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 latest communication with our LARM attorney will be handed out.

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:  Attached find the following Director Absence Requests:
February - Thompson, Yosten
April - Sabatka
May - Yosten 
June - Birkel - Meduna

All were work related. 

Rationale:  Our LARM Insurance renews each year on October 1st.  Attached is the renewal proposal for Lower Platte North NRD.  This proposal includes a 2% discount for a 1 year commitment. Payment will not be made until October 1st. 

Rationale:  Discussion regarding compensation for employees sitting at salary ceiling for position. 

Rationale:  Grant will be available to discuss the June Financial Statements with the Executive Committee.

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

Rationale:  Each Committee has reviewed their portion of the budget with Executive Committee charged with review of the Administrative and Personnel Expenses.

The Budget Workshop will be held Wednesday, August 5th at 5:00 p.m. 

Our Budget Hearing will be held on August 10th beginning at 5:00 p.m., just prior to our August Board Meeting.  It is anticipated that we will approve our FY21 Budget that evening.

To approve the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget with total expenditures of $__________. (motion to be made at 8-10-20 Board Meeting)

At the September 14th Board Meeting we will set our FY 21 Levy.

Rationale:  Nothing to consider for unfinished business.

Rationale:  Nothing to consider for Wildlife Programs.

Rationale:  The O & M Crew is finishing watershed dam maintenance and inspections in the Bellwood Watershed. Started our mowing circuit, we began on Rawhide Ditch, moved to Ames and Cotteral Levee's and are now at Czechland Lake. Unplugged two Cottonwood Dam risers.

Rationale:  The repairs by the contractor under the Corps of Engineers is near 100%. A Pre-final inspection was conducted on Tuesday, July 28th. There will be a "Hit List" of items published after the inspection. Some final items to be accomplished are ROW markers, fencing and seeding.
This project repair has gone very well in working with the Contractor (Youngs) and the Corps of Engineers.

Rationale:  The District needs to approve the Construction Observation portion of FYRA's contract. A previous Board motion approved FYRA to do Project Management, Final Design, Permitting and Bidding which totaled $73,021.00. The Construction Observation cost is $62,524.00, (see attachment).

The District advertised for repairs to the Wanahoo Stilling Basin for three consecutive weeks. Bids were due by 2:00 pm on Tuesday, July 28th and opened. We received two bids, Valley Corporation $1,452,069.27 and M.E. Collins $1,475,330.80 a difference of $23,261.53. See Mike Sotak's letter of recommendation and bid tabulation attached.
The process moving forward;
1. Committee make recommendation to Board to accept low bid from Valley Corporation,
2. Committee makes recommendation to Board to approve construction observation under FYRA's contract.
3. Board accepts low bid, approves FYRA contact item for construction observation and authorizes FYRA to issue Notice of Award,
4. Contractor begins to acquire insurance, bonds, etc. and processes contract,
5. Board authorizes FYRA to work w/ contractor on cost saving ideas,
Once signed contract and required bonds/insurance are received, Board issues Notice to Proceed,
6. Contractor begins work.

Chris Poole has notified FEMA regarding the bids coming in higher than our Engineers Estimate, approximately $472,000. FEMA told us it will be covered at 75% of actual cost but we must work closely with NEMA when we close out the project. We must take this information somewhat cautiously. If we can't obtain 75%, we can possibly use other FEMA Funding from other Project repairs that we didn't use.

The District's cost if FEMA/NEMA fund 75% of Engineering and Construction would be approximately $396,904.

Rationale:  Heimann met with Saunders Co. Highway representatives and Mark Mainelli, P.E. to discuss the potential solutions in addressing the elevation problems on this road structure dam. Mainelli will design solutions and forward them to NDNR Dam Safety. He will also develop an interlocal agreement for the District and Saunders County.
Saunders County will provide engineering services and construction over site and the District may have to solicit bids for the construction work if the County declines.

Rationale:  Newman Grove American Legion Post 73 is requesting cost-share assistant for tree planting around their Roll Call Veteran's Memorial (see attachment). They would like to plant 8 six foot conifers around the memorial at an approximate cost of $2,400. The District's Community Forestry policy for cost share is 50% up to $1,000.

Rationale:  From Chris Fassero Lead Planner/Project Manager COE. A draft report should begin the review process around 01 August, so we're about two months behind schedule  however, we were able to put together a review team that has nonstructural experience, so we're hopeful that the review process will be streamlined by that.  I'll send you another update once we're in review and we establish some review milestones.
The structures included in the final recommended nonstructural plan is summarized as follows:

Structures in Plan:  127
Average Annual Benefits:  $585,040
Average Annual Cost:  $463,546
Flood proofing Cost:  $12,514,441
Benefit-Cost Ratio:  1.26
Total Net Benefits:  $121,494
 

Rationale:  Rezac Seed sent in revenue of $2,053.75 for the first half of 2020. Seventeen cooperators used the drill.

Rationale:  Calender year 2020, M.E. Collins has sent the District $4,957.90.  Since 2012 the District has received $258,643.90.

Rationale:  Don Medinger has requested cost-share assistance for repairs to his jetty system in Butler County on the Platte River. His invoice for work completed is $6,000.

Rationale:  As of 7/29/2020, the District received $6,102.50 in annual permit sales revenue for the month of July. In 2019 the District received $7925.00. 

YTD Totals:
2019: $75,310.00
2020: $86,215.00

Rationale:  As of July 29, 2020, the District has generated appx. $10,166.09 in gross camping revenue. The new cabins opened the first week of July and have already generated $1000 in camping revenue.

Rationale:  We featured the recreation areas for our KTIC Radio ad and Wahoo Newspaper eAds during July. This week, the ad will be switched out with variance request information - see attached.
 

