The Hastings City Council at its meeting Monday, Aug. 21 gave the go-ahead for the city to join a Dakota County initiative to centralize the absentee ballot process. 

City administrator Dan Wietecha projected that the plan would save the city $12,000 in 2024, where there are three elections: the presidential nominating primary, a primary election and the general election. He said the city will stall have some staffing costs, as voters can vote absentee at Hastings City Hall. The city will also have to still pay election judges. 

Dakota County is gauging interest from county municipalities before a formal contract is approved in coming weeks. 

Under the plan, Dakota County will pick up 55 percent of expenses for the absentee ballot services in even-numbered years. Municipalities would be responsible for 45 percent, plus some postage and processing expenses. 

In odd-numbered years, school districts will share costs also when their elections are held. 

Dakota County figures show that as of June 2022, there were 14,571 registered voters in the City of Hastings and 19,957 in the Hastings ISD #200. 

The county will use state grant funds also to bring down costs of the service. Total projected cost to Hastings for the county program for 2024-25 is $12,684. Total projected cost for the Hastings School District is $6,827. 

“All absentee ballots could be handled through the county rather than each municipality individually,” said Wietecha. “Having that centralized hopefully would streamline things, bring down some costs, make it easier.” 

“We think it’s worth a try and recommend that we proceed with this,” Wietecha said, noting that if it doesn’t work out, the city could go back to administering its own absentee ballot program. 

“I am in support of this,” said councilmember Jen Fox. 

Councilmember Dave Pemble asked if there would be startup expenses for the city in future years if the system doesn’t work out. 

“If we’re not to like the first results and in the odd year, we’re out of it, do we have to re-energize our program. We just can’t turn the switch off and turn the switch on. What are we talking about cost-wise on something like that?” Pemble asked. 

Wietecha said it wouldn’t be a problem. 

“I wouldn’t be too worried about re-energizing our staff,” he said. “We need to turn the volume up, not turn it on.” 

Councilmember Tina Folch commented, “It seems to me it will be more efficient.” 

The county-run absentee system will also allow for more efficient election day absentee counting. 

“It will streamline election night reporting on absentee ballots. There’s been glitches with the counting of the ballots and reporting being delayed and not coming into the wee hours of the night,” she said. 

Folch also noted that the council’s Finance Committee, in its 2024 budget planning, has also been presented with a plan to raise the pay for election judges. 

“The Finance Committee of the council has had two meeting to talk about finances for the next year. (Staff is) asking to increase the dollar amount paid to election judges for their services being provided $2-$3 dollars an hour, making it more competitive with other jurisdictions,” she said. “Hopefully this will offset that.” 

Hastings Civic Ice Arena 

The city council has committed to completing needed upgrades at the Hastings Civic Ice Arena in 2024, and the council gave unanimous approval to two aspects of that project: a motor control center for the refrigeration process and the West Rink replacement. 

City Parks & Recreation Director Chris Jenkins said the lead time for the motor control center is 50-70 weeks and needs to be ordered now so the rinks are ready for hockey next fall. 

“We need to do that very soon so we can have ice in October 2024,” said Jenkins. 

Cost is $258,929, paid next year. 

The West Rink roof replacement will also be part of the 2024 budget, at a cost of $1,161,747. 

The roof replacement will also include installation of a solar system on that roof that will help power the facility. 

Dale Lewis art project  

Hastings Environment Protectors were awarded $3,000 from the city’s Community Investment fund to lease a sculpture from renowned Hastings metal artist Dale Lewis, with a new piece being rotated in annually over three years. 

The sculpture will be placed along the Hastings trail system within Vermillion Linear Park. 

The Hastings Environmental Protectors have worked with the city’s Arts Commission to select the first year’s piece, and the location will be finalized by the environmental group and city Parks & Recreation Department. 

New Public Safety Advisory Commission member 

Mary Nehring will complete a partial term on the Public Safety Advisory Commission. 

A panel of city officials interviewed applicants to finish out the term of Victoria Baukel, who resigned from her seat on the commission because she was moving from Hastings. The term ends Dec. 31. 

The interview committee unanimously recommended the appointment of Nehring.