June 30, 2016 at 9:30 AM - Executive Committtee Meeting

Rationale:  The Weaver Conference Call will be held the first week of July.  Weaver's relationship with the district formally ends on June 30.  The three NRD managers will work to put a package together with Water Strategies over the next month for consideration by our boards.

Rationale: 

LB 1038 recreated the Riparian Taskforce.  The new Taskforce will have statewide coverage rather than just for a limited area of the state.  We feel the Lower Platte Weed Management Authority is working exceptionally well and want to be sure we receive our share of any state funds that come forward.  With three NRD Taskforce position being allowed for we feel a representative from the Lower Platte is appropriate.  Rich Tesar has been the board member most involved in our local group.  The three NRD Managers agree that we should support Tesar's nomination for the Riparian Taskforce.  

If approved by the Executive Committee the letter for this nomination will be sent to both NARD and governor Ricketts prior to it's due date of July 8.

Rationale: 

Several board members have asked for an education program on the proposed Costco Poultry Plant near Fremont.  With the current location close to our proposed Fremont GI Levee it would be positive to see what their plans are.  We contacted the group who would have two representatives from Fremont give a program to our board.  The topics that were forwarded included:

     Overall plan
     Water Source
     Waste Water Plan
     Any other environmental discharges 
     Management of litter from CAFOs (confined animal feeding operation)
     Impact on planned Fremont Levee Project

It would work best to follow the routine as we did last month and have the education program from 5:30 until 5:55 with a short break prior to beginning our July Board Meeting.

Rationale:  As previously approved by the board the director computer allowance will change in June from $50 per month to $20 per month.  Any directors who wish to move to to a district provided iPad should let staff know so they can be ordered.

Rationale: 

National Land found a buyer for the Lickteig property and with agreement by Dave Lickteig and approval of the Executive Committee a purchase agreement was signed for $490,000.  The purchaser is 3801 Harney LLC signed by Mark Masek, Manager.  A copy of the purchase agreement is attached to the Executive Committee Minutes.

We will need to approve the "First Amendment to Settlement Agreement and Release" that extends the agreement to the end of August that is attached and will need to ratify the action of the Executive Committee to honor the terms of the Settlement Agreement and to approve the sale of the property.

Costs to LPNNRD

     Payment to Lickteig                      $50,000

     Payment to National Land (6%)     $29,400

     One-half of closing costs (est.)       $ 2,000

Rationale:  No new information since last month.  Lausterer has not received information on what the Ourada's are asking for.

Rationale: 

Last month we budgeted for engineering services with FYRA Engineering on the landowner request to lower Lake Wanahoo by three feet.  Attached is an invoice for Payment;

     Contract Total                $10,000.00

     Payment this month        $ 5,151.50

     Remaining Balance          $ 4,847.50

Rationale:  Lausterer recently made us aware that the NRD can receive charitable donations that are tax deductible.  We previously approved accepting donations to construct benches and trees along the trail at Lake Wanahoo.  These donations must be approved by board motion.  Attached find a copy of the receipt being sent to those that are making donations and a copy of the list of donators. 

Rationale: 

Attached find the Minutes from the June 6, 2016 Personnel Sub-Committee.  Each topic and recommendation will be listed below.

Also attached is the final report from Zelle HR.

Rationale:  Zelle conducted interviews with all NRD employees to review their job duties.  From these interviews and previous job descriptions new job descriptions were drafted for all positions and presented to the Sub-Committee.  Zelle also reviewed job codes for each position and recommended changes to four codes.  Descriptions and codes have been emailed to all directors.  

Rationale: 

The Committee reviewed performance reviews for employees that were prepared by their immediate supervisor and reviewed by management.  Lengthy discussion took place on one review with disagreement between several committee members and management.

The Executive Committee is suggesting to go into Closed Session to discuss this matter.

Rationale: 

The overall cost of living adjustment for the past 12 months is 1.1% as shown on the attached Department of Labor table.  

Rationale:  We have several positions listed on our Salary Range List that are not currently filled nor do we anticipate ever filling.  Rather than have Zelle produce a job description and match a job code it is recommended to remove these jobs from our Salary Range List.  

Rationale:  Attached find a list of LPNNRD Salary Ranges.  The ranges are based on the mid-points of the job codes recommended by Zelle.  

Rationale:  The Personnel Sub-Committee discussed the district’s 9-Step system and eligibility of employees for a Step advance (see attachment).  We are currently on the final year of implementing and funding the 9-Step System.  

Rationale: 

The discussion at Personnel Sub-Committee was to approve:

     1.1% across the board salary increase for all employees

     Allow for increases caused by Step levels

     No salary will increase greater than 7.5%

          The exception to the 7.5% increase is that all employees must be at or above the starting wage

Following these criteria our total salaries will increase by $22,222 which is a 1.95% increase from last years salaries.

Rationale:  Hilger led discussion on hiring a staff engineer to design smaller projects for the district and be available to assist small towns with engineering projects.

Rationale: 

Committees are reviewing the budget this week.  There will be one more committee review prior to the Budget Workshop.

We need to set the Budget Hearing and Levee Hearing.  The suggested dates are:

     Budget Hearing     Monday, August 8, 2016             5:00 p.m.

     Levee Hearing       Monday, September 12, 2016     5:00 p.m.

Rationale:  We will hold our Budget Workshop on Wednesday, August 3rd beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the Lower Plartte North NRD Office. 

Rationale:  Attached find a letter from Butler County asking for us to refund $1,092.68 to them due to a software glitch.  They ask that this payment be remitted to them by June 29 (prior to end of the fiscal year).  If we approve this payment Bob Hilger will deliver the check to Butler County yet today.

Rationale:  The Water Committee is forwarding a recommendation to make payment of $125,000 to AGF for the AEM flights.  They ask that this payment be made in the current fiscal year, thus will need approval by the Executive Committee.  This would be the first payment for the $416,666 contract with flights that are scheduled for mid to late July.

Rationale:  Last month it was approved to make our annual payment to Schuyler for the 205 levee project.  The annual amount was reduced by $25,000 because our records indicated we were out of balance for contributions to the original study.  Upon further examination Mary Peshold was able to find where we were in balance for the study.  These payments go through Projects Committee, however we would like to make the payment this fiscal year (prior to June 30) and the only committee that has the authority to make payments prior to board approval is the Executive Committee.