Hastings Utilities manager Kevin Johnson to retire after nearly seven years

HASTINGS, Neb. — A stalwart in Hastings city government is set to retire this summer.

The city announced Friday that utilities manager Kevin Johnson will step down on June 17. He has served in that role since coming to Hastings in 2017.

“Kevin Johnson was the right person, at the right time, to lead the Utilities Department,” Mayor Corey Stutte said. “His expertise and efforts during our reorganization and contributions to the City have made us a more efficient and effective government. I want to thank Kevin for his dedication to the citizens of Hastings, and I wish him the best as he moves into retirement.”

As utilities manager, Johnson oversees a $90 million budget and a workforce of nearly 200 employees. He came to Hastings at a time when the utility department was merging with the rest of the city government. 

“My team and I have done that for 6 ½ years, re-evaluating roles and alignment, making sure Hastings Utilities was run as efficiently as possible” he said.

In addition to his utilities manager role, Johnson served as interim city administrator for eight months in 2022.

“Kevin’s upcoming departure will leave a large hole with Hastings Utilities,” city administrator Shawn Metcalf said. “When I first arrived in Hastings it was clear to me the Utility Department was being managed professionally. I’ve worked in communities where deferred maintenance in utilities was prevalent and that has not been the case here. Kevin has been proactive in obtaining cost-of service studies to ensure utilities delivers a quality and reliable service. Kevin – thank you for your service and enjoy a well-deserved retirement!”

A city news release listed the following as accomplishments during Johnson's tenure.

Economic based decision-making while acknowledging customer impacts.

· Cost of Service study discipline for each utility.

· Integrated Resource Planning efforts for aging production assets.

· Proactive investment strategies such as the purchase of the building at 3505 Yost Ave., which is currently home to the Development Services Department and vehicle maintenance team; the purchase partnership with the Hastings Solid Waste Landfill for the ground north of the landfill; and the sale of the ground west of the Whelan Energy Center to be home to the Heartwell Renewables biodiesel plant.

· Five electric production units – North Denver Station units 4 and 5, WEC units 1 and 2, and the Don Henry Power Center – in operation simultaneously for the first time ever, during summer 2023.

· Community wind farm development Phase 1, as well as Phase 2, which is currently in progress)