adjourn
There being no further business, a motion by Commissioner Silvernale, second by Commissioner Cheney to
adjourn the meeting at 1:00 p.m. Motion carried unanimously..
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Matt Cheney, Secretary
ATTEST:. /
Don Martinez, Preside