July 30, 2020 at 7:30 AM - Projects Committee Meeting

Rationale:  No unfinished business to address. 

Rationale:  DNR contacted the NRD and informed us of the FY21 SWCP state allocation.  We were allocated $83,029.00, the same amount as last year.  We are budgeting $50,000 of local funds (also the same as last year) but we will be able to utilize NDEE grant funds for a number of our approvals within the Shell Creek watershed, as well as, the Cottonwood/Wahoo Creek.  Those approvals are designated with an asterisk (*) on the attached spreadsheet.

Rationale:  Below are the applications for fall SWCP.

20-B-1		Joseph Hanis	$                 12,500.00	WASCOB w/ TO
20-B-2		Dwayne Lanc	$                 12,500.00	TOT/WASCOB w/TO
20-S-5		John Kaspar	$                 12,500.00	TOT/WASCOB w/TO
20-S-6		Dave Vrana	$                   3,210.00	Terrace enlargement
20-S-7		Robert & Linda Fickes	$                 10,000.00	TOT/WASCOB w/TO
20-S-8		Dennis Brabec*	$                 20,130.09	Grassed Waterway

Rationale:  None presented.

Rationale:  None presented.

Rationale:  None presented.
 

Rationale:  No new information. We have all grant agreements in place to assist with planned Shell Creek erosion and water quality projects. We have been approved for $365,000 from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) and $104,688 from the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET).  Attached is the Project Implementation Plan that was completed by NDEE and the review by EPA. 

Rationale:  No new information to report.  Mr. Sprunk plans to complete his project this year with our guidance and funding support.

Rationale:  Adam Studts, U.P. Railroad, has informed us that U.P. will likely delay replacing the railroad bridge near Colfax County Road 15, due to the corona virus fallout and budget cuts. The railroad is very aware that our channel improvement and benching project is moving forward and when completed, will bring water at an increased velocity to the bridge.  For that reason, Adam will be looking for ways to get this $4.5 million bridge replacement project at least started later this year with the intent to have the bridge completed replaced by the spring of 2021.

While LPNNRD is not directly involved with the U.P. Railroad bridge replacement at Colfax County Road 14, that project is moving forward to be completed this year.

Rationale:  On July 24th, Gottschalk, Elliott and Mountford joined a TEAM conference with NRCS and FYRA representatives to discuss moving forward with complete the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan.  Allen Gerhing, NRCS, and Mike Sotak, FYRA, joined the Projects Committee Meeting to give an update as to where things are at moving forward. As mentioned last month, more work, especially with the economics, is being required by the NRCS review group in Little Rock, AR. This will require a contract amendment with FYRA to cover the additional work and an agreement addendum with NRCS to reimburse us for the additional expense. Both Mike Sotak and Allen Gerhing will join the August 10th Board Meeting to discuss this topic as there will be potential  Board motions to approve a FYRA contract amendment that is anticipated to be presented.  Their will also be discussion about and a future NRCS agreement amendment that would cover this additional expense.

Rationale:  No new information at this time.

Rationale:  Attached is the July 22, 2020, invoice from Olsson totaling $14,258.05 for work completed for the Wahoo Creek Watershed Sites 26a, 26b and 27 as attached. Of the total contract amount of $583,825 for those three sites, $259,541.16 (44.5%) will have been expended after this payment, of which most was for geotechnical engineering.  Dam design and permitting activities will continue to be on hold until NRCS approves the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan.

Rationale:  LPNNRD continues to assist Dodge County, Fremont and the North Bend Drainage District (NBDD), with submitting a Hazard Mitigation grant application for 75% assistance on what is estimated to be a $1.7 million project, to repair and improve four miles of the NBDD drainage system (attachment). Dodge County Emergency Manager Tom Smith has been working on a preliminary cost benefit ratio for the project application which is calculated at .64 to 1.0 and work is underway with FYRA looking for ways to improve that ratio.  There is also a very good chance to receive a Community Block Grant (CBG) for the project as well.  Dodge County will be the fiscal agent for the project and LPNNRD has offered to help the County with project administration.

