January 28, 2016 at 8:30 AM - Operations & Education Committee Meeting

Rationale: 

Game & Parks has reimbursed the District 75% of the $6,800 cost for the tree clearing at Homestead Lake. This project is ongoing with improvements through a Federal Program grant.

There are no other payments for this month.

Rationale:  Staff has been clearing volunteer brush at Czechland Lake, maintenance on equipment, snow removal and burning tree piles.

Rationale:  Staff is recommending replacing the District's Ford Fusion which has approximately 91,000 miles.  Staff recommends replacing it with a similar vehicle used by administration for meetings.  Attached is a list of vehicles from the State of Nebraska Materials Division contracts. Please review and discuss at committee time.

Rationale:  Platte Valley Equipment will rent a JD 8245 tractor to the District this coming season for $3,500.  The previous season was the same tractor at $3,300.  The State of Nebraska Contract with John Deere rents tractors for $13.25/hr with a minimum of 300 hours, that comes to $3,975.

Rationale:  The District receives calls each hunting season as to whether waterfowl hunting is allowed at Czechland and Homestead Lakes. Staff has discussed this with the area Conservation Officer as he too receives many questions on this issue. Officer Luben believes it would be OK to allow waterfowl hunting in designated areas at both locations.  Staff developed aerial photo's that designate waterfowl hunting areas that will be used by Mr. Luben and the District to guide hunters to the appropriate locations.  Signs may be posted on the areas to guide hunters to the correct areas.

Rationale:  Attached is an invoice from Clark Construction for $1,520 for mobilizing his equipment in the event the Fuse Plug at Camp Ashland needed to be removed because of flooding in early December.

Rationale:  Attached is an invoice from Olsson Associates for $4,841.74.  Olsson's is under contract to monitor instruments (piezometers) on the Wanahoo Dam.

Rationale: 

Gary Mueller of Mueller Sod Farm has been renting the NRD No-till grass drill for the past 8 years. He would like to get out of the grass drill rental agreement with the District.  Gary and John Hannah helped locate a new cooperator to rent the NRD grass drill in Platte County.  Stan Rosendahl or Rosendahl Seed & Feed has agreed to handle the NRD grass drill.  The agreement with Rosendahl Seed & Feed is attached. All three of the District's grass drill agreements are the same.

The District received a revenue check of $1,857.75 from Rezac Seed for the second half of 2015.

Rationale: 

Staff has contacted JEO for a proposal/estimate for design, specifications, and to develop a bid proposal package for a RV dump station and possible fish cleaning station on the Day Use Area side (East side) of Lake Wanahoo (Proposal Attached). It would be adjacent to Hwy 109 for access to city sewer. (See attached aerial photo.) Discussion with NE Game & Parks will occur in February as to what they may be able to provide in relationship to design and specifications. This subject will be revisited at our March meeting.

 

Staff recommends advertising for RFP's (Request for Proposal) for playground systems from Playground Dealers. The units would be placed on the West and East sides of Lake Wanahoo.  We would ask the Dealers to present their proposals at our March 2 committee meeting.  Staff would like to have the unit(s) in place before the end of the fiscal year (June 30). (See attached aerial photo.)

Rationale:  There are no payment request.  The previously approved project invoices have not been inspected because of weather.

Rationale:  The KTIC ad for January on Nitrogen & Water Management Classes will run until February 1st.  The Wahoo Newspaper eAd on tree purchasing orders will run through February.

Rationale: 

We have 2 recipients of the Shell Creek Watershed Monitoring Program Scholarship.  Each recipient will receive $1,000 upon submission of their first semester college transcript with a B average or a 3.0 or above.  The 2015 recipients are:

Parker Wallin graduated from Newman Grove High School.  Parker currently attends the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is majoring in Mechanized Systems Management.

Sandra Mariely Estrada-Gonzalez graduated from Newman Grove High School.  Sandra currently attends the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a double major in Psychology and Ethnic Studies with minors in Spanish and English.

The 2016 applications will be due on April 15th.

Attached is a copy of the award letter sent to recipients.

Rationale: 

The Pheasants Forever Lower Platte Chapter has sent a donation request for their 17th Annual Banquet on April 1, 2016.  They are requesting $250 for overall banquet package merchandise.  Their request includes that the goals 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.

Attached are the 2016 Banquet Flier and  2015-2016 Underwriting Book.

Rationale:  Lower Platte South NRD is hosting "Test Your Well Night" at Ashland-Greenwood High School on February 18th. FFA Members will test nitrate levels of private well water samples for attendees.  Lower Platte North has been invited to attend to check out the event and be present for any district specific questions.  Desirae TePoel and Bret Schomer are planning to attend.

Rationale: 

-Sold the '95 CASE 860 Turbo Trencher for $ 16,250.  Placed add on Craigslist on Friday and had it sold Sunday afternoon.  Was asking $ 16,500.

-Placed order for new Bobcat Trencher attachment from Titan Ag. $ 6,287.40

- We are in process of updating our new billing software, will be transferring data and account information over the next few weeks.

- Planning to replace our handheld reader.  I will be contacting Wahoo utilities to see what they are using and how it will interface with our new software.

Rationale: 

January meters have been read and bills prepared to be mailed.

Water samples were taken and submitted to State.

Have identified 3 additional meters for radio replacement

Worked with Nelson Construction to shut down service to old sewer plant buildings prior to being demolished.

 

Rationale: 

January meters have been read and bills prepared to be mailed.

Water samples were taken and submitted to State.

Bruno was having pump issues this past month and needed access to our main meter pit to manually control water tower levels.