Rationale:  LPNNRD purchased the "News Sponsorship" package with News Channel Nebraska for our Lake Wanahoo commercial. The commercial spot was a 30-second spot, with a 5-second spot showing the LPNNRD logo. During the month of June, the 30-second commercial was shown 12 times, with the 5-second spot showing LPNNRD logo shown 30. I have attached the time slots for all of June.  
 

Rationale:  Lake Wanahoo continues to remain the most viewed page of the website for 4 months now. The top 5 pages being viewed remains the same this month. We had a total of 1,489 users view the website which slowly continues to decline. We continue to see an increase of viewers using phones to view the website more than a desktop or laptop browser.  
 

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%
June 2020	2,003	Lake Wanahoo 1,992 Home 1,008 Czechland Lake 574 Outdoor Recreation 344 Downloads 251	Mobile 51.7% Desktop 44.4% Tablet 3.9%
July 1-28 2020	1,489	Lake Wanahoo 1,549 Home 712 Czechland Lake 281 Outdoor Recreation 218 Downloads 132	Mobile 54.64% Desktop 38.92% Tablet 6.44%

Our Facebook page continues to grow with followers. This month our top post was a couple photos of the new cabins and that they were open to rent (total views of 6,844). Other top posts included a promotional picture for Pork Chop Island (total views of 1,775) and a drought conditions map of Nebraska during mid-July from UNL (total views of 532).
 

Month	Total Views	Total Reach	Total Engaged Users	Followers
October 2019	9,446	6,772	1,273	873
June 2020	3,399	3,106	147	1,152
July 1-28, 2020	10,795	8,848	1,467	1,170

Our Twitter page dropped one follower since last month. Our top posts for Twitter included the UNL drought conditions map (335 total views, 18 reactions), 4^th of July post/office closed (199 total views) and reminder about irrigation sample kits (183 total views).
 

Month	Impressions	Engagements	Followers
October 2019	3,707	61	300
June 2020	3,029	118	331
July 1-28, 2020	1,976	100	330

Rationale:  We were informed earlier this week that Schuyler's Middle School Outdoor day scheduled for September will be postponed with hopes to reschedule in the spring.

The education flyer will be going out in the next few weeks to area schools. I am not sure how this year's education programs will look, but we will look into options of creating videos, activities or materials that teachers can use in the classroom if visiting schools is not an option. 

Rationale:  Tim Knott with the Wachiska Audubon Society will available by Zoom to discuss an upcoming proposal for a Prairie Habitat Manager.
The Lower Platte North NRD helped the Wachiska Audubon Society support the purchase of the 45-acre Fertig Prairie near Richland in 2016. The LPNNRD contributed 8,839.50.

Rationale:  Results from the lead and copper testing were distributed to participating residents and required reporting was sent to DHHS.  No samples were above action levels.
Monthly testing completed and bills will be mailed out 7/30.

Rationale:  Monthly testing completed and bills will be mailed out 7/30.

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:  Christa Martin has a middle quarter on the N1/2 of Section 3-17N-7E (map attached).  This tract is a couple miles north of Ames and the new Hwy 30 is going to split the property in half.  She was wondering if irrigation would still be possible.  This tract of land is dryland but was irrigated at one time.  She would potentially need 2 wells and looking into what would be the most cost-efficient, a pivot or sub-surface drip.  The well shown by DNR records was drilled in 1957 with static water level at 5 feet.  She was wondering if she should apply for an variance this year or next as timetable will be decided by the DOT.  Staff is wanting some thoughts from the Committee. Is this one or two variances?  Allowing some leeway on the time that the wells are drilled and equipment installed?  Allowing the old well to be treated as a replacement well (assuming it is actually there)?

The Committee felt if there will be potentially 2 wells on different tract, then 2 variances are needed,  Each variance will be scored separately and ranked on their own merits with no guarantees of approval.  If an extension is needed, it will be treated accordingly.  Staff will investigate further if the original well is still there.  

Rationale:  Ray Lindhorst contacted the office regarding a well he owns in Platte County near Lindsay. The well is in the LPNNRD but irrigates ground in both LPNNRD and LLNRD. He would like to expand his system in LLNRD. Staff is asking for direction with how to proceed. LLNRD is still using acres as their method of determining water use, while we use the well. 

The Committee asked staff to get a better understanding on what Lower Loup is needing to complete this transfer.  

Rationale:  Variances are due August 15.

Rationale:  The Committee would like to view any AEM flights for the variance in section 23-14N-6E for the August Committee Meeting.. 

Rationale:  Staff has been handling numerous replacement well permits. 

Rationale:  Platte Center has applied for a well permit to add an additional well.  This community is struggling with high nitrates in the community wells. 

Rationale:  Russ has handled a couple of pivot endguns watering the road plus water running into Linwood.  

Rationale:  Staff gave an update at the Committee meeting on the equipment and data from the demonstration fields.  

Staff has started the process for applying for a NET grant.  Staff is still looking at a Source Water Grant through the NRCS for other projects. As one grant is federal funds and the other state, these grants working in conjunction could potentially help with the local match.   

The following are the projects included the grant:

Cover Crops - $160,000 (40 producer, maximin 80 acres, $50/acre)
Tissue Sampling - $2,000 (200 samples at $10/sample) 
Flow Meters - $350,000 (350 meters at $1000/meter)
Monitoring wells - $100,000 (2 nested sites with 4 inch casing for sampling) 
Field Mapping - $10,000 (10 producers at $1000/field)
High End Soil Moisture Sensors - $20,000 (20 producers at $1000/field)

The total amount of a NET grant would be $642,000, which would be over 2 years and normally be about 25 percent for the LPNNRD.   The LPNNRD requirement would be $160,500 over a 2 year period. 

Rationale:  Staff has been sending out kