April 11, 2016 at 6:00 PM - Regular Board of Directors Meeting

Rationale: 

NOTE: The agenda is on file at the LPNNRD office and may be changed up to 24 hours prior to the meeting as scheduled.

 

Rationale:   JEO will be present to report on the Inundation Maps that were created as part of the Hazard Mitigation Project.

Rationale: 

The "Water and Natural Resources Tour" (formerly known as the UNL water Tour) is asking for sponsors this year.  Sponsorship will guarantee space for participants.  In the past we have had difficulty reserving space as did others.  Attached find sponsorship information.

Last month Seier expressed interest in attending and there may be others interested.

Rationale:  Any director interested in attending the Water For Food Conference on April 24-26 please let Jill know.

Rationale:  Attached is Mountford's NARD Washington D.C. Conference Report.  

Rationale:  The monthly Weaver Conference Call will be held Monday, April 4th.  

Rationale:  Two items have been slated for education programs this month, the Inundation Maps created by JEO (Part of Hazard Mitigation) and thoughts from Steve Oltmans on our manager succession plan.

Rationale: 

Congressman Jeff Fortenberry is asking for our board's support for the proposed Chief Standing Bear National Trail.  Like most National Trails this one is for the most part is a virtual trail that will be designated on maps and a web-site.  The physical portion of the trail will be markers at significant points or where the trail crosses major roadways and areas where there is an existing trail.

The portion of the the virtual trail in LPNNRD is on our west edge in Butler County and in the Shell Creek Valley from north of Columbus through Newman Grove and north into Antelope County. A complete map is available on the website " www.chiefstandingbear.org ".

With the Nebraska 150th Year Centennial set for 2017 the goal is to have this federal designation in place in 2016.  Congressman Fortenberry is leading the effort in the House and is asking for Senator Fischer to take ownership in the Senate.  Fortenberry is asking for a letter of support from each NRD that the virtual  trail passes though. 

Rationale:  With doctor approval Mitch O'Reilly returned to work on March 21 at a maximum of four hours per day (see attachment).  The Executive Committee directed that staff be complemented on their assistance to Mitch from donated hours.

Rationale: 

In February some employees began receiving IRS notices that an attempt to file their taxes had been made from a suspicious source. Currently 15 of our 18 employees have received this notice or were informed of this when filing their federal income taxes.

We use a firm to produce our W-2 forms called Greenshades. Subsequent investigation has revealed problems with many companies who use Greenshades.  Greenshades is denying any problem on their end although evidence shows that this denial is questionable.  Greenshades had a data breach last year that could account for the problem plus their former security might not have protected as it should have.

The old system has employees log in with their last name and social security number for access to their W-2, thus if a hacker has these two items they could see and copy individual W-2s. Greenshades recently changed their log in system that requires a log in and then access is granted through a return email to a company email account.

Thompson could not find any time that our security was breached from external attempts and feels the problem originated from another source.

Employees have been encouraged to work with the IRS, file a police report, place an alert on their credit report and set a personal password on Greenshades.

We have worked with HBE and followed their recommendations to protect our employees.  They also recommend employees purchase Identity Theft Insurance and have said several companies with this problem are reimbursing their employees for upto one year of protection.  Their recommendation is for Zander Insurance Company who has an individual policy for $75 per year. We should consider this for our employees.

The fall out from this is time and concern by our employees and fear of what the future may hold.

Management is concerned that if the problem is with Greenshades there is also some exposure to our directors.  The dollars listed on our directors W-2s is small enough that filing with IRS is not very likely, but there could be exposure to director names and social security numbers.

A good recommendation would be to allow employees and directors to purchase Identity Theft Insurance on their own from any source and reimburse them up to $75 upon proof of purchase.  The cost to the district for 18 employees would be $1,350 and the cost for 19 directors would be $1,425.

Rationale:  The RFP for our Salary Review is out with proposals due on April 5.  The goal is to have a firm selected to approve at Board Meeting on April 11.

