The Hart City Council met for their regular meeting April 28, following the annual “council retreat” wherein the city budget was heavily discussed. Three resolutions were on the table for review pertaining to moving forward with a routine project survey and study, simplifying right-of-way permit processes and realignment bids.
Resolution 2025-19 covered the approval of a proposal from Utility Financial Solutions, which would provide comprehensive surveys of comparable municipalities regarding electric cost of service, finances and best practices for Hart Energy, as well as a pole attachment study, to provide the city accurate information by which to set rates and costs for the use of city infrastructure. It is recommended that municipal energy departments complete these surveys every 35 years to remain current, and Hart is on track to start the process now.
Explained Energy Department Superintendent Mike Schiller, “It’s the backing we need to be able to provide to those communications groups that are on our poles to prove that this is what the price should be.”
The proposal from Utility Financial Solutions is quoted upwards of $31,000.
Resolution 2026-20 is to establish a right-of-way permit process and allow administrative authority to approve applications. Previously, the city had no clear application for a right-of-way permit, which often left pertinent information unclear or unknown in the approval process, prompting City Manager Nichole Kleiner to create a straightforward application for interested parties to complete, which was presented to the council.
Likewise, right-of-way permits were also presented before the planning commission or city council for approval. This resolution would grant administrative authority to approve permit applications consistent with the City Charter, applicable ordinances and adopted standards. Overall, this resolution would significantly streamline the process for granting right-of-way permits, of which the council was in favor, with Council Member Jim Cunningham expressing, "As a city council, we are basically to establish politics, and administrators carry out the policy… [granting permits] is a small detail that really should not affect city council.”
Finally, Resolution 2026-22 would see the reopening of bids for Plum Street realignment ahead of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) path construction project, with the rejection of the single bid already made on the project. As the SRTS project has been pushed back to Spring 2027, bids will be reconsidered closer to the new projected groundbreaking.
All three resolutions were approved by Hart City Council and members were able to return home after a long evening of budget workshops.
