January 31, 2019 at 8:00 AM - Operations Committee Meeting

Rationale:  There is nothing to consider.

Rationale:  Nominations for Chairman and Vice Chair will take place for the Operations Committee.

Rationale:  Nothing to report.

Rationale:  O & M staff continues to cut trees on all our properties or easement areas (Czechland, Wanahoo, Rawhide Ditch 8) and do maintenance on equipment in preparation for the spring. We will burn tree piles in many locations as weather permits. We did burn one large pile at Czechland.

Rationale:  Staff is recommending to sell the John Deere 4430, starting around $14,000. It's a 1974, Quadrange with 2868 hours. It has 4 new rear tires.
Jim Chvatal of Red Repair, who was the last to work on it back in 2007, has interest and has looked at it in detail, stating the front tires are 30%, and listed these needs, water pump, cab interior kit - headliner, 1- injector leak, voltmeter, air conditioner repair (needs recharge every year).
On Tractorhouse.com here is what is listed, 1 tractor under $10,000, 1 between $10,000-14,000, 9 - $14,000-18,000, 2 - $18,000-22,000, 3- $22,000-30,000. Out of the 16 listed three had duals and two of those were $14,500 and $14,900.
We can advertise it on Craig's List, set it outside our Wanahoo building with a for sale sign and relay the info to other Districts.

Rationale:  Staff recommends selling the 2010 Chevy Crew Cab with 106,000 miles that has been designated to Lake Wanahoo. It was purchased new for $23,068, Kelly Blue Book private party value is $11,223-$14,880. We would replace it with the 2012 Chevy Crew Cab with 76,000 miles.  Purchase a 2019 Crew Cab Pickup off of the State of Nebraska Contracts as a replacement to be used primarily by the Water Dept.  We have budgeted $32,000 for a new vehicle. Find attached the vehicles available on the State Contracts.

Rationale:  Rezac Seed has sent in $1,404.52 of revenue from the rental of the District grass drill. Eight cooperators used the drill the second half of 2018.

Rationale:  Would the District want to consider increasing our mowing rental rate which is at $60/tractor hour. This was last changed in 2006.
One State of Nebraska service contract for mowing road sides in eastern Nebraska is $21.79/acre.
Nebraska Custom Rates by UNL Extension NebGuide, for eastern Nebraska, shows a mowing rate of $27.33, Labor at $20.00, fuel rate per gallon is $2.52.

Rationale:  Each year we purchase small, plug type seedlings from the Arbor Day Foundation as giveaways to students for Arbor Day and Earth Day. We give these trees to students at the Fremont Eco Fair (400), our Conservation Sensation Day (400) and sometimes individual schools ask for a small number.  Butler County Extension has asked for approximately 50 for this purpose. This year we are anticipating the need for 800 - 900 trees. The Arbor Day Foundations price this year is $1.40 - $1.60. We may also have to purchase small plastic bags to package them in, see attachment for the estimated price for plastic bags and planting instruction cards.

Rationale:  There has been past discussion on landowners along Rawhide Ditch 8 encroaching (farming) on the District's easement area (see attached diagram). Heimann has written the landowners requesting them to stay out of the easement area so staff has access for mowing and removing trees. One landowner has resisted stating he would cut the trees and take care of the ditch. Heimann discussed this with legal counsel, Lausterer, the easement does state "the Grantor has the right and privilege to use the above described land at any time, in any manner and for the purpose not inconsistent with the full use and enjoyment by the Grantee". The District can allow him to continue farming the easement as the District still has access to the ditch from the south side but, if necessary the District could take out the crop in an emergency situation.
The Committee suggest notifying the landowners stating the rights and privileges statement in the easement and they could continue farming the area but, the District has the right to access the easement area for normal operations and maintenance purposes and some crop may be removed.

