The Hastings City Council moved forward on several major items Monday, April 20, ranging from long-term infrastructure investments and neighborhood development to a significant legal step tied to the city’s ongoing PFAS contamination challenges.
The meeting also included recognition of a longtime city employee and routine approvals, but the bulk of the evening focused on four key areas: awarding the 2026 neighborhood infrastructure contract, approving a contingency-based legal agreement tied to PFAS litigation, reviewing the pending sale of the city’s hydroelectric plant, and advancing the Sunset Hills housing development.
The meeting opened with a proclamation recognizing Parks and Recreation employee Terry Meier, who is retiring after nearly 26 years of service to the City of Hastings.
Mayor Mary Fasbender and council members highlighted Meier’s contributions to maintaining parks, trails and city facilities, noting his long tenure and impact on the community. Meier began his career in public works before transitioning to the parks department, where he served for more than 15 years.
One of the evening’s most significant actions was the approval of a contract for the city’s 2026 Neighborhood Infrastructure Improvements project.
Public Works Director Ryan Stempski told council members the city received six bids for the project, with Northwest Asphalt submitting the lowest qualified bid. The total project cost, including two alternates, came in at $3,588,670.26—approximately 11 percent below the engineer’s estimate.
The council approved including both alternates in the project scope. These additions include full replacement of sanitary sewer infrastructure on Pleasant Drive and construction of a trail connection to Lions Park.
Stempski said the competitive bidding environment allowed the city to complete more work than initially anticipated while still staying under budget.
“We wanted to build flexibility into the bid, and fortunately the numbers came in strong enough that we can move forward with both improvements,” he explained.
Council members unanimously approved the contract, citing both cost savings and positive experience working with the contractor.

City advances PFAS legal strategy
The council also took a major step in addressing PFAS contamination by approving an attorney-client services contract with Pawa Law Group, PC.
City Administrator Dan Wietecha said the firm specializes in complex environmental litigation and would represent Hastings in potential lawsuits against entities responsible for PFAS contamination.
Hastings has detected PFAS compounds in all six of its municipal wells, and the city is currently constructing three water treatment plants to address the issue.
Under the agreement, the law firm will operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning the city will not pay legal fees unless it receives a financial recovery. Fees are set at 31 percent of any recovery, increasing to 33 percent if the case proceeds to appeal.
Wietecha emphasized that litigation will be a long-term process.
“This could take four, six, even 10 years to resolve,” he said, adding that the city will continue pursuing state assistance in the meantime.
Council members voiced support for the move, noting both the financial structure of the agreement and the importance of pursuing accountability for contamination.
The motion to approve the contract passed unanimously.

Lead service line program moves forward
The council also approved a procedural step tied to its lead service line replacement program.
Rather than approving individual agreements for each property, the council authorized staff to execute a standard agreement template for approximately 58 homes scheduled for service line replacement in 2026.
The program will replace lead or galvanized lines with copper at no cost to homeowners, funded through a state grant.
City staff said the streamlined approach will allow work to proceed more efficiently as the city begins outreach and inspections.

Hydroelectric plant sale continues
Council members also received an update on the pending sale of the city’s hydroelectric plant, though no formal action was required.
The city previously approved the sale of the facility to JF Brennan Company for a nominal purchase price of $1, citing long-term operating losses projected at $14 million over 25 years.
The April 20 update focused on finalizing the Asset Purchase Agreement and securing approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to transfer the facility’s operating license.
Under the agreement, the buyer will assume responsibility for future operations and compliance, while the city retains responsibility for pre-closing obligations.
City officials said the sale will allow Hastings to exit a financially burdensome operation and focus resources on core municipal services.

Sunset Hills development approved
The council also approved key steps for the Sunset Hills residential development, located northwest of 15th Street and O’Connell Drive. Developer is Greg J Homes of Hastings.
The project includes 26 single-family home sites across a roughly 10-acre parcel, along with stormwater infrastructure and future development outlots.
Council members approved:
•Rezoning the property from agricultural to R-3 medium-high density planned residential development (PRD), excluding one outlot with an undetermined future use
•The preliminary plat outlining the full development plan
•The final plat for the first phase, which includes 14 residential lots
The development aligns with the city’s comprehensive plan, which designates the area for low-density residential use.
Planning Commission members had previously recommended approval unanimously following a public hearing that included concerns about traffic, water pressure and housing density.
City staff addressed those concerns, noting that public works analysis found no expected impact on water pressure and that infrastructure capacity is sufficient for the development.
Conditions tied to approval include stormwater management requirements, installation of a trail connection, park dedication fees totaling $50,400, and a one-year deadline to record the plat.
Council members ultimately supported the project, citing its consistency with city planning goals and housing demand.
The Hastings City Council is scheduled to meet next on Monday, May 4.