Rationale:  Nothing to Report.

Rationale:  The O & M Crew burned the remaining tree piles at Czechland Lake, assisted Pheasants Forever and Game & Parks on a prescribed burn of 230 acres at Lake Wanahoo, moved more rock on Wanahoo roads, camper pads and trails. Mitch O'Reilly is back to work part-time cleaning up vehicles and making signs.

Rationale: 

Two Eagle Scouts, Seth Varner and Max Hohn have project proposals for the Lake Wanahoo SRA. Both projects are similar.  Scout Varner is proposing putting in three park benches and three potted trees near each bench, at one of the playground locations.  Scout Hohn is proposing putting in four park benches along the trail. This total is seven benches and three trees.

Staff recommends each Scout get a $300 sponsor for each bench, the District will cover the remaining cost approximately $200-250 for each bench.  The Scouts will assemble the benches, form and pour a concrete pad for each and plant the trees.  The District would not only cover the remaining cost of the bench but also the cost of the concrete and the trees.

See attached expense sheets from Seth and Max.

Rationale: 

The District has been approached by Shelly Pleskac asking if her family could put a memorial bench and tree at Lake Wanahoo along the trail in memory of Robert McPeck.  They will offer to purchase the bench and tree and also do all the construction.  The family would also place memorial plaques in the concrete.

The District would like to keep the park benches the same so there is some uniformity on the area.

Rationale:  Staff is recommending purchasing additional park benches to keep on hand for future memorial request. Benches can be purchased through our current playground equipment project with the hope of a discounted price by purchasing a larger quantity.

Rationale: 

Cory Vasek from Yutan will give an update on the progress of their trail.  The original project cost in 2008 was $800,000.  Today's project cost is $2,180,850 (see attachments).

The District in the past made a motion to contribute $10,000/year for 3 years for the construction of the Yutan trail.

Rationale: 

The M.E. Collins soil borrow lease expired after 2015.  M.E. Collins would like to continue using the soil borrow area. Staff recommends extending the soil borrow lease two years as stated in the agreement.

See attachment

Rationale: 

The Army Corps of Engineers informed our partners that additional work needs to be done to reassess flood plain elevations due to Dept. of Roads U.S. 30 Expressway project.  DOR request to change the current flood plain maps for Fremont and Dodge County will require a reassessment of our project with DOR's  proposed floodplain maps and expressway.  This in turn increases the study cost $600,000.

With an increase of $600,000 the break down is: COE $300,000, LPNNRD $150,000, Fremont $72,600, Dodge County $65,100, Inglewood $12,300.

We have ask the COE to complete the study by September 30, 2017 so there is an opportunity to be included for Federal Funding through the Water Resources Redevelopment Act (WRRDA) which maybe in the fall of 2017.

Rationale: 

JEO has come up with a preliminary construction cost of $113,932 w/ 15% contingency making it $131,022 (see attachment) some of these cost are subject to change.  JEO does not for see any problems with permitting from DEQ or NDOR.

Staff recommends advertising and accepting bids to the RV Dump Station at Lake Wanahoo with a bid opening in June.  Hopefully be in construction during the summer or late summer.

Rationale: 

Contractor Collins has begun concrete work to complete the entry paving at Lake Wanahoo SRA.  The east lane by the kiosk is finished with the west lane planned for completion the week of April 4.  Work is also proceeding on grading the entry road ditches.

Collins has also begun work on surfacing the trail on the face of the dam that is set to be completed in April.  Work is progressing on the city trail to Lake Wanahoo with completion expected in July (contract completion date is August 31).

Attached see photo's of the Wanahoo entry paving and trail construction.

Rationale:  There are no request for payment.

Rationale: 

The current KTIC Radio Ad and Wahoo Newspaper eAd focus on tree sales.  The advertisements are attached.

