Hastings City Council members have added another meeting to their schedules of regular meetings and special meetings on budgets and on other topics; workshops to learn more about the workings of city government that effect their roles as stewards of the city.

Credit definitely goes to Councilman Don Smith and Mayor David Tossava for suggesting the meetings to make sure the council is well educated and informed on various topics, City Manager Jeff Mansfield said.

“I applaud the council’s willingness to take the time to attend the sessions and become more fully informed. A full understanding of issues by all involved leads to an improved decision making process and better outcomes,” he said.

The meetings always open to the public, are at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month, followed at 7 p.m. by the first monthly council meeting. The council has had three sessions so far. Last November’s meeting was a general review of the city’s annual budget, audit and financial reports and a discussion of “fund accounting” facilitated by Mansfield.

In December, the council learned more about winter season maintenance activities from Department Public Services Director Lee Hays and Superintendent of Streets and Construction Jim James.

The Jan. 8 workshop was on the current strategic vision for the clerk/treasurer/finance and Community Development Departments, as Clerk/Treasurer Dan King and Community Development Director Jerry Czarnecki switched positions. Mansfield and King explained the transition of King to community development director and Czarnecki to clerk/treasurer. Czarnecki was not available for the meeting due to a family emergency.

“We have not yet landed on a topic for February, but we have a couple in mind at this point,” Mansfield said.