June 28, 2017 at 8:30 AM - Operations & Education Committee Meeting

Rationale: 

There no CREP contract payments.

Scott Luedtke of G & P has submitted a request for reimbursement to the NRD for work accomplished on the Homestead Grassland renovation in the amount of $8,410.76. This includes our time for seeding and spraying and also the invoices for chemical used on the project and seed costs. The total grassland renovation cost was $11,214.35. The NRD contribution to this phase of the Homestead project was $2,803.59. 

Rationale:  O & M staff have finished going over all watershed dams. We put in one park bench, the disc golf poles for the baskets, two bollards, two trash receptacles and modified the pipe inlet area at the dump station (see picture). Started clearing trees for three camper pads at Czechland Lake, also some miscellaneous spraying of noxious weeds and put a new string of buoys together for Wanahoo.

Rationale:  The Lake Wanahoo Lake Level Committee met at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 28th.  Find attached the Lake Level Committee agenda and the FYRA Wanahoo Lake Level Policy Contract.

Rationale: 

The most current revenue sheet is attached, total to date $48,098.50.

Staff met with Jim Swenson and Regional Superintendent Bill Oligmueller on items dealing with the SRA. Staff will send a letter of request to Game & Parks to use the additional revenue from last season for a retaining wall at the kiosk and to purchase rubber mulch for the playground units.  This total comes to approximately $10,079.50.  Game & Parks staff is also asking if a portion of their side of the shed could be concrete to make it a better surface for working on equipment, this would be done in the off season.

The NRD Board would like a committee of board members to meet with Game & Parks administration to discuss the Inter-local agreement for the SRA some time in September.

Eagle Scout Project - Josh Varner is requesting to do an Eagle Scout Project constructing as many as 10 monofilament recycling bins at Lake Wanahoo (picture attached). The bins would be located near the jetties, boat ramp, break water and the face of the dam. We'll wait for his proposal.

Rationale:  We are currently advertising for the haying of Wanahoo and Czechland property.  Bids are due July 7th at 2:00 pm. Bids will be presented at the July Board meeting.

Rationale: 

The non-federal partners met on Wednesday, June 21st to discuss the options with the GI study. The COE has received $50,000 for this study and need the non-federal partners to contribute $50,000. To close out the study and package it for future use would cost approximately $85,000, fifty percent ($42,500) local share. To continue the study for non-structural purposes would cost the non-federal partners $230,000. The partners would like to know from the Corps if we could target a couple areas for non-structural for a lesser amount than the $230,000, the answer is no.

FYRA Engineering has proposed a 3 Phase Platte River Hydrology and Flood Plain Mapping. Phases 1 and 2 would cost $877,110 then the plan would be ready for FEMA review. After review Phase 3 would have an additional cost. We need to obtain interest from communities up and down the river to help fund this study and possibly use property valuation as an instrument to gauge the contributions from communities for the study.  We have now found out that the Nebraska Silver Jackets organization will do this Hydrology and Flood Plain Study using FEMA funding.  The Silver Jackets are affiliated organization with in the Corps of Engineers. The Silver Jackets would do the first two phases FYRA proposed and present it to FEMA for review.  The Silver Jackets may also fund the Fremont Community non-structural public meeting.

We would also like from the Dept. of Natural Resources examples of communities that have used non-structural practices.  Our partners would like a sample motion for each board in moving forward with this project.

The COE wants to know our direction ASAP.

Rationale:  We have not heard any new information from Paul Gifford  or Fremont.

Rationale:  To date the current revenue from camping at Czechland Lake is $2,862.00.

Rationale:  M.E. Collins paid the District $1,536.00 for the past two months. The total dirt/sand sales since 2012 is $214,406.00.

Rationale:  The potential O & M budget will be reviewed. 

Rationale:  We have not heard or received a final invoice from Kay Poppe for work on Skull Creek.

Rationale: 

The Wahoo Newspaper eAd and KTIC radio ad for July will promote the recreation areas.

Rationale: 

The Lower Platte North NRD will have an exhibit booth at the Platte County Fair (July 5^th-9^th), Butler County Fair (July 20^th-23^rd), Saunders County Fair (July 24^th-30^th), and the Dodge County Fair (August 4^th-6^th).

Rationale: 

Bret Schomer led a wildlife activity, Wildlife CSI, with 15 youth during the 4-H Wildlife Workshop on June 13^th at the ARDC near Mead.

On June 14^th, 15 teachers visited Lake Wanahoo SRA.  The teachers were attending a two-week workshop through UNL for integrating STEM in the classrooms.  The purpose of the visit to Wanahoo was to encourage teachers to integrate environmental education in their classrooms and the potential for programs/field trips/etc. at Lake Wanahoo.  Teachers were from various schools, including Wahoo Elementary and North Bend Elementary.  Nebraska Game & Parks led a fishing activity for the group.  Bret Schomer led a disc golf activity and spoke to the group about the upcoming Nature Education Trail/Disc Golf Course.  Desirae TePoel spoke about LPNNRD education opportunities, including Test Your Well Nights, and the teachers tested nitrate levels of private well water samples.  Schomer, Gottschalk, and TePoel also spoke to the group about NRDs and efforts in natural resources conservation.

Desirae TePoel led a wildlife activity, Wildlife CSI, with 5 youth during the Dwight Library Summer Program on June 20^th at Dwight Library.

Rationale: 

During FY2017, Lower Platte North NRD staff have directly interacted with over 1,100 youth throughout the district.  Attached is a list of all activities, sessions, presentations, and involvement.  

Rationale: 

I have met with Neil (Phoenix Group) several times this past month and they are making good progress on developing a new remote water meter reading system.  They have determined the frequencies our meters use and conducted initial test readings last week.  This new system will have the ability to read all residential meters from a desktop as well as read individual meters at any time during the month as needed.

I am encouraged with our progress and look forward to these upcoming weeks as we get closer to the finished product.

State reporting has been completed for the fiscal year and is being submitted for both districts.

 

 

Rationale: 

Water samples are being taken Wednesday morning (6-28) and will be delivered to the State Lab.

Meters will be read and bills sent out this week.

Rationale: 

Water samples are being taken Wednesday morning (6-28) and will be delivered to the State Lab.

Meters will be read and bills sent out this week.