September 26, 2018 at 8:30 AM - Operations & Education Committee Meeting

Rationale:  Nothing to consider.

Rationale:  Nothing to report for Wild NE or CREP.

Rationale:  We continue to monitor beaver problems at Cottonwood 6-E and on the Rawhide Diagonal ditch culverts. We did dam maintenance on Bellwood 4-L, 5-K and 5-J, access to 5-J is a problem and the landowner has been contacted. Sprayed trees below the Wanahoo dam and cut and treated trees at Czechland. Repaired a standing grill and reestablished it at Czechland. Vehicle oil changes and brake replacement on one truck.
We finished mowing at Rawhide Ditch but, had oil consumption issues with the tractor. Dinkel was notified after we added almost 5 gallons over a short period of time. They determined the turbo stopped working and took 2 weeks to repair it. They have reimburse for the oil purchases.

Rationale:  The Dept. of Natural Resources Dam inspectors will be out for inspection and measure water flow in the relief wells on Tuesday, October 2. DOT also wants to inspect the spillway tunnels at the same time.  A gate may have to be opened temporarily to lower the lake if water is above the weir for inspection.
At the Dam Safety Conference in Seattle there was a presentation on Spillway Condition Assessment, Doug Johnson showed similar pictures of joint compound coming out and not adhering in the joint. The question was asked "what's the solution"? His response "It's very difficult to find a good solution and more research is needed". An exhibitor, Engineering firm suggested using three different products in our three tunnels, as we have discussed. Heimann will be contacting other exhibitors he made contact with at the conference.

Rationale:  There's nothing to report. We have not received any updates from the Corps of Engineers.

Rationale:  The mile stretch of trees/woody vegetation in the jetties and armoring on the Clear Creek Levee was sprayed by the helicopter. (see attached aerial)

Heimann sent a list of concerns to the Corps of Engineers regarding the August 28th inspection on the levee pertaining to the current deficiencies. These deficiencies are there now because the COE didn't take care of them while the project was under their control and the Sponsors (NRD's) don't have an O & M Manual for guidance. They have promised us an O & M Manual by the end of September or October.

Rationale:  Current RV camping revenue at Czechland is $8,946.  This past month we have had two non-paying occurrences of which one has paid and we are waiting on the other. 

This summer we have had issues with less fortunate, low income people camping and leaving our camp sites trashed and misusing the area (see picture of current example). Another couple leaves behind house hold items filling four trash barrels, burned electronic components and other items in the fire pits leaving behind buckets of burned materials to dispose of, multiple times. The County Sheriff and Conservation Officer have been notified and investigated both groups. Heimann has discussed this with Legal Counsel, Lausterer.  Lausterer developed the attached three templates that could be used as a warning, first violation and revocation for campers misusing District property. He also developed this regulation for this purpose; The Lower Platte North Natural Resources District ("District") expects all patrons to use the recreational areas in a responsible manner so as to show respect for nature, the facilities themselves and other users. It is the policy of the District to provide a system of progressive discipline which allows an opportunity for the resolution of improper conduct.  However, while it is the policy of the District to employ a system of progressive discipline, anytime District staff deems an action of a patron requires additional disciplinary action which may not fall within the scope of progressive discipline, said action may be taken.  No form of discipline is a prerequisite for other forms of discipline.  Progressive discipline is the successive application of increasingly severe disciplinary actions.  These actions, in order of severity, are written warning, suspension of use for twelve months and permanent revocation.  If a patron feels they have received an improper suspension and/or revocation then they shall deliver a written request for an administration hearing before the General Manager of the District who shall serve as the hearing officer.  Such request shall be in writing and delivered to the General Manager.  Upon receipt of the request for hearing, the General Manager shall within five (5) working days set a time and place for the hearing.  The hearing shall be held within fifteen (15) working days after receipt of the request for hearing.  The District staff that issued the notice shall present an oral or written statement of the information and reasons supporting suspension or revocation.  The patron may present an oral or written statement or statements in response.  Upon conclusion of the hearing, the General Manager shall make a determination to overturn the action, modify the action or impose the action.  The General Manager shall notify the patron of its decision within three (3) working days after the hearing is concluded.  Appeals thereafter shall be to the District Court of Saunders County, Nebraska pursuant to the terms of the Administrative Procedures Act.  Provided, however, the above procedure is not exclusive in that the District may instead choose to prosecute criminal offenses pursuant to process set forth by the Nebraska Revised Statutes which shall then have jurisdiction over the dispute.
Also find attached the Districts current Park Regulations for your review. Regulations need to be update by adding Lake Wanahoo, disciplinary actions for the misuse of District property and any other items.

Rationale:  Over the years some landowners have encroached on the Districts O & M easement along Rawhide Ditch 8 preventing even a pick-up from driving along the ditch. Most areas have a 50' easement area from centerline of the ditch on both sides, in limited areas it may be 35'. Two landowners have been sent letters in the past and a third was sent a letter and called this season stating they are farming in our easement area not allowing access for maintenance purposes. (See attached diagram.) Committee members directed staff to write letters and send the blueprint diagram asking  these individuals to back their farming practices off of the Districts easement area and have the area reseeded. Staff will mark the easement boundary after harvest. If compliance is not met legal counsel will then be advised to write a letter.

Rationale:  Attached is an interlocal agreement between the NRD's/NARD and the U.S. Forest Service Bessey Nursery. NARD is the purchasing agent for the NRD's tree planting programs. NARD purchases the tree seedlings for the Districts and the District's pay NARD after the planting season. This new agreement is for 3 years.

Rationale:  Schuyler Coop has been notified again on submitting grass drill revenue to the District, they were called three weeks or more ago.
We received a revenue report and check on Oct. 1. The grass drill was rented to 20 cooperators for a revenue of $2,262.30 in which the District received 50% or $1,131.15. This is for the first half of the year.

Rationale:  Nothing to report.

Rationale:  The current KTIC radio ad and Wahoo Newspaper eAd promote the recreation areas and will continue through October 31

Rationale:  Staff are currently making updates and providing additions to the FY2019 Long Range Plan.

Staff will begin to provide content and updates to the Master Plan, which is completed every 10 years.
 

Rationale:  The Lower Platte North NRD is currently working with redthread on creating a promotional video for Lake Wanahoo Recreation Area.  We hope to have this completed and begin promotion by mid-fall.  The contract has been approved and will be under the budgeted amount.
 

Rationale:  We were recently notified that a proposal TePoel submitted for the NACD Annual Conference was selected for a session presentation. The conference is February 2-6 in San Antonio, TX.

Rationale:  The Lower Platte North NRD will be hosting the East Central Region Land Judging Contest on Wednesday, October 10^th.  Registrations are due September 28^th.  Check-in begins at 9 am and the contest officially begins at 10 am.  Student check-in and scoring will take place at the ENREC Facility near Ithaca.
 

Rationale:  The Lower Platte North NRD will be hosting the State Land Judging Contest on Wednesday, October 17^th.  Check-in begins at 9 am and the contest officially begins at 10 am.  Students will check-in at the Saunders County Fairgrounds.  Scoring will take place at the LPNNRD Office.
 

Rationale: 

• Tuesday, October 2^nd:  TePoel will host a booth at the Wahoo High School Career Fair
• Wednesday, October 10^th: East Central Region Land Judging
• Wednesday, October 17^th: State Land Judging
• Thursday, October 18^th: TePoel will present an environmental education program to St. Wenceslaus Pre-K (20 students)
• Monday, October 22^nd: TePoel will present an environmental education program to St. Wenceslaus Pre-K (18 students)

Rationale:  Elliott, Benal and Doukulil relocated portion of Coufal service line that was outside easement.  About 200' of the 425' service line was encroaching on the lot to the North of Malousek's and the new owners requested the line be placed within the easement due to fact that they were installing a geothermal heating/cooling system and feared that they would have a conflict with the water line.
Bills will go out Monday 10/1.
Testing was conducted 9/18.

Rationale:  Elliott emailed Jim Novacek of Butler County highway department on 9/19 about addressing the cover issue we have west of the landfill over our water line.  As a reminder: Elliott was locating the line for a gas line install and detected portions of the line that were ~3' below the surface according to the electronic locator.  There was very noticeable gully erosion within the ditch over the pipe.
Bills will go out 10/1.
Testing was conducted 9/18.