Council holds public hearing, hears 1- and 6-year street improvement plan and funding needs for major storm project

At an advertised public hearing the council received a staff presentation on the City of Hastings’ 1- and 6-year street improvement plan. No members of the public spoke during the hearing; staff then briefed the council on project timing and funding. Public works staff said year‑1 projects in the current budget are mostly complete or underway and listed resurfacing and concrete work scheduled in the proposed 2025–26 budget, including Second Street (East Side Boulevard to Elm), Chicago Avenue (E to F) and sections of Westbrook Drive and Hillcrest. Staff said East Street resurfacing would be done after bike-trail work to restore the roadway crown and that most projects shown on the slide are funded by the city’s half‑cent sales tax. Staff described quiet‑zone work at five railroad crossings (Lincoln, Hastings, Denver, Pine and California) and said the city is coordinating crossing design and agreements with Burlington Northern and the Federal Railroad Administration; construction was expected in 2026 with FRA review to follow to implement the quiet zone. Council and staff discussed a central-streets storm-sewer improvement project (Baltimore, storm sewer from A to F) estimated at about $3,000,000. Staff said the project design was funded by a FEMA BRIC grant and that the project would likely qualify for Hazard Mitigation Grant funding (75% federal share) if successful; otherwise the city may need to bond or delay the project. Staff also outlined the Hastings Southeast project (highway and utility relocation) and said current work is focused on utility relocation with major highway improvements slated to begin next spring; the project was described as an approximate 80/20 cost-share arrangement with right-of-way work underway. Council asked about project prioritization and notification to neighbors on corridor work; staff said year‑1 budget projects are most firm, years 2–6 remain flexible, and the city will notify adjacent property owners when project design advances.