August 13, 2018 at 6:00 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:  Are there any additions or corrections to the minutes?  If not they will be approved on the consent agenda.

Rationale:  The NARD Annual Conference is September 23-25 in Kearney.  Attached find draft agenda and registration information.  Please let Breunig know if you are interested in attending the conference. 

Rationale:  Attached find Mountford's NARD Benefits Committee Report, SWCS Meeting Report and Water Strategies August Federal Update.
 

Rationale:  Attached find an invoice from NARD for our FY 2018-2019 membership dues.

Rationale:  Attached find our 2018 NeWRA Membership Dues Renewal Form.  Our District paid $1,950 last year.

Rationale:  Our LARM insurance renews each Year on October 1.  We need to decide how far ahead we are willing to commit to LARM for our insurance needs.  

Our choices are shown on the attachment; we need to decide if we will sign for a one, two or three year term and if we will give 180 day or 90 notice if we choose not to renew.  There are discount incentives for longer terms on both decisions.
 

Rationale:  Building materials have been ordered from Top-Line and we are looking at 8-10 weeks for delivery.  We hope to have the final building plans e-mailed to us yet this week.  Once received, we will proceed with bids for concrete and building erection.  We are considering utilizing the existing LPN retired irrigation well to provide geothermal heating/cooling as well as Solar panels and a bi-directional meter.  These two forms of renewable energy sources could provide unique economical and educational opportunities for the facility.  

Staff met with members of the Greater Wahoo Community Foundation to inform them of our building plans and gather information for a potential Foundation Grant.  Over the next couple months we will be meeting with other local business, organization and community leaders to discuss additional funding opportunities for our projects.

 

Rationale:  Discussion and possible action for plans to move forward with the budgeting process for the 2019 Lake Wanahoo Recreation season.
We are currently over half way through the 2018 season.  Decisions will need to be made regarding the future management of the Lake Wanahoo Recreation Area.  

Rationale:  We are currently advertising for our Operation and Maintenance position, with resumes due August 27th. 

Rationale:  Grant reviewed the financial reports by conference call with the Committee. 

Rationale:  We have worked on the FY19 Budget Expenses for the past two months.  Each committee has reviewed their portion the budget with the Executive Committee charged with review of the Administrative and Personnel Expenses.
Our Budget Workshop will be held on August 8 beginning at 5:00 p.m.  
Our Budget Hearing will be held on August 13 beginning at 5:00 p.m., just prior to our August Board Meeting.  It is anticipated that we will approve our FY19 Budget that evening.
At the September 10 Board Meeting we will set our F.Y.19 Levy.

To approve the Fiscal Year 2019 Budget with total expenditures of ?$6,949,933.00 (motion to be made at 8-13-18 board meeting).
 

Rationale:  There is nothing to consider.

Rationale:  The District received 75% reimbursement from Game & Parks and the Wild NE Program for the Grassland Renovation at Czechland Lake. The District received $12,692.37.

Rationale:  The O & M Crew continued dam site inspections and maintenance particularly the Wanahoo Dam and Bellwood Structures. We continue to cut & treat volunteer trees on all our properties. Regular maintenance on equipment & vehicles.
Heimann met with a DNR dam safety engineer to look at 4 Swedeburg structures on August 1.  The DNR engineer is highly recommending renovating the 3-4 foot erosion scarp on the face of Swedeburg Dam B-2 or the Thorston Dam. This would be similar to the work we did on Bellwood 3-B in 2015 with the exception of adding rip-rap. Heimann will contact Ken Kotera to see if he can do the design & estimate.

Rationale:  The camp sites have been full or nearly full every weekend. We are adding chipped limestone to the jetties and mud rock to problem areas along the roads and turning areas. Bret continues to work on the educational components on the Disc Golf Course & clearing trees on Pork Chop Island.

Rationale:  Heimann continues to work with Olssons Associates on the best potential concrete joint sealant for the three concrete conduits in the Wanahoo Dam. We are also reaching out to the National Dam Safety Association.

Rationale:  We have not received any updates on the Non-Structural Study from the Corps of Engineers regarding Fremont.