Rationale: 

Tree sale advertisements will run in various newspapers throughout the district.  The ad is attached.  The advertisement will be featured in the following publications:   

• Columbus Telegram- March 19^th
• Area Choice (Columbus Area)- March 22^nd
• Albion News- March 23^rd
• Wahoo Newspaper-March 23^rd
• Ashland Gazette- March 23^rd
• Waverly News- March 23^rd
• Market Weekly (Wahoo Area)- March 23rd
• Fremont Tribune- March 23rd
• Schuyler Sun- March 24^th
• David City Banner- March 24^th
• Fremont Shopper- March 30th
• North Bend Eagle-

Rationale: 

Spring Conservation Sensation will be on May 4th at Czechland Lake.  Online registration opened on March 23^rd.  Currently, 213 students are registered from North Bend, St. Mary’s (David City), Logan View, East Butler, St. Wenceslaus (Wahoo), and Bellwood.  We are able to accommodate around 400 students.  The registration flyer is attached.

Rationale: 

Desirae TePoel presented the “Wildlife CSI” activity at the Earth Wellness Festival in Lincoln on March 22^nd and 23^rd.  Lower Platte South NRD is one of the sponsors and coordinators for this event.  Approximately 3,800 students attended.  Over 250 students attended TePoel’s sessions.

Rationale: 

Soil & Water Stewardship materials have been ordered.  The 2016 theme is “We All Need Trees”.  This year, NACD did not offer printing services.  Alternative  printing arrangements were made with Print Solutions (Lincoln, NE). Due to time issues, the 19 schools and churches that ordered in 2015 were contacted.  This year there were only 10 orders.  We should be receiving materials soon to package and send out. 

Rationale: 

- Water samples were taken on 3-28-16 and submitted to the State

- Disconnected and subsequently reconnected one customer in March

- Have identified one meter that is having issues and needs to be replaced.

- Continue to work with USTI (new billing software) to upgrade our billing program

- Will read meters later this week.

Rationale: 

- Water samples were taken on 3-28-16 and submitted to the State

- Continue to work with USTI (new billing software) to upgrade our billing program

- Will read meters later this week.

Rationale:  No new updates.

Rationale:  No new updates.

Rationale:  No new updates.

Rationale:  Wells Permits Approved: Schomer approved 2 well permits since the last Committee meeting.

Landowner	Number of Wells	Number of New Irrigated Acres	Type of Well	County	Subarea
Kenneth Hasemann	1	0	Irrigation/Replacement	Dodge	North Bend
Fremont Golf Club	1	0	Irrigation/Replacement	Dodge	Fremont

The total number of approved permits for 2016 is 3.

Location of Approved Well Permits for 2016:  Correct as of 3/30/2016

County	Irrigation - New	Irrigation - Replacement	Stock	Commercial	Municipal	Other	Total
Butler	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Colfax	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dodge	0	2	0	0	0	0	2
Boone	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Madison	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Platte	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Saunders	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
Total	1	2	0	0	0	0	3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rationale: 

 

Rationale: 

Proposed Transfer Between Noonan Family Trust and Earl Dean Mohrman Trust – Larry Mohrman Trustee:

Larry Mohrman contacted LPNNRD in February of 2016 to ask about transferring acres from the ground he farms for Noonan Family Trust to his brother’s ground Earl Dean Mohrman Trust.  If allowed, Mr. Mohrman would cease gravity irrigation on the Noonan ground, install a pivot on the west portion of the Noonan ground and pick up a portion of the Mohrman ground as part of the pivot swing.  The Mohrman ground would gain an additional 9.34 acres of irrigation in the NE1/4, Section 25, T19N, R3W.  The transferable acres from the Noonan ground amount to 5.28 acres in the N1/2, Section 30, T19N, RW and shown in the attached map.  The leftover 4.06 acres falls within the 4.9 allowance LPN has traditionally granted for Acre Certification and Variances (both tracts have prior irrigation and have been certified, this would be an additional 4.06 to Morhman).  Chris Poole says that, coupled with the water savings from upgrading from gravity to center pivot irrigation make this a desirable transfer for LPNNRD.  All parties between the Noonan and Mohrman Trusts are amenable to the transfer, therefore they are seeking approval from LPNNRD to allow the transfer of 5.28 acres from Noonan Trust to Mohrman Trust and allow the additional 4.06 acres of pivot irrigation on the Mohrman ground.  Both properties are in the Middle Shell Creek subarea.