Rationale:  Heimann and Moore met with Scott Luedtke, G & P Biologist and Jake Koenig, PF Biologist to review the past year's maintenance accomplishments, the upcoming years to do list and toured the Wanahoo land (area map attached). We have taken out many trees, hayed and burned different parcels. This coming year, continue to cut trees, aerial spray Phagmites, spray areas being encroached with Reeds Canary Grass and Brome, disc the small wetlands if dry enough, and burn the Pheasant Forever (Snitly Wetland) in which a prescribed burn workshop will take place for training purposes. Pheasant Forever is also trying to establish a Prescribe Burn Association in the Saunders/Butler County area (see attached flyer).
The Biologist are impressed on how the area looks and is functioning but, there is always a lot to do in keeping this many acres in good shape.

Rationale:  Heimann attended a WSCC O & M Manual review meeting with the COE, Army National Guard, Papio and Lower Platte South NRD's.  The scheduled 2 hour meeting took 3 hours and 1.5 hours were the review of Lower Platte North's comments. There will be narrative changes and stationing/GIS mapping changes made to the manual for better accuracy. There was  explanation on inspection and reporting.
There wasn't any indication as to when this document may be final but, the Inter local agreement dealing with O & M on the National Guard Camp/Fuse Plug, which is a component of the WSCC O & M Manual, must also be completed to make it all final.

Rationale:  Handout represents total permits sold and issued as of January 30, 2019.

Wahoo Corner Market has been a great partner providing an additional location for public to purchase permits.  We will be reimbursing the vendor $ 1.00 for each permit sold.

Guard shack was staffed Saturday 1/5, Saturday 1/26, and Sunday 1/27 for approximately 8 hours each day.

Rationale:  Staff is recommending approval of the following estimates:

General Contractor for interior construction to include but not limited to - Walls, interior doors, restrooms, finish plumbing, electrical, Kitchen, loft area with railing, ceilings, trim work and rolling barn doors for audio/video screen.
Hancock Construction - $ 75,000

Two glass garage doors with opener and rail to match roof pitch.
Superior Door, Omaha -  $5724.00 

Double entry doors
Keystone Glass Company- $5391


 

Rationale:  Staff will be moving picnic tables and fire pits to island this month.

Boat docks will be researched and potentially ordered this month.

Materials for compost toilets will be purchased and assembled this month.

 

Rationale:  Staff will be generating job descriptions and preparing ads for this year's positions.

We are currently looking to hire approximately 160 staff hours per week for season beginning in early May through mid September.  Reduced hours will be required April 1-mid May and mid September- October 31.

Discussion on potential hire of experienced Wanahoo recreation maintenance workers.

Rationale:  Staff will begin pricing two additional mowers needed for 2019 season

Rationale:  Staff met with NGPC Rangers Mike Luben and Ethan Teter on Sunday 1/27. Both were out walking the ice, checking on fishing permits and catch limits. 

Completed items since last month:
Permit tracking database
Cash envelopes printed and in use
Fund raising presentation
Fund raising forms
Park signs installed
Cash drawer and Guard house supplies

Additional Activities currently underway:
Wanahoo presentations and fund raising
Friends of Lake Wanahoo Council
Schedule additional television/radio promotions
Geo-thermal bids
Sewer install bids
City electrical install for new transformer
Appliances
Recognition plans for supporters
Building rental policy and reservation process
Wifi to building
3 additional camp sites
Uniforms
Open house and recognition night

Rationale:  Nothing to report.

Rationale:  The February KTIC Radio Ad and Wahoo Newspaper eAd will promote the opportunity to purchase trees from the LPNNRD Office.  
 

Rationale:  We are looking to promote the Lake Wanahoo NRD Recreation Area through television marketing with the Lake Wanahoo video that was created.  After contacting several stations for pricing and options, we would like to move forward with the following options:
 

• WOWT (Channel 6, Omaha): $5,540
  • 32 commercials over a 4-week period
  • In-studio interview with Moms Everyday 
  • Promotion assistance- press releases, potential news coverage, etc.
• KMTV (Channel 3, Omaha): $400
  • In-studio interview with Metro Blend
• News Channel Nebraska- (Channel 16, Columbus): $1,500
  • 63 spots over a 1-month period
• Lincoln Stations- (KOLN/KGIN- 10/11):  $5,425
  • 112 spots from February-March

Rationale:  We have had advertising conversations with KLKN-TV (Channel 8, Lincoln) that includes additional video production.  This advertising package would allow for a new department video to be created and promoted in addition to the Lake Wanahoo video promotion.

