June 8, 2020 at 4:00 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:  Are there any additions or corrections to the agenda?  

Rationale:  None

Rationale:  Are there any additions or corrections to the minutes?  If not they will be approved on the consent agenda.

Rationale:  Since mid-March our staff has been working on a two workgroup system, three days working in the office and three days working, remotely, from home.  As of today, our plans are to bring our entire staff back together on Monday June 8th.  While we have been able to operate and maintain all responsibilities with two workgroups, I feel it is time to get back together as a staff.  We will continue our additional disinfecting measures, taking temperatures of staff and not allowing the public into the office without an appointment, but believe it is now time to begin this first step in returning to normal office operation.
I will continue to monitor the every-changing situation and make any needed adjustments.

Rationale:  Attached find a memo from Dean Edson on Proposed Insurance Premiums for FY 20-21.  Final action will occur at the June 8 NARD Risk Pool Board Meeting.

Rationale:  Attached find our final audit worksheet and final audit invoice from LARM for the 2018-2019 Pool Year.  Amount due to LARM after the payroll audit for Workers Compensation is $7,714.70.

Rationale:  The Executive Committee suggested starting the June 8th Board Meeting at 4:00 p.m. and offer the meeting via Zoom and in person for Directors.  If any Director wishes to attend in person please let the office know in advance.  We will have to abide by State Regulations and want to practice social distancing.

Rationale:  Management is in the process of finishing annual reviews and evaluations of all LPNNRD staff.  Once complete, Tom and/or myself will sit down individually with each staff member and review.

Rationale:  Cost of living increase this past year was 1/6% nationally.  Last year, as in previous years, the committee and board approved a maximum dollar amount for salary and wage adjustments and all employees were awarded a fixed dollar amount based upon their evaluation. ($1,000 for fully satisfactory, $ 1,250 for commendable and $1,500 for outstanding)
Last year $ 26,000 was approved, after evaluations were complete $24,500 was utilized.

Rationale:  With Kara, our past I&E assistant/receptionist leaving earlier this month, we have an open position to fill.  Discussion is requested on hiring a full-time Education Coordinator position instead of a part-time I&E/Receptionist position.
I will share potential budget impact of this decision with the committee.

At this time the Executive Committee felt we should not hire for an Education Coordinator, but budget money for this position in FY '21 Budget.

Rationale:  Grant was available for a conference call to discuss the April Financial Statements

Rationale:  Attached find Manger Gottschalk's time and expense sheets.

Rationale:  There is no unfinished business to consider.

Rationale:  We have a Corners for Wildlife annual payment to be made to Gerhold Inc.on 38 acres in Butler County. The contract payment is $3,820.00. Pheasants Forever reimburses the District 100%. This contract expires in 2023.

Rationale:  The O & M crew finished all tree plantings and the dispersal of all trees. We fenced a quarter mile of Rawhide Ditch on the Diers property. Cut and treated trees, sprayed thistles and took down an old cattle panel structure in the flood damaged area of Rawhide Ditch. Cut volunteer trees at Homestead Lake. Made some minor repairs to the Czechland Lake dock.

Rationale:  Clear Creek Levee repair continues with the first train of rock placed on site. The second train arrived Monday which will be unloaded and stock piled. With wet conditions the contractor doesn't want to tear areas up at Frontier Co-op or Thomas Lakes. They will proceed as soon as possible on the Thomas Lakes portion of the levee. The third train is scheduled for late next week. A Bathymetric survery was done in the river along the levee at Thomas Lakes to determine the depth of the channel.
The COE are still having difficulty obtaining a permit from BNSF RR for work to be done on the berm adjacent to the railroad. Lower Platte South provided the easements they hold for O & M on that berm.

Rationale:  The contractor had substantially completed all major repairs to Rawhide Ditch 8 on April 30. Staff and JEO have put together a list of items that need to be addressed before the District makes full payment, the contractor is working on those items.
Find attached Change Order 2, a Final Payment Application and a Substantial Completion Form. The change order has changed the original bid cost of the project from $190,300 to $187,791.72. We need a motion.

