September 1, 2016 at 9:30 AM - Executive Committtee Meeting

Rationale:  The Nebraska Water Symposium will be Thursday, October 20th and the Nebraska Water Law Conference will be held Friday, October 21st both will be held at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Lincoln. Please let Breunig know if you are interested in attending. 

Rationale:  Attached find Directors who are registered for the Fall Conference September 25-27 in Kearney. 

Rationale:  Director Ruzicka reported that he and directors Clausen, Olson, Pollard and Saalfeld met with representatives from Lincoln Poultry for a presentation on the processing plant, hatchery and feed mill.  An update can be given at board meeting.

Rationale: 

We plan on two education programs this month.

Prior to board meeting, beginning at 5:30 p.m. George Cunningham will give a presentation on concerns he has with the Costco poultry plant and plan for raising chickens.

During board meeting a short presentation will be given by Steve Wolf from JEO concerning Board Vision Planning.

Rationale:  At the May Board Meeting a claim from Larry and Cindy Ourada was presented concerning the easement area LPNNRD holds on their property.  Repeated attempts have been made to their attorney by Lausterer to find exactly what they want, with no answer being provided.  It is Lausterer's recommendation that the Ourada Claim be denied.

Rationale: 

Last month we received a proposal from HBE to perform our accounting needs.  This month Brock Herley from Krause, Schumaker, Smejkal & Brockhaus will give a similar proposal.

Staff visited with Brock and two additional staff members on August 23 in preparation for a presentation at Executive Committee.  Hannah informed the committee that Krause, Schumaker, Smejkal & Brockhaus had contacted him and would not be presenting a proposal for accounting services.

Rationale: 

Attached find our 2016-17 renewal invoice based on the resolution that was approved last month and provided to LARM.  

Rationale: 

We have received two proposed to resolutions from NARD for consideration at the Fall Conference in September that are attached to the Executive Committee Minutes.  

Resolution #1 is to streamline the licensing process for Water Well Professionals.  The current system has six separate licenses at a cost of $1,000 each.  Most other professional licenses have a single license with endorsements in each specific category.  The proposed change would make the process for Water Well Professionals license similar to other professional licenses.

Resolution #2 corrects a change that occurred in 2008 that defines who is eligible for loans and grants from the State Revolving Fund.  The new statute reads ...to public water systems operated by political subdivisions with populations of ten thousand inhabitants or less...  This language would exempt NRDs from using the SRF.  The proposed change would add two comas and read ...to public water systems, operated by political subdivisions, with populations of ten thousand inhabitants or less...  Currently DEQ and HHS are allowing NRD to use the SRF, but are asking that we pursue a statute update. 

Rationale: 

Personnel Sub-Committee will meet immediately after Executive Committee Meeting.  Their agenda includes:

     General Managers Review

     Review Civil Engineer draft job description

Rationale:  The job announcement for the Dodge County Field Assistant was advertised in the Fremont Tribune on August 13, 20 and 27.  Resumes are due at the NRD Office September 6th with interview scheduled after that. 

Rationale: 

Last month the board approved our Fiscal Year 2017 Budget that includes $6,632,439 of expenditures, $7,471,399 of income and available cash, with a property tax request of $3,480,715.  We have received valuations from our 7 counties that came in slightly more than was estimated.

With the revised valuations our property tax request for FY17 will decrease by 10.4% and our property tax rate will decrease by 14.5%

A final copy of the Valuations, Budget Summary and State Budget are attached with a motion needed to approve setting the FY Budget Tax levee at .038278 cents per one hundred dollars of valuation.

Rationale:  A large packet of information was received from the Dodge County Treasurer to inform us that a tax refund to Dodge County is needed.  Earlier this summer the State TERC Board made a ruling for correction of 12 properties owned by Hormel Foods Corporation ($6,364.91) and one smaller correction for Lyman Richey Corporation ($157.01).  Attached find a copy of the letter and the supporting statutes.  If any director wishes to have a copy of the supporting paperwork please let Miyoshi know and it can be sent to you in a separate email.