To help move things forward, Brian Newton, Fremont City Administrator, sent out an RFP to engineering firms for needed assistance on the proposed project.  Two proposals (attached) were received, from JEO and FYRA, that were reviewed by NBDD, Fremont, Dodge County and LPNNRD representatives on July 21st.  After discussion, the review group is recommending FYRA to be the consulting engineering firm for the North Bend Drainage Distrcit  Improvement Project. This will be reported at  the August 4, 2020, JWMAB agenda (attachment).  

FYRA has offered to provide assistance on the FEMA grant application at no fee. Their fees will be contingent of receiving grant approvals. Their was also discussion on the amount of local commitment Fremont, Dodge County and LPNNRD should prepare for in our upcoming FY2021 budgets.  It was discussed that Dodge County, Fremont and LPNNRD should each budget $100,000 of local funding for potential local assistance needed toward the project. The NBDD will also contribute financially, however it will likely be $10,000 or less due to limited available funds they can provide. NBDD has expenditures for other ditch repairs and continual future operation and maintenance of the project. 

Dodge County is requesting letters of support/commitment from the partners (Dodge County, Fremont, NBDD and LPNNRD) to include with the FEMA application.  An Interlocal Agreement between the partners is also being drafted for potential LPNNRD Board approval on September August 10th. 

The committee discussed the following motions for the Board review and approval consideration at our August 10, 2020 Meeting: 

1. To budget up to a maximum $100,000 for the North Bend Drainage District Improvement Project in FY 2021, with LPNNRD's final contribution being contingent on the amount of grant assistance and other partner financial contributions secured for the project.  

2. To send letters of support for FEMA/NEMA and CBG grant applications as needed for the North Bend Drainage District Improvement Project. 

3. To endorse the JWMAB review group's recommendation to select FYRA Engineering for assisting with the North Bend Drainage District Improvement Project subject to approval by the North Bend Drainage District, Dodge County and the City of Fremont.

Larry Ruzicha, NBDD, and Mike Sotak, FYRA, have been invited to be present or join (Zoom) the Board Meeting to answer questions.

 

Rationale:  As part of our approved contract amendment with JEO, we have contacted Saunders County Zoning to give a briefing on August 3 about an opportunity for the county to move forward with a dam breach overlay for 15 of our existing structures in Saunders County.  The breach areas were mapped a few years ago and including them in an overlay district would require regulations for inhabitable dwellings that are constructed below these dams.  If the County expresses an interest to proceed, they will move forward with pubic hearings for expanding the dam breach overlay to include those dams. Likewise, the communities of Wahoo, Yutan and Prague are also being contacted to offer this opportunity to them as well. 

Also, attached are comments from FEMA on our Hazard Mitigation Plan that JEO is addressing. Attached is a July 30th invoice from JEO totaling $4,659.88 for work completed under contact.

It should be mentioned that we need shape files that accompany the breach inundation maps provided by the USACE for the seven dams above Lake Wanahoo. If we are unable to obtain those in a timely manner from USACE, JEO can produce shape files at a cost of $1000 - $2,000.  If needed, a contract addendum on JEO's contract will be presented at the August 10th Board meeting for approval. If we need to have JEO produce shape files, 75% of this cost will be covered by our FEMA/NEMA grant. 

Rationale:  No new information was presented. 

Rationale:  The committee reviewed and gave input to the projects portions of LPNNRD's FY 2021 Budget.

Rationale:  Our office was notified last week and confirmed on Tuesday of the NRCS Cheif's visit to Nebraska on August 5th and 6th.  While in the State, the Chief will be visiting one NRD and he has chosen Lower Platte North.  The State NRCS office is excited to have the Cheif visit and has scheduled a busy day beginning with a visit to LPNNRD and Lake Wanahoo.  The draft itinerary is attached which has the Chief scheduled to be at the Wanahoo Education Building from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm on the 5th.  While the NRCS would like to keep the attendance at a manageable number, they are extending an invitation to LPNNRD Directors and staff.  Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in attending.

Rationale:  The Projects Committee adjourned at 9:55 a.m.