As per our Temporary Easement with Kirk Brand we must pay him $400 for loss of yield due to compaction in using the edge of his field as an Ingress/Egress for the project. We were to pay him $400 if we were finished by May 1 or $800 after May 1.

Rationale:  FYRA sent FEMA a set of draft plans on May 7. On May 14, sent the draft plans and draft cost breakdown to FEMA and NDNR-Dam Safety for preliminary permit review. May 13, staff sent FEMA their requested information of photos, diagrams, dam inspection reports, maintenance schedule, how maintenance is completed & recorded, and other explanations.
After some discussion, on May 20, FYRA sent FEMA an updated cost breakdown.
FYRA has set up a Pre-Bid Conference for contractors on Tuesday, June 23 at 11:30 to be held at the Wanahoo Education Building.
As of Tuesday, May 26, Chris Poole had his weekly teleconference with FEMA, now FEMA is trending toward not funding a repair and we are not sure about mitigation. Staff and FYRA are now scheduled to have a teleconference with FEMA Thursday, June 4.

Rationale:  We did not receive a bid for haying Czechland Lake. Staff contacted Dan Ourada a neighbor, and past hay recipient. Mr. Ourada also assisted the District in seeding the area 2-3 years ago. He has offered $42.50/ton.  

Rationale:  Landowner Rachel Hawley is working through Saunders County Zoning to build a seasonal cabin in the District's easement area on Dam Cottonwood 22-A. Cottonwood 22-A is one mile east of Malmo. Zoning requires a structure be at least 900 sq. ft. to be permitted. The structure will now be 25' x 36'. It will have running water and sewer, she is working out those details with a well driller because of limited space. JEO has surveyed and certified that the elevation of the site is above dam elevation (letter attached).
Zoning is requiring a letter from the District granting her permission to build in our easement area. We can write a letter of permission when the details of the well and septic are worked out. She has met other requirements such as set backs, elevation, etc.

Rationale:  Heimann met with Saunders County and Tim Gokie (NDNR) on site at Cottonwood 21-A to discuss what needs to be accomplish to get the dam and emergency spillway to the correct elevations. Saunders County will have their Engineering Firm do a survey of the area which may determine if Saunders County can do the physical work and how we work it out financially. Since it's a major public county road, road safety conditions have to be taken into consideration when restructuring the spillway.
Currently, NDNR has this dam listed as "In Poor Condition".

Rationale:  Find attached a preliminary budget outline for Operations.

Budget Expenditures to consider, 1) Repair of the Wanahoo Stilling Basin 2) Restructuring high hazard dam Cottonwood 21-A's emergency spillway as NDNR Dam Safety is requesting, 3) stabilizing the shoreline (1,060' to 1,400') along Rescue Road at Czechland Lake. Both of these items may be in cooperation with Saunders County. 4) Fill the cracks in the RCC Auxiliary Spillway on the Wanahoo Dam as required by NDNR Dam Safety.

Rationale:  We received an updated application from Donald Medinger in Butler County. He wished to repair his jetties in the near future.

We received a cost-share request from James Drahota for a rock revetment or windrow along the Platte River in Colfax County. The cost to his project is $3,500. A 404 permit is not required as the rock is placed on top the of bank and will fall into the river bank as it erodes. 

Rationale:  Plans are still being discussed to have July 4th fireworks at Lake Wanahoo.  Management is in communication with Wahoo city officials, Wahoo Chamber of Commerce and the pyrotechnics regarding this year's show.  Several options are on the table which include 4th of July show, Labor Day show or a show in conjunction with Wahoo's 150th celebration.  Of course, the big issue is gathering size, venue capacity and social distancing guidelines.  We should know more by board meeting.

Rationale:  All cabins have been roughed in for electrical, insulated and work is currently being done to finish the interior and install air conditioners.  Once walls are complete, electrical will be finished, door/windows trimmed and final touches to prepare them for opening.  We are hoping for a mid-June opening date.

Rationale:  Two of the five vault toilets have been opened in the park which allowed us to re-open the primitive tent camping area of the park.  Staff cleans the toilets twice per day and is supplying disinfecting materials for each of the locations.  Staff monitors each toilet throughout the day and the public is being made aware the facilities will be closed down if there are any issues with our supplies being damaged or stolen.

