City of Hastings, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
HASTINGS — The City of Hastings Development Services Department experimented with new office hours during the 2024 construction season.
The office at 3505 Yost Ave., was open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday from June through the end of October.
This was done as an attempt to allow residents and builders more opportunity to ask questions about planning and building projects, and to have building inspections occur earlier or later than the normal office hours during the longer days of the summer, which is the prime construction season.
The ability to have longer work days was made possible by adjusting some of the staff schedules from a 8-hour, 5-day work week to a 10-hour, four-day work week. This allowed for more opportunity for better customer service with no impact to the Department’s overall budget.
The Department has returned to “normal” business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Chad Bunger, Development Services Director, said whether longer work hours return during the 2025 construction season depends, in part, on public feedback.
“Our department will need to evaluate if this is something that will occur in 2025,” he said. “We would appreciate hearing from the builders and the community on if these ‘construction season’ hours were beneficial or not.”