Please see the attached map for further clarification.

Rationale: 

Mark Jenny contacted the LPNNRD office on 3/29/2016 regarding a transfer of certified irrigated acres.  Mr. Jenny would like the Water Committee to discuss the idea of transferring 29.8 certified irrigated acres from 9-18N-2W Platte County, Platte Center Subarea to an unspecified field in the Lower Loup NRD.  He is not looking for a decision on the matter at this time.

Water Committee members discussed that at the present time a transfer of acres to the Lower Loup NRD is unlikely, however after water banking is established in the entire Lower Platte River Basin, such a transfer may be possible.

 

Rationale: 

Platte - Colfax SQS area (SQS #2)

All three of the informational classes for this area have been held.  The last scheduled class was yesterday afternoon (March 29, 2016).

1. 92 landowners/producers attended the first class on Thursday, January 14, 2016.  One director was present at this class.
2. 49 landowners/producers attended the second class on Thursday, February 11, 2016.  One director was present at this class.
3. 31 landowners/producers attended the third class on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 (yesterday).  One director was present at this class as well.

Some of these attendees were at more than one class.  Most of the attendees neglected to bring their well registration number(s) to the class so cross-referencing for the correct operator for each well may take longer.  This cross checking is necessary to see if anyone still has not attended at least one of these classes, and therefore determine if a fourth class at our office is necessary.  A total of 293 letters were mailed to producers, landowners, and tenants (mailing address information from the Acres Certification database). There are 300 registered high capacity wells in this SQS area.

Updated information was presented such as new approved list of meters, State of Nebraska requirements for backflow prevention, and one solution to limited space for installation of a flow meter (see attached document).  All of this new information will be mailed to all producers in both SQS areas.

 

Rationale: 

The next Technical meeting of the LPRBC has been set for Wednesday May 4, 2016 in Ord at LLNRD.  This is the same day as our Spring Conservation Sensation.  Topics and agenda have not yet been finalized.

 

Rationale: 

No new update.

 

Rationale: 

LPNNRD On Line Certification

Five on-line test requests have been made in March.  Three on-line tests were completed and one decided to attend the class on March 3^rd. 

Cert #	Cert date	Name	Re-cert	Comments
6678	3/7/2016	Patsy Steinbach	No	14 minutes, 50 seconds
6679	3/7/2016	Jason Steinbach	Yes	9 minutes, 36 seconds
6680	3/7/2016	Michael Steinbach	Yes	6 minutes, 43 seconds

 

LPNNRD Certification Classes

With the last class completed (March 29, 2016), the twelve classes for 2016 have been completed:

Class	Date & time	Location	Attendance		First-time
# 1	Thursday, January 7th @ 3:00 p.m. (after Corn Expo)	Fremont - Christensen Field	30		3
# 2	Thursday, January 14th @ 1:30 p.m.	Columbus - Ag Park	32		4
# 3	Friday, January 29th @ 1:30 p.m.	ARDC - Mead	14		2
# 4	Thursday, February 18th @ 1:30 p.m.	David City – Frontier CO-OP	12	1
# 5	Friday, February 19th @ 9:30 a.m.	Lindsay - Village Office	21		2
# 6	Monday, February 22nd @ 9:30 a.m.	Schuyler – St Benedict Center	10		1
# 7	Thursday, March 3rd @ 9:30 a.m.	Columbus – Pinnacle Bank	20		1
# 8	Friday, March 4th @ 1:30 p.m.	Fremont - Extension Office	6		2
# 9	Wednesday, March 9th @ 1:30 p.m.	David City - Hruska Library	15		3
# 10	Tuesday, March 22nd @ 9:30 a.m.	David City – Frontier CO-OP	1		0
# 11	Thursday, March 24th @ 7:00 p.m.	ARDC - Mead	14		2
# 12	Tuesday, March 29th @ 7:00 p.m.	Columbus - Ag Park	10		0
		Total	185		21

 

In early December 2015 the class schedule for the 2016 classes were mailed to:

• 230 with expiration date of 4/1/2016
• 123 with expiration date of 4/1/2015
•   57 with expiration date of 4/1/2014

 

Rationale: 

For 2015 we had a total of 515 active chemigation permits.  Renewal forms were mailed out in mid-March and so far we have received 112 renewals.  We have also received 4 new permit applications.

The breakdown, by county for the 112 renewals, are listed below:

County	Number
Boone	15
Butler	10
Colfax	0
Dodge	15
Madison	5
Platte	27
Saunders	40

 

The renewal deadline in June 1st.

Rationale: 

No new livestock permit applications from DEQ since the last Water Committee meeting.

 

Rationale: 

No new wells have been reviewed or approved by Gottschalk for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.

Rationale: 

No wells are ready for cost share payment this month.  So far it has been a slow year for decommissioned well payments.  The summary is below:

LPNNRD Budgeted Amount	$12,200
Cost Share Funds Paid	$6,595.53
Cost Share Funds Remaining	$5,604.47

Rationale: 

Steve Peterson of USGS will visit our office in mid April to install portions of the ELM ground water model on our network.  This will overlap into our Shell Creek watershed.

 

Rationale: 

Katie Cameron, ENWRA coordinator, has sampled the deep test holes and monitoring wells the COE is installing as part of their clean up efforts at the Former Ordnance Plant near Mead.  The COE is sampling for explosives and TCE in the bedrock to see if these contaminants have gone deeper into the Dakota.  Previous efforts focused on the upper portion of the Dakota.  ENWRA is interested in the general water quality of the Dakota since this maybe a usable aquifer in the future.  ENWRA has applied to the WSF for more water quality testing of the Dakota at several locations across eastern Nebraska.  We should know by the end of April if this grant is approved.  Also by the end of April we should know if the grant request to WSF for the AEM flights will be approved or not.

ENWRA is also looking at the installation of monitoring wells in several of the eastern NRD's: LPN, LPS, LE, Papio, and Nemaha.  A well driller will be hired to drill these wells at test hole sites already completed by C&SD.

 

Rationale: 

Attached is the amended agreement with the C&SD and ENWRA to install three monitoring wells in our District at a cost of $44,600.

Two monitoring wells would be installed in the North Bend Subarea, east of the Fremont Cutoff Ditch.  This area has a bedrock high and therefore the aquifer is very thin in this area.  One well would be installed in the shallow sand and gravel aquifer (~25 to 35 feet deep) and the other in the Dakota sandstone (~300 feet deep).  See attached sheet.

The third monitoring well would be installed in the Prague subarea and this well would also be in the Dakota sandstone but ~500 feet deep.  See attached sheet.

The test holes originally scheduled to be drilled this fiscal year will be postponed until the fall of 2016.

For FY15-16 we budgeted $36,000 for monitoring wells and $25,000 for test holes for a total of $61,000.

Rationale: 

Staff began collecting our Spring readings on Tuesday, March 22^nd.  The Uplands, Todd Valley, and Wann Basin areas are completed.  Weather-permitting the Platte Valley should be completed this week with Shell Creek scheduled for the week of April 4th to the 8th.  Preliminary, the water levels are up, which was both anticipated and hoped for with the shorter irrigation season and abundance of precipitation in 2015.

 

Rationale: 

The Summer Session for GMDA will be in Yakima WA on June 29 to July 1, 2016.  The Central Colorado Conservancy District is organizing the event.

 

The budget summary for the GMDA Sacramento Conference is below:

Total Income	$53,290.00
Total Expenses	$39,803.48
Difference	$13,486.52

Therefore we need to send a check to GMDA for $13,486.52 (see attached sheet for details).

 

Rationale: 

Russ Oaklund and Bob Heimann have been reviewing applications for 2016 LPNNRD summer intern positions.  Interview for two of the applicants has been scheduled for tomorrow.  So far the applications received haven’t been too good.

 

Rationale: 

Director Kavan stated that in the past eight years 10 new irrigation wells have been installed within one mile of him and he is concerned about all of them running out of water.

Chairman John Hannah and Mary Wotipka were also in attendance.

The Water Committee adjourned at 6:35 pm.

Rationale: 

2016 Tree Plantings

                                                                                                                                  Landowner

                                                                                                Total Cost                   Cost Share

Name                          County                        # Trees                                                 w/out Tax                 Program75%

Eric Nelson                  Saunders         315 trees                     $   425.25        SWCP        $  318.15

Brett Miller                 Colfax              410 trees                     $   553.50        SWCP        $  414.10

Bryan Hein                  Butler              200 trees                     $  270.00         SWCP        $  202.50

Totals                                               925 trees                    $1,228.75                         $ 934.75

 

Summer SWCP Approvals:

Randy Brabec            Colfax Co.                    Diversion                       $    1,200.18

David Hartman          Saunders Co.              Terraces/Tile                   $  12,500.00

Randy Fendrich         Butler Co.                    Basins/Tile                      $  12,500.00

Norman Lindgren      Saunders Co.               Basins/Tile                      $       638.31   (25% Coordinating with EQIP)

Norman Lindgren      Saunders Co.               Terraces/Tile                   $    2,366.22  (25% w/EQIP above NRD Structure)

Tom Smaus              Butler Co.                    Terraces/Tile                    $   7,753.52

James Fujan Trust    Saunders Co.                Terraces/Tile                    $  9,327.38

David Sousek            Saunders Co                 Terraces/Tile                   $ 12,500.00

                                                                                                          $ 58,785.61

 

 

Rationale:  None

Rationale:  None

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Rationale:  None

Rationale:  The Committee reviewed the final proposed Soil and Water Conservation Program (SWCP) policy for further input and recommendation for approval.

Rationale:  We received the attached invoice from Awards & Engraving (Columbus) for student science medals, ribbons and engraved plates. This expense will be deducted from prepaid grant funds held at LPNNRD.  A committee recommendation to pay this invoice is needed.

Rationale:  Attached is a 2015 cover crop payment request from Fred Siefken totaling $3,200.  This payment will be taken from prepaid NET grant funds that are in LPNNRD's account. 

Rationale:  We have expended $115,000 of NET grant funding and are now using approved NDEQ grant funds for projects and programs.  One next step will be to work with NDEQ and Saunders County on proceeding with the design and permitting of two larger grade stabilization structures in the watershed.  Last fall, JEO submitted a proposal to complete this work for approximately $64,000.  While most of this work will be paid from new approved grant funds, we need partnership concurrence on how best to move forward.  

Rationale: 

As mentioned earlier, we have been pre-approved for $106,000 from the Nebraska Environmental Trust and another $168,215 from the EPA/NDEQ for Wahoo Creek Phase II.   NET has requested that we sign and return grant documents by April 30 to accept thier grant.  We are also working on a Project Implementation Plan for the EPA/NDEQ funds.

NET has their grant awards ceremony and workshop on April 14, 2016 in Lincoln.

 

Rationale: 

LPRCA Recreation Pubic Meeting @ Ashland

There was a great turnout at the first LPRCA recreation public meeting in Ashland on Tuesday evening!  Fifty-six people participated in the meeting and we had people from Lincoln, Omaha, Ashland, Louisville, Bellevue, a couple of the lake house areas along the Platte and other spots from the surrounding area.  Again, the meeting was held to present some of the outcomes of the LPR Recreation Master Plan, discuss the opportunities for expanded access to the Platte River and other recreational amenities among other things.  Following an open house from 6-630 we had about 20 minutes of "welcomes" from the Ashland Mayor, a local outfitter from Louisville, a director of the air boat association and a resident of Ashland interested in economic development and recreation.  Craig Wacker and I followed that with a presentation about the plan, current and potential access, education and partnerships.  A representative of the Nebraska Tourism Commission also spoke for a few minutes. The National Park Service provided an overview from a regional and national perspective.  We followed that with about an hour of discussion among those in attendance-first in small groups and then back as one large group.  We had some great feedback and ideas and had a really broad array of interest and user types represented.  Most importantly we seem to have engaged a lot of people that are really interested in partnerships, recreation, community development and the river itself (two of the most enthused seem to be the Ashland and Louisville Mayors).  

Don't forget the next two meetings are Tuesday, April 5th in Fremont at the Civic Auditorium community room (5:30-6:00 open house; 6:00-7:30 presentations and discussion) and Thursday, April 7th in Columbus at the Legion Hall (same time frame as Fremont). 

Two Rivers Pier Removal Final Walk-through

The final walk through for the pier removal project took place on Monday, March 28th. The seeding was completed yesterday and a Corps' issue has been taken care of and documentation sent to the Corps.  Hawkins has removed all equipment from the site as the project is now officially finished.

Events:

 The Kayak Tour has been included as a National Park Service "Find your Park" Event as part of their Centennial Celebration. It is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7th.  Public registration opens Tuesday, April 28th. Please let me know if any directors or staff are interested in attending.

The Summit is scheduled for Tuesday, October 25th at the Oak Ballroom in Schuyler. I have spoken with Matt Bailey about this (he actually recommended the ballroom) and hopefully working in a tour of Shell Creek into the Summit.  More plans coming soon.

The next Quarterly Meeting is Tuesday, May 3rd at 9:00 a.m at LPSNRD.

Rationale:  General Manager Miyoshi reported that he and Mike Murren met with Army COE officials last week to discuss and tour the potential Fremont Levee Project site and the Platte River Levee Project site at Schuyler.  

Rationale: 

General Manager Miyoshi reported that the Army Corps of Engineers informed our partners that additional work needs to be done to reassess flood plain elevations due to Dept. of Roads U.S. 30 Expressway project.  DOR request to change the current flood plain maps for Fremont and Dodge County will require a reassessment of our project with DOR's  proposed floodplain maps and expressway.  This in turn increases the study cost $600,000.

With an increase of $600,000 the break down is: COE $300,000, LPNNRD $150,000, Fremont $72,600, Dodge County $65,100, Inglewood $12,300.

We have ask the COE to complete the study by September 30, 2017 so there is an opportunity to be included for Federal Funding through the Water Resources Redevelopment Act (WRRDA) which maybe in the fall of 2017.

Rationale:  Mike Murren reported that we have been working with the Army COE and Schuyler on how to proceed with cleaning a drainage ditch (4000' long x 5' wide  x 1' deep) located on NDOR property, which is needed so internal city drainage does not backup into Schuyler during heavy rainstorms.  While NDOR has indicated that they will not participate with this cleaning, they will allow the sponsors access on their right of way to do this work.  It appears the the estimated cost of $12,500 will be included as part of the Army COE project. While details are being sorted out this work needs to be completed this week before de-watering wells are turned on for Schuyler's sewer project next week that will pass substantial flows through the subject drainage ditch.

Rationale:  Director Bailey reported that Colfax County is working with the Union Pacific Railroad on coordinating future project activities. 

Rationale:  Our annual Local Working Group Meeting with NRCS was held at our office on March 23rd.  The group reviewed and gave input on eligible conservation practices for 2016 federal EQIP funding and priorities in LPNNRD.  We are anticipating about $400,000 - $500,000 may be available for the general EQIP signup.  In addition, we are anticipating another $400,000 - $500,000 of special EQIP Water Quality Initiative funding for the Wahoo Creek Watershed.  

