April 27, 2016 at 8:30 AM - Operations & Education Committee Meeting

Rationale:  CREP payment for Larry Bruhn on 4.7 acres in Colfax County.  NRD's payment is $77.08.  Total contract is $578.10.  There is one more payment on this contract.

Rationale:  The O & M crew has shredded down many of the remaining trees in the fields that were burned on the Wanahoo property. We used our saw attachment to cut the larger trees on this same property and cleaned up any debris.  We've bagged and delivered trees to the local NRCS offices for customers to pick up. We are also monitoring a couple beaver dam issues.

Rationale:  M.E. Collins has finished the paving project on the Lake Wanahoo entrance just beyond the kiosk.  An invoice of $32,356.56 is attached. This is the final payment to the completed project. The NE Game & Parks Commission will be invoiced for $75,000, NRDF will assist with $56,565.42, Saunders County Lodging Tax Fund $8,000 and the NRD share is $29,710.28.

Rationale:  The entry road beyond the Kiosk (approx. 200 yards) at Lake Wanahoo flooded frequently during heavy rains, causing the road to wash and deteriorate. An area to the west, approximately 25-30 acres drains to this point. When designing and developing the area the Corps of Engineers must have overlooked this drainage. Staff had M. E. Collins build a ditch to control this flow and direct it to the appropriate culvert. Attached is an invoice for $8,268 for this drainage improvement. NRDF will cover 60% of this improvement which is $4,960.80.

Rationale:  The assembly dates for the two playgrounds are May 18, 19 & 20.  Heimann is organizing the ground prep with NE Game & Parks, and soliciting volunteers for the three days. We need 10-12 people per site each day. We will also need volunteers to help serve lunch and/or sponsor lunch each day. Please sign up.

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Max Hohn is planning on placing four benches in this Saturday, April 30th.  Seth Varner will place his after the playground equipment is in.

We are receiving more request for memorial park benches and may have to purchase more. We have request from Directors Hannah, McDermott, the Gottschalk family, Pleskac, & Specht.

Rationale:  Interest in planting conservation trees is down. We have ordered 12,050 trees and shrubs and have 2,700 available for sale.  We have eight sites to plant.

Rationale:  All the non-federal partners agreed to continue the study and have signed the Amended Inter-local agreement. We will anticipate the COE asking for the funding in the new fiscal year. We have not heard anything new regarding the study.

Rationale:  The two sites approved for payment last winter were inspected and paid.  No new developments.

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The KTIC radio ad for April focused on flow meter installation requirements.  The Wahoo Newspaper eAd for April focused on purchasing park permits.  The ads are attached.

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The 2016 Soil & Water Stewardship Week is recognized as April 24th through May 1st.  Educational materials that were ordered have been delivered to schools and churches.  Thank you to all staff and directors that helped to deliver these packages.

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The Spring Conservation Sensation is next Wednesday, May 4^th at Czechland Lake from 9 am-2 pm.  Registration begins at 8:30 am.

223 students are registered.  Presenters include staff from LPNNRD, local NRCS, NARD, Lower Platte South NRD, Nebraska Game & Parks, and Nebraska Extension (Butler & Colfax County).  David City FFA members will be group leaders and activity assistants. We welcome any directors that are available to come and join us- either as volunteers or to observe the activities.  The full schedule is attached.  

Rationale:  LPNNRD received four applications for the Shell Creek Watershed Monitoring Program Scholarship.  This scholarship is awarded to two high school seniors who plan to pursue higher education relating to science or natural resources.  Staff reviewed the applications to recommend Joseph O'Brien and Destiny Johnson as the two recipients. We would like to notify the students of the award prior to graduation ceremonies.  Their applications are attached.

Rationale:  Our new billing software (AsystOL) is up and running and we have sent out all our monthly bills using this software.  The only thing we are currently waiting on is implementing a new radio reader and interface.  We have been in discussion with the Phoenix Group attempting to utilize several localized radio transmitters on each system.  If feasible, this type of process would allow us to read meters from my computer at any time during the month.  In the event Phoenix is unable to supply us with a usable reader, we will begin the process of pricing and purchasing a new handheld radio meter reader.

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Monthly water samples were taken on April 26th and submitted to the State for processing.  Meters will be read today or tomorrow and bills sent out.

We have replaced one meter transmitter in Colon and have two others on our list for replacement.

Will be scheduling to have our Sanitary Survey completed in May

Rationale:  Monthly water samples were taken on April 26th and submitted to the State for processing.  Meters will be read today or tomorrow and bills sent out.