Rationale:  The District has received $21,937.25 in Lake Wanahoo Park Permit revenue for the month of May (as of May 27th). Annual permit totals equal $20,675.00 and day pass totals equal $1,262.25. In comparison, May 2019 annual permit totals equaled $15, 597.50 (see attached files).

Rationale:  The park has been very busy due to Nebraska Game and Parks closing camping during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of May 27th 2020, the District has received $15,170 from walk-up camping. Staff is currently working through some issues created by Reserve America that have come up due to changes made to their SOP and fee schedule. 

Rationale:  We are featuring the recreation areas for our KTIC Radio ad and Wahoo Newspaper eAds which are attached.
 

Rationale:  After last month, there was a slight decrease in traffic to the website but the Lake Wanahoo page and Czechland Lake continued with higher views than in the past. Lake Wanahoo received the most traffic from Google search results, outdoornebraska.gov, and some from visitnebraska.com.

Month	# of Users	Top Pages/views	Viewing Device
October 2019	710	Home 543 Lake Wanahoo 355 Staff 121 Czechland Lake 100 Contact 95	Desktop 58.73% Mobile 34.48% Tablet 4.79%
April 2020	3,027	Lake Wanahoo 3,181 Home 2,387 Czechland Lake 713 Outdoor Recreation 403 Downloads 316	Mobile 52.43% Desktop 42.32% Tablet 5.25%
May 1-25	2,498	Lake Wanahoo 2,885 Home 1,460 Czechland Lake 555 Outdoor Recreation 430 Downloads 213	Mobile 54.08% Desktop 41.75% Tablet 4.16%

Our Facebook page had a lot less views during May than in April and March. The page has 1,142 followers as of May 25. Our top posts included: updated Wanahoo regulations, Mother’s day post, and Stewardship week "Where would we BEE without pollinators?"

 

Month	Total Views	Total Reach	Total Engaged Users	Followers
October 2019	9,446	6,772	1,273	873
April 2020	21,847	19,261	796	1,115
May 1-25	5,130	4,565	243	1,142

Our Twitter page continues to slowly grow with more followers each month.  
Our top posts included: Bob, Dave and Duke planting trees; Stewardship week "Where would we BEE without pollinators?"; and May board meeting reminder

Month	Impressions	Engagements	Followers
October 2019	3,707	61	300
April 2020	11,068	191	320
May 1-25	4,053	121	325

Rationale:  At this time we are unsure of the status of most of the area fairs. Many are moving to 4-H and FFA events only. Butler County will not have any exhibitor booths. Platte County and Boone County will make a decision June 1^st. I have emailed Colfax and Saunders County and have not heard back yet.
 

Rationale:  Due to COVID-19, all education programs have been cancelled through May 31. UNL-Extension has cancelled their programs through June 15. An alternate date for the 4H/NRD Outdoor Recreation Day (May 29) has been discussed for September and the alternate date for the Saunders County Youth Ag tour has not been decided yet.
 

Rationale:  The RW dept was contacted by a resident concerned about low water pressure.  A pressure test was conducted and an adequate PSI was detected, however, the flow rate was still less than desirable.   All mainline valves on that end of town were exercised and only a slight improvement was noticed.  Further investigation will continue.
RW dept was contacted by the Colon Fire Dept about an apparent leak at their new location.  RW staff noted a leak at the curb stop valve due to improper pipe size for valve box.  ME Collins did this portion of the original install and were contacted to repair/replace the faulty pipe.
Monthly testing completed, meters read and bills will go out 5/29.

Rationale:  All five initial lead and copper tests came back below allowable limits, which is what we want.  All five households received the results per DHHS requirements.  Round two lead and copper sampling will take place later this year.
Routine sampling completed, meters read and bills will go out 5/29.  Of note: new rates go into effect this month.

Rationale:  Staff selected two firms from the initial four to present at the Water Committee.

7:30 am - LR/JEO 
8:30 am - EA Engineering

Attached are the firms proposals.  Staff would like a recommendation from the Committee to take to the Board after hearing both proposals. 