Rationale: 

HMP contract work with JEO has been completed and we are preparing the final report and reimbursement request to NEMA.   As you recall, of the $126,000 JEO contract, $76,000 was for the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update and up to an additional$50,000 to include our breach inundation mapping on 20 of our non-high hazard flood control dams and a project analysis for Woodcliff.  NEMA/FEMA grant reimburses us 75% of the total contract and we are also billing UBBNRD and Woodcliff 25% for their portions of the HMP effort.

Attached is a full report on the analysis of the Woodcliff project which stated the following:

Conclusion: This project would appear to generally be eligible with the following considerations:

• Funding is not available at this time through the HMGP program as funds have generally been allocated. However, future disaster declarations may result in sufficient funding for a project such as this.

• The PDM program may be an alternative source for funding, which is nationally competitive.

• Documentation of damages or improvements will be very helpful in demonstrating the need for the project.

• USACE 404 permitting can be a lengthy process and it is highly recommended that these permits be obtained before securing FEMA grant funding as it can have significant impacts to the project schedule.

• Demonstration of cost-effectiveness will be vital in gaining grant approval. From preliminary review of benefit-cost analysis, it is inconclusive as to if the project will provide sufficient benefits to show cost-effectiveness. Further benefit-cost analysis is recommended to better determine cost-effectiveness.

Rationale:  Attached is the February 29, 2016, Projects Expense Statement that shows 55.28% of the projects budget spent. 

Rationale:  Access gates on levee segment 5 should be completed soon.

Rationale:  In November we agreed to be part of the ENWRA group to submit a WSF Grant Application to the Natural Resources Commission to preform AEM Flights over our two SQS Areas.  The committee recommendation to the Commission is to approve our (and all) grant requests asking for assistance to preform AEM flights. 

Rationale: 

LARM has completed our Workers Compensation Audit for 2014-15 with a fee increase of $3,294.01.

Rationale:  We have had problems with personal staff and director information being compromised.  It appears that the source of the compromise is Greenshades a software company that produces and distributes our W-2 and 1099 information.  It was recently discovered that the billings for this work has been going to Mike Almond’s inactive email account.  The question is should we pay this $509 bill.  Jovan will address the payment question. 

Rationale: 

Farming season is here and although we do have buyer interest in the Lickteig property we should get a tenant in place.  Harvey Brabec has farmed the land in the past and is willing to do so again this year.  It is suggested to approve an assignable lease with Brabec.  If the property is sold the lease would then be assignable to the new owner.

Rationale: 

Property owner Pat Gaughen informed us that he would be willing to sign a hold harmless clause with the NRD if we would be willing to tile the affected land on his property.  Andy Murren on the property adjacent to Gaughen’s has always said he would be willing to accept what ever the neighbors want to do and is also willing to sign a hold harmless statement if tiling is preformed.  These are the two properties on the west side of the wetland.  Together the two properties have approximately 20 acres that are being negatively impacted.  Earlier Dave Veldkamp had quoted the cost of tiling this property at close to $1,000 per acre.  We have a few weeks left this spring if we want to tile this land prior to planting.

On April 8 Mary Kay Stover and her tenant John Divis informed us that they would also sign the hold harmless agreement if we would tile the approximate 20 acres on their property.

 

Rationale: 

We are experiencing springs and erosion near where the Wahoo to Lake Wanahoo Trail culvert daylight on the lake side (all on NRD Property).  The best fix for this is to place drain tile in the area of the springs and concrete the trail in this same area.  The total cost to perform this work is $6,000 with the cost share being; Trail Grant $4,800, NRDF $720, LPNNRD $480.

Rationale: 

Attached find an amendment to our Master Database contract with Phoenix Group in the amount of $3,750. This amendment will allow us to attach multiple files to any object within the database.

Rationale: 

NOTE: The agenda is on file at the LPNNRD office and may be changed up to 24 hours prior to the meeting as scheduled.