Rationale:  Gottschalk & TePoel were guests on Pure Nebraska (10/11 station- Lincoln) to promote the Lake Wanahoo NRD Recreation Area and upcoming opportunities.  This clip has been shared on the LPNNRD Facebook page.
 

Rationale:  The first semester transcripts have been received from one of the 2018 scholarship winners, Abbie Pieke.  She has met all scholarship requirements, and the second installment of her scholarship award has been mailed to her.
 

Rationale:  The Pheasants Forever Lower Platte chapter has sent a donation request for their annual banquet.  They are requesting $250 for overall banquet package merchandise.  This request includes that the goal of the banquet is to raise funds that can be used to go back to Saunders County and the state to help with Open Fields and Waters, Wanahoo, Youth Hunts, Pollinator Programs, etc.

In 2018, $250 was donated to the banquet in recognition of the partnership with the Pheasants Forever Lower Platte Chapter.  The 2018 banquet program is attached.
 

Rationale: 

Date	School/Group	Grade/Age	# of students	Topic	Staff
Thursday, January 10	Wahoo Public Schools	12th Grade	13	Career Opportunities	TePoel/Gottschalk
Thursday, January 10	Wahoo Public Schools	8th Grade	24	Career Opportunities	TePoel
Wednesday, January 16	Survival Club	8th Grade	18	Fishing-Lake Wanahoo	John Miyoshi (TePoel/Gottschalk)
Wednesday, January 23	Survival Club	8th Grade	18	2-legged & 4-legged outdoor predator safety	Mike Luben & Kevin Stukenholtz (TePoel/Gottschalk)
Thursday, January 24/Friday, January 25	Wahoo Public Schools	3rd Grade	80	Soil Conservation	Elliott/TePoel
Friday, January 25	Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools	Ag Class (9th-11th)	15	Soil Conservation	Elliott/TePoel
Thursday, January 31	Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools	Ag Class (9th-11th)	15	Water Conservation	Andersen/TePoel
Monday, February 11/Tuesday, February 12	St. Wenceslaus (Wahoo)	Pre-K	29	Water	TePoel
Tuesday, February 19	Saunders County 4-H	Clover Kids	15	Trees/Seasons	TePoel
Wednesday, February 13	St. Wenceslaus (Wahoo)	5th Grade	40	Career Opportunities	TePoel

Rationale:  On January 8 Elliott attended the Village of Colon Board meeting to discuss several issues;  The current rate increase and the financial future of Colon RWD.  The Board understood the need for a more fiscally solvent department and agreed that it will be better received (by village residents) to implement a multi-year approach to in reaching the rates needed to balance the budget.
The Village also brought up the fact that they are not notified of any new residents moving in.  Since new residents don't need to contact the village for any utility concerns, they (the Village) don't have any record or contact info on new residents.  Elliott agreed that this isn't ideal and several ideas were discussed as to what would be the most efficient way of notifying Colon.  It was agreed that when the NRD sets up a new customer we will have the new customer fill out a simple form (name, address, contact phone number) and will email a copy to Colon.
The topic of Reed and Kim Kruce's account was discussed; Reed contacted the NRD wishing to have there account shut-off (ie. receive no more bills) effective December of 2018.  It was explained to Mr. Kruce that the NRD could shut off the meter but in order for the account to be closed it requires approval from the Village due to their sewer connection to the water bill.  The Village Board did not want to suspend the account so it was agreed to that Elliott would lock the meter, but the account will still be billed.  Elliott locked the meter 1/9/19 and will require re-connection fee once service is restored.
Monthly testing completed. 
Bills out today.
 

Rationale:  Meters read, bills will go out today.
Monthly testing completed.