Both firms had excellent presentations for the Committee and are capable of completing the project tasks.   The Committee discussed the pros and cons of both firms with discussion on the analysis tool and was it to technical, distance of the firm from the NRD office and matching geological data to neighboring NRDs.  

Rationale:  Barta Family is asking for a second well for the north side of Shell Creek.  They have been irrigating the north side by running a pipe across Shell Creek.  The pipe was damaged in last year's flood and would like to eliminate the pipe crossing the creek.  

Committee was concerned on adding the extra well would potentially increase the total water use if the NRD had to go to an allocation.  They did understand that running water through a pipe over Shell Creek was a lot of work. 

Rationale:  Coalition Directors held a virtual meeting on May 21, which the Coalition approved budgeting dues of $10,000 per member.  More discussion will be held soon on the next allotments or extension.   

Rationale:  Discussion on developing a geological framework on the Lower Platte Basin between the 3 NRDs in the Basin.  This would combine the AEM flights, irrigation logs and any other available geological information in developing a geological framework of the saturated and unsaturated zones.  This information would be able to assist the NRD in refining aquifer boundaries, recharge or leaching areas and will be needed if a numerical hydrological model will be be needed in the future.  The total cost for this project is estimated at $544.500 with funding provided by DNR, PMRNRD, LPSNRD and LPNNRD.  Paul Woodward from PMRNRD presented an option shown below.  This would obligate the LPNNRD for around $43,000, which would include applying for a WSF grant to assist in funding this project.   Staff would like a motion to participate in a WSF grant with this as a budget item in next year's budget.  Discussion by the three NRDs would have JEO write the grant for $9,000 with PMRNRD the lead in this project. (Attachment)

Alternative - FULL WSF SMALL GRANT
NRD	COST PER NRD	MAP BOOK	TOTAL W/O Map Book	WSF Cost-share ~46%	NRD 40% Match	NDNR Remaining
Papio	205,000.00	65000	140,000.00	$    93,181.82	$    62,121.21	$    49,696.97
LPS	205,000.00	65000	140,000.00	$    93,181.82	$    62,121.21	$    49,696.97
LPN	140,000.00	0	140,000.00	$    63,636.36	$    42,424.24	$    33,939.39
Total	550,000.00		420,000.00	$  250,000.00	$  166,666.67	$  133,333.33
				FY 21 - 50%
			NRD	WSF Cost-share* ~46%	NRD 40% Match	NDNR Remaining
			Papio	$    46,590.91	$    31,060.61	$    24,848.48
			LPS	$    46,590.91	$    31,060.61	$    24,848.48
			LPN	$    31,818.18	$    21,212.12	$    16,969.70
			Total	$  125,000.00	$    83,333.33	$    66,666.67
				FY 22 - 50%
			NRD	WSF Cost-share* ~46%	NRD 40% Match	NDNR Remaining
			Papio	$    46,590.91	$    31,060.61	$    24,848.48
			LPS	$    46,590.91	$    31,060.61	$    24,848.48
			LPN	$    31,818.18	$    21,212.12	$    16,969.70
			Total	$  125,000.00	$    83,333.33	$    66,666.67

Rationale:  Invoice for flow meter maintenance.  The plan is to start the bid process for meter maintenance for the next 3 or 4 years in July.  

Rationale: 

For 2020 we have 443 renewals and 5 new permit applications for a current total of 448.  Inspections for 16 renewal permits have been completed.
 

Rationale: 

The LPNNRD has received # 4 livestock permit applications from DEQ since the last Water Committee meeting.

Committee discussed how the poultry barns are increasing quickly in Butler County. It was suggested the possibility of having a discussion with NDEE on manure application.  The Board did past a motion to stay neutral on livestock facilities and the NRD responsibility is with the permitting of high capacity wells.  Manure application is usually treated as any commercial fertilizer, which soil sampling and manure analysis should be conducted and handled by NDEE.    