Rationale:  The Clear Creek Dike & Drainage District informed the District that they will now be haying the entire levee and the areas that can not be hayed will be shredded by the hay contractor. The District will not be shredding this 9-10 miles of levee. We may still be obligated to shred a portion of levee on the National Guard Camp if the Guard doesn't want to continue mowing it.
We fixed a broken gate on the levee that boarders the Guard Camp and Thomas Lakes.
We are asking the COE how important it is to keep the woody vegetation out of a mile of river front that is concrete armoring and jetties. The area is very hard to access for maintenance on foot. We had the area aerial sprayed by a helicopter in 2015 for this purpose.

Rationale:  Since Clear Creek Dike & Drainage District has elected to hay the levee, the approximately 40 hours of time we put on the leased tractor will be eliminated. Therefore, questioning whether the District should continue leasing a tractor for $3,125 - $3,500 or upgrade our JD 4430.  An upgraded tractor would be used for both spraying and shredding.
Chairman Birkel stated that Plains Equipment has a low hour 1984 JD 4450 for $37,500. The District would sell the JD 4430.

Rationale:  The District received $1,657.38 for grass drill rental from Rezac Seed for the first half of the year.
The Platte County grass drill generated $470.71 of revenue but, repairs of a hydraulic cylinder and hose cost $246.59 and tire(s) $611.00. The District owes Rosendahl Farms Seed & Feed $386.88.
 

Rationale:  To date we have received $5,856.00 from camping revenue at Czechland Lake.

Rationale:  Update and review of the budgets.

Rationale:  There is nothing to report.

Rationale:  The KTIC Radio Ad and Wahoo Newspaper eAd for August will promote the approaching deadlines for variance requests to expand irrigated acres.  The ads are attached.
 

Rationale:  The 2018 summer edition of the Viaduct has been sent to Suburban Newspapers for printing.  Distribution arrangements will be made with area publications during the month of August.
 

Rationale:  The Lower Platte North NRD is currently running a promotion on social media (Facebook) for the recently developed video.  The contest ends on August 20^th and the prize will be a state park permit.  Participants must like, share, and comment on the video to be entered in the drawing.  The goal of this promotion is to increase our visibility on social media and promote the video.
 

Rationale:  The advertising agreement with KTIC Radio ends on September 17^th.  The cost to continue advertising with the current Display Ad Agreement is $2,190 at a rate of $6.00 per day.  This includes a display ad that rotates on the KTICRadio.com website, a link to our website, listing in the marketplace directory, 6 (30 second) ads per week on KTIC AM 840 and 6 messages a week on FM 107.9 The Bull.  It includes Best Time Available Rotation.  Half are scheduled 5 am-9 pm and half are scheduled Midnight-Midnight.  They are preemptable during the sold out days.  The agreements are attached.
 

Rationale:  The Lower Platte North NRD hosted a "Test Your Well Night" during the Butler County Fair with the David City FFA Chapter.  Oaklund, TePoel, and 5 FFA students attended.  There were approximately 4 participants and 8 samples collected.

Due to scheduling conflict, the "Test Your Well Night" during the Saunders County Fair with the Bishop Neumann FFA Chapter was cancelled.  We are looking into organizing another event in the Fall.
 

Rationale:  Elliott and Daryl Anderson met with McCrometer and Adcon Telemetry on 7/24 to discuss the potential of utilizing their services for data transmission.  The RW dept, as well as the Water dept., have been waiting months on Phoenix Webgroup to get radio transmission set up for meter readings.  Adcon and McCrometer will research and report back to us whether or not their hardware is compatible with RW's meters.

Rationale:  Bills and monthly testing completed.
Elliott has GPSed the gate valves in Colon with the thought that if/when the next leak occurs we'll be able to quickly locate some of the valves that tend to get buried in gravel. 

Rationale:  Bills and monthly testing completed.

Rationale:  Past Committee meetings, discussion was held on setting minium numbers from the ranking sheet for approving variances.  Staff will show some past variance numbers for discussion purposes. 
What criteria does the District want to consider?
What policy is wanted for the expansion of acres variance? 