Name	Livestock	Type of Permit	Legal Description	County
Wildcat Farm	Poultry, Broilers	New Construction	S1/2 SE Section 7-15N-1E	Butler
Tar Heel	Poultry, Broilers	New Construction	W1/2 NE Section 16-15N-1E	Butler
Wolfpack Farm	Poultry, Broilers	New Construction	N1/2 SE Section 8-15-1E	Butler
6M LLC	Poultry, Broilers	New Construction	NE Section 2-15-1E	Butler

 

 

 Description of permit application

Wildcat is 760,000 head of broilers 5-6 lbs
Tar Heel is 760,000 head of broilers 5-6 lbs
Wolfpack is 760,000 head of broilers 5-6 lbs
6M LLC is 380,000 head of broilers 5-6 lbs

Rationale:  Update on the number wells that have been decommissioned and total reimbursement amount for the 2019 Fiscal Year:

40 wells have been plugged for a total reimbursement amount of $27,727.30 (including this month).



 

Rationale: 

# new wells has been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.

Rationale: 

# wells have been plugged, reviewed, and ready for cost share payment approval this month.

Well Owner	Type of Well	Cost Share Estimate	County
Justin Lee	Unregistered Stock	$503.44	Boone
Line Rider LLC	Irrigation	$637.62	Colfax
Walter Bohaty	Irrigation (2)	$2,000	Butler

 

Rationale:  UNL-CSD would like to amend the initial agreement that was created around 2004 to June 30, 2022.  This agreement has been amended 3 other times.

Rationale:  The Watersmart grant (attached) has finally been approved by the Bureau of Reclamation for $108,200.  Equipment has been ordered and being installed to have remote reads for 71 water level data loggers District wide. Staff is hoping to get most of the equipment installed by the middle of June. 

An initial invoice is attached for $93,918.14 that $110,000 was budgeted for this fiscal year.  50 percent will be reimbursed through the grant.  

Rationale:  Invoice from UNL Water Center on the analysis work being done on the vadose soiling sampling in the LPN Nitrogen Management Areas.  

Rationale:  From Jennifer Schellpeper on Drought Plan.  (Attachments)

Conditions continue to indicate that the drought triggers, as described in the Plan, have not been reached.
 
Attachments include:

1. The Wyoming Basin & Water Supply Outlook Report for May 2020 from NRCS (Att1_WY_Basin_Outlook_Report_20200501)
2. Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), weekly value ending May 16, 2020, from NOAA (Att2_PDSI_NOAA_20200516)
3. Minimum and Maximum Daily Discharge for  the Platte River near Ashland for time period of April 20, 2020, to May 20, 2020 from the USGS gage 06801000 (Att3_PlatteRiver_Nr_Ashland_Gage_20200420_to_20200520),data downloaded from the USGS website and used to create a graph by the NeDNR.
4. Standard Precipitation Index (SPI) map, May19, 2020, from NOAA (Att4_SPI_NOAA_20200519)
5. Nebraska Snow Depth and Accumulation for 24 hours preceding May 21, 2020, from NOAA (Att5_NE_SnowDepth_20200521)
6. Wyoming SNOTEL Snow Water Equivalent % of Normal, as of May 20, 2020, from NRCS (Att6_WY_SnowWaterEquivalent_%ofNormal_ 20200520)
7. Weekly Snow Report, May 18, 2020, from Wyoming NRCS (Att7_WY_Weekly_Snow_Report_20200518)
8. Nebraska Platte River Basin Lakes and Reservoirs Data from Reclamation (Att8_PlatteR_Basin_Reservoir_Levels_USBOR_20200521)
9. The US Drought Monitor, for the High Plains from the National Drought Mitigation Center (Att9_High_Plains_Drought_Monitor_NDMC_20200512)
10. Water and Climate Update data compiled by the NRCS (Att10_Water&ClimateUpdate20200514)
11. Midwest and Great Plains Climate and Drought Outlook, May 20, 2020, Monthly Webinar by the USDA and partners (Att11_MidwestGreatPlains_Climate_Drought_Outlook_20200520).

 
Plan Excerpts:

12. Page 58 of the plan (Att12_DroughtTriggers_p58_LPRDC).
13. Page 94 of the plan (Att13_Actions_p94_LPRDC).

Rationale:  An update  was shown to the Committee for online reporting.  Invoice is attached for $18,275 for online reporting contract.

Rationale:  No unfinished business to address.

Rationale:  The following applications are for the NRD's summer 2020 SWCP construction season:

20-C-3:  Randy Brabec - Grassed Waterway - Project is located within Shell Creek Watershed, Colfax County, Section 8-19N-2E;  75% Cost-share of NRCS estimated cost, $8,712.74 = $6,534.56 SWCP cost-share. 

20-P-1: Keith Runge - Livestock well (solar) -  Project is located within Shell Creek Watershed, Platte County, Section 1-18N-1E;  75% Cost-share of NRCS estimated cost, $15,035.93 = $11,276.95 SWCP cost-share. 

20-P-2: Jeff Lusche - Livestock well (solar) - Project is located within the Shell Creek Watershed, Platte County, Section 14-18N-1E;  75% Cost-share of NRCS estimated cost, $14,346.25 = $10,759.69

Rationale:  Randy Johnston - Farmstead/Wildlife Windbreak Tree Planting  432 trees
                              75% cost share ($2.00/planted tree) = $648.00

David Johnson - Farmstead/Wildlife Windbreak Tree Planting - 251 Trees
                            75% cost share ($2.00/planted tree) = $376.50

19-B-1 - Marcella Divis - Terrace w/ tile outlet, grassed waterway
                            75% cost-share = $7,382.50

19-B-2 - Marie Roh - Terrace w/ tile outlet, water & sediment control basin
                            75% cost-share = $12,500.00 (capped amount)

19-S-2 - Louis & Darlene Kavan - Grassed waterway
                            (completed, waiting for paperwork)

19-S-5 - Hartman Family Trust - Terrace with tile outlet
                            (under construction)

Rationale:  None

Rationale:  None

Rationale:  Carl and Dorothy Peterson Trust - Tract is located within Wahoo Creek Watershed, Sec 35-15N-6E, 38 acres ($198/acre) = $7,524.00

Rationale:  Bill Bos continues to follow-up on potential landowner conservation projects in the Shell Creek Watershed. 

At the May 11th LPNNRD Board Meeting, we approved the low bid from Pruss Excavating totaling $167,962.32 for completing the North Channel Improvement/Benching Project which will begin in mid June.  This project is located just north of the U.P. Railroad Bridge near County Road 15, east of Schuyler.  The U.P. Railroad bridge replacement project is also scheduled to begin in June, 2020.

 

Rationale:  We have not yet received the 319 grant agreement from NDEE for signature but anticipate it soon.  The $365,000 319 grant will combine with Nebraska Environmental Grant ($104,688) and local funds for helping complete landowner erosion projects, Shell Creek Bank Stabilization projects including assistance toward the North Shell Creek Channel/Benching Project.

Rationale:  Allen Gerhing, Nebraska NRCS State Engineer, joined the committee to discuss his recent discussions with the NRCS National Water Management Center in Little Rock, AR, regarding the economics portion of our draft Wahoo Creek Plan-EA.  It appears NRCS will require additional economics analysis that could go above and beyond our current contract scope of work with FYRA and delay completing the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan.  An update will be given at the June 8th Board Meeting.

FYRA has submitted a $14,335.25 invoice as attached.  After this payment, $6,344.52 will remain under contract.

Rationale:  No new information to present.  As mentioned at previous meetings, we are working with NRCS and NDEE on completing additional landowner conservation projects in the Wahoo Creek Watershed.  We have $200,000 of EPA 319 grant funds and approximately $90,000 from the Nebraska Environmental Trust to assist with this effort. NRCS will also be contributing special EQIP funding through the Water Quality Initiative. 

Rationale:  The Olsson team has completed wetland assessments at Wahoo Creek Dam Sites 26a., 26b. and 27.  We may receive an invoice by Board meeting. We have informed Olsson to delay further activities until we receive detail regarding the review and requirements for obtaining an approved watershed plan for Wahoo Creek. 