More discussion at future Committee meetings on the variance scoring and policy will be held as staff provides more information and recommendations.

Rationale: 

Wells Permits Approved: 0

Landowner	Number of Wells	Number of New Irrigated Acres	Type of Well	County	Subarea

 

 

 

 

 

 

The total number of approved permits for 2018 is 15

Location of Approved Well Permits for 2018:  Correct as of 6/27/2018

County	Irrigation - New	Irrigation - Replacement	Stock	Commercial	Municipal	Other	Total
Butler	1	0	1	0	0	0	2
Colfax	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dodge	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
Boone	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
Madison	2	0	0	0	0	0	2
Platte	2	1	1	0	0	0	4
Saunders	1	3	0	0	0	1	5
Total	8	4	2	0	0	1	15

 

 

Rationale:  Staff did a random check of well measurements within the SQS areas.  Most of the wells showed an increase from the spring level.  At this time staff will not be doing many more well measurements within these areas, except if irrigation starts up within the next couple of weeks. 

Rationale:  A meeting of the technical group was held on July 16.  Discussion was held on reporting to DNR online and what each NRD tracks on a yearly basis.  A lot of discussion centered around flow meters, municipal and industrial use.  

Rationale:  As of July 15 the IMP has been completed for all of the needed publications. 

Rationale:  152 irrigation kits were mailed out in July.  Precipitation has slowed the requests as producers have waited to irrigate.  Nine samples have been received.  The results for two of these have been received from the lab and these results were mailed to producer.
 

Rationale:  2018 is the sixteenth year for the Phase 2 Area.

No samples to report at this time for 2018.

Rationale:  2018 is the third year of this Phase 2 Area.  There are 45 registered active irrigation wells in the ten sections of this new area.

No samples to report at this time for 2018.

Rationale:  2018 is the third year of this Phase 3 Area.  This Phase 3 area went into effect September 1, 2015.  The 55 sections of this area first went into a Phase 2 Area in 2004. 
 

2018

15.2, 16.3

0% (0 of 2)

0% (0 of 2)

100% (2 of 20

Rationale:  Three online test requests were received in July.  Each passed test and a certification card was mailed.

Cert #	Cert date	Name	Re-cert	Comments
5878	7/2/2018	Paul Kettelson	Yes
6482	7/5/2018	Randy Fendrich	Yes
5937	7/24/2018	Steven Svatora Jr	Yes	for Chem permit

Rationale: 

For 2018 we have 619 renewals and 90 new permit applications for a current total of 709.  Inspections for 203 renewal permits have been completed.
639 applications were sent out for renewals. 

The breakdown by County for the Total Number of Renewals within the LPNNRD.

County	Number of Renewals
Boone	55
Butler	89
Colfax	42
Dodge	96
Madison	7
Platte	102
Saunders	228

The breakdown by county of the number of renewal inspections completed.

County	Number of Renewal Inspections Completed
Boone	11
Butler	20
Colfax	22
Dodge	51
Madison	6
Platte	42
Saunders	51

The breakdown, by county for the 90 new chemigation permit applications, are listed below:

County	New Chemigation Applications
Boone	3
Butler	22
Colfax	18
Dodge	22
Madison	0
Platte	8
Saunders	17

 

Rationale: 

The LPNNRD has received # 1 livestock permit applications from DEQ since the last Water Committee meeting.

Name	Livestock	Type of Permit	Legal Description	County
CJ Hog	Swine	New Permit	NE¼ Section 17-19N-03W	Platte County

 

 

 Description of permit application 
This will be construction of 2 buildings holding 6000 head of finishing swine. 

 

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
Donna Sabata	Irrigation	$1,200.62	Butler

 

Rationale:  A meeting was held at LPS on July 17 to discuss feedback from the open house and to discuss the action plan.  The main comment coming from the open house was to consider the pipeline connection to the Missouri River or to the Omaha water system. 

Discussion on triggers included the Palmer Drought Index and Drought Index used by the Drought Center along with actual flows within the Platte River.  A combination of all three is something the group is looking at.  The idea is to try to forecast long and short term drought for implementation of the action plan.  