Rationale: 
On May 19, 2020, JWMAB met to discuss several agenda items (draft minutes attached).  One agenda item was a proposed project by the North Bend Drainage Ditch District. On May 12th, Mountford met with Fremont Representatives  Brain Newton (City Administrator) & Lottie Mitchel,  Dodge County Emergency Manager Tom Smith,  and North Bend Drainage Ditch Representative Larry Ruzicka to discuss repairs and improvements to their four mile stretch of the North Bend Drainage Ditch.  Attached is a map and project description from Larry Ruzicka who has been working with Tom Smith on proceeding through the Notice Of Intent (NOI) process for the project, estimated at $1.7 million total cost.  The North Bend Ditch Project portion is shown on the attached map and narrative as " No. 1."  Dodge County, LPNNRD and Fremont will assist the North Bend Drainage District, Dodge with the application process. 

Another agenda item discussed was a levee stabilization project on Fremont Rod & Gun Club property that LPNNRD, Fremont and Dodge County assisted with emergency repair (each contributed $36,077.50).  A description of the proposed project is attached.  An updated project since the committee meeting is also attached.  This adjusted total project cost is $612,380 with the hopes to receive $450,000 from a community Block Grand (CBG). This would leave $162,380 to be shared by local partners. The Projects Committee discussed our potential partnership and contribution to this proposed project.  One important issue to address is that a public entity should take ownership of the project area (secure project easements) if additional public funding is allocated to this project, which is now on private land.  Fremont was discussed as the logical entity for securing easements to establish this as a public project, however there willingness is not known.  An update will be given at the June 8th LPNNRD Board Meeting with Fremont and Dodge County representatives possibly joining the discussion.

 

Rationale:  JEO has submitted our final Hazard Mitigation Plan to EPA for review and comments. Our Board approved the plan as written on May 11, 2020, which was submitted to FEMA for review.

As discussed at the last committee meeting, there remains $22,000 that is uncommitted in the contract that could be used for other project work if we desire. Of the $22,0000, up to $16,500 (75%) would be reimbursed from FEMA.  A couple of thoughts were completing some breach inundation maps on some more of our low hazard dams and/or complete a Levee Failure Workshop exercise to prepare us and our partners for future levee disasters.  At this committee meeting,  Lalit Jha, JEO, was present to discuss proposed tasks. Attached is his outline of suggested work. The committee directed staff to work with JEO for a potential scope of work to discuss at the next committee meeting.

Attached is JEO's May 29th invoice totaling $16,208.84 for work completed under our HMP contract (progress report also attached). After this payment, $6,700.36 will remain under the $228,000 portion of the contact that LPNNRD has authorized thus far.
 

Rationale:  We received two eligible applications for the Nebraska Buffer Strip Program, both for 10 year contracts:

Janice Wilke Trust - Section 21-18-1E - Total filter strip acres = 3.0. 
Mark Wilke - Section 21-18-1E - Total filter strip acres = 4.8.  

Funding for NBSP comes from Nebraska Department of Agriculture and is distributed annually by the NRD in October.

 

Rationale:  Fremont representative Don Cunningham discussed the City's plans for replacing the aeration system at Johnson Lake and requested our potential assistance (attachments).  The costs for an aeration system appears to be approximately $8,000 with additional costs for electrical work. The committee expressed an interest in partnering on this project and requested a more inclusive itemized cost breakdown to be reviewed at the July 2 Projects Committee Meeting. 

Rationale:  Representatives from Colfax County will give an update on their plans to potentially take the lead to repair the Wolfe Jetty project that was destroyed in the 2019 floods.  This 8 jetty project was originally sponsored by LPNNRD approximately 25 years ago. There will be discussion on how Colfax County, Schuyler and LPNNRD can partner to replace the project.

Rationale:  At this time each Fiscal Year we have the opportunity to create Sinking Fund accounts and transferring unspent funds into these Sinking Funds.  

To approve moving $600,000 of unused budgeted funds into the LPNNRD Flood Reduction Sinking Fund and to approve moving the unspent balance of $5,900.90 into the Shell Creek Sinking Fund for future project needs. And to further recommend establishing an Emergency Flood Damage Repair Sinking Fund and move unspent balance of $63,922.50

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.