A list of potential projects are attached showing the benefits and costs of each scenario.  A couple of projects on the list that is located in the District is Skull Creek and Dry Lease.  Discussion on the Dry Lease included the cost and logistic on conducting this project.  These projects will be given a priority ranking and then put into the action plan for a list of potential projects.  One project that is still being evaluated is installing a dedicated high capacity well on the southern part of Todd Valley.  

Rationale:  Drilling on the west site began on Monday, July 30th and the final site was completed the first full week of August.  Staff will begin sampling wells and installing transducers into all 3 wells.    

Rationale:  Staff will be determining the dollar amount for crop damage that incur during the drilling of the monitoring wells. 

Rationale:  Precipitation has slowed the start of irrigation and only a few producers have contacted LPNNRD to have their network well sampled. 
 

Rationale:  Discussion on Groundwater Budget

Rationale:  The Committee asked staff to identify what wells already have meters within the District and how many wells would potentially need meters.

Rationale:  Harmful Algal Blooms

FOUR Lakes will be on "Health Alert" this week. NDEQ in conjunction with numerous collaborators monitor public beaches and sample for microcystin, a toxin produced as a result of a Harmful Algal Bloom. A lake that exceeds 20 ppb of microcystin will be placed on "Health Alert". That lake will remain under  "Health Alert" Status until such time that it has tested below 20 ppb for two continuous weeks.
If a lake is under a Health Alert, signs will be posted recommending people avoid full body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing, jet skiing, etc.
 
No Lakes in Lower Platte North with harmhul algal blooms
A complete list is attached with other sites. 
 
Lakes that tested high for E. coli bacteria this week are listed below. E. coli  bacteria levels measured above 235 colonies/100 ml of sample are considered a higher risk for illness when swimming.  Considering the more rapid changes in bacteria conditions, signs are not posted with these higher levels although we want people to be aware and use their own judgment on their use.
 
Lakes with High E. coli Bacteria Levels
 Fremont Lake No. 10 is on the list.  Other sites are attached. 

This information is updated weekly on our web site,https://deq-iis.ne.gov/zs/bw/ .

Rationale:  No unfinished business to address at this time.

Rationale:  Elliott reviewed the status of the SWCP fund as attached. 

Rationale:  18-B-2     RICHARD J. VOBORIL - $12,500.00 (WASCB)
18-B-3     THOMAS J. SAMEK - $12,500.00 (TOT/WASCB)
18-B-4     DOROTHY HLADKY - $12,500.00 (WASCB)
18-B-5     MARCELLA DIVIS - $12,500.00 (TOT/GWW)
18-B-6     LAZY J CATTLE - $12,500.00 (TOT/WASCB)
18-B-7     DWAYNE LANE - $12,500.00 (TOT/WASCB)
18-D-1     DUANE PEDERSON - $8,271.24 (GWW)
18-S-7     RON SLEGL - $12,500.00 (TOT/WASCB)
18-S-8     ECG CORPORATION - $12,500.00 (GWW)
18-S-9     DONALD FUJAN - $5,075.64 (WASCB)
18-S-10     ERNEST OSMERA - $6,346.91 (GWW)
18-S-11    CHARLES PROSKOVEC - $12,500.00 (WASCB)
18-S-12   JOHN KASPAR - $12,500.00 (WASCB)
18-S-13   SHANAHAN TRUST - $12,500.00

Rationale:  18-S-3    JON SWANSON - $10,000.00 (TOT/WASCB)

Rationale:  There are two invoices totaling $186.48 for food and koozies purchased by Jill Bailey for the Shell Creek Delisitng celebration held on June 15, 2018. 
There is an invoice totaling $685.00 for food, tables, and trolley purchased by Mark Horejsi for the celebration as well.

Rationale:  The Hamata project (Change order No. 1. to the Kramer/Shell Creek Bank Stabilization Project has been completed.

Rationale:  The Board previously approved moving forward with a future change order No. 2 (Vavircek)to the Kramer/Shell Creek Bank Stabilization Project.  After the Committee met we received a detailed change order (No. 2) (Vavircek) from Kohl Construction $58,981 and will request a board motion to approve and authorize Chair Birkel to sign as attached to the Project Committee Minutes.  

Rationale:  Ken Kotera has completed the project design and Mr. Sprunk is working with the USACE to obtain a permit.  

Rationale:  1. Meeting with Saunders County - Update
Gottschalk, Elliott and Mountford along with Director Veskerna met with the Saunders County Supervisors on July 17 to give an update on the Wahoo Creek planning and to discuss the 11 selected sites for the plan.  The primary focus was to request financial participation with sites 26a, 26b and 27.  A map of downstream county bridges was discussed that could receive protection from the three dams when constructed.  The county will review potential downstream benefits with their engineer and discuss potential contributions to these dams.
2. Cultural Resource Investigations on Eight Added Dam Sites
As part of the Wahoo Creek planning process, we will need to send out RFQs/RFP's for hiring a private firm to conduct cultural Resource Investigations after fall harvest on the additional eight selected dam sites.  NRCS was able to conduct investigations for Sites 26a., 26b. and 27 this past spring, but has informed us that they will not have the resources to investigate the other eight selected sites. The committee is asked to recommend beginning the RFQ/RFP process with the intent to approve the selected firm at the October 8, 2018, board meeting. Staff will work on the timeline for advertising and receiving proposals. Attached is a draft RFP letter that will be used after details are determined. 
3. Wetlands Delineations Underway
FYRA has been conducting wetland delineations at several Wahoo Creek dam sites as required by NRCS in the planning process. Attached is an example letter of what has been sent to landowners involved with the selected sites.
3. Future Payment of FYRA Invoices
FYRA will be sending future invoices for work accomplished at the beginning of each month, but will be providing more detail as requested at the last Board meeting. Since future invoices will generally arrive just after Projects Committee Meetings for review, they will be paid a month later than normal. 

Rationale:  We have had conversations with Saunders County about partnering on grade stabilization structures to reduce channel erosion and improve water quality in Wahoo Creek. We have approved grant funding from NET and NDEQ that was planned to be used for these structures.  We have had discussions with Saunders County Road Superintendent Steve Mika and County Engineer, Mark Mainelli on moving forward with this effort.  

JEO is proposing services for building a couple of retention structures with landowner cooperation.  This effort originally was to be structures on the road with the county providing the engineering, but they have moved away from this for now.  No action is requested at this time.

Rationale:  While we are still partnering to complete  prior approved projects, the LPNNRD dropped out as a member of the LPRCA in 2017.  LPSNRD who administers Alliance business, has sent a $5,486.41 reimbursement, which is 24.38% of $22,503.73 that remains in the administrative fund. Attached is an explanation letter outlining the reimbursement. 

Rationale:  The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency has notified us that FEMA has approved up to a $200,038.50 grant (75%) for updating our District-Wide Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) and for working with Fremont and Schuyler for non-structural flood risk planning (letter attached).  Our HMP update was estimated at $75,000 and additional funds were requested for flood risk planning for Fremont and Schuyler. District costs for the plan update is estimated at $18,750.  If Fremont and Schuyler wishes to proceed with flood risk planning, the intention would be for each community to reimburse LPNNRD for their 25% of the costs. 

Attached is the NEMA grant agreement for proceeding. The next step after approval will be to send out RFPs to qualified Engineering for completing this work. Committee action is requested.
 

Rationale:  We have been contacted by the NRCS in Fullerton requesting a contribution toward a grazing for soil health. Attached is the sponsorship request.

Rationale:  We are working with FYRA to complete the Wahoo Creek Planning process by the end of the year.  As discussed at pass meetings, our plan is to advertise for Requests for Qualifications (RFQs)/ Requests for Proposals (RFPS) for engineering services on the eleven selected Wahoo Creek dam sites when given the go-ahead from NRCS.  Sites 26a, 26B and 27 will need engineering services for design, permitting and through construction.  The remaining eight sites will need engineering services for design.  Depending on NRCS’s review of the planning process, we may be able to start the RFQ/RFP  process this fall with the goal of having  a selected firm for Board approval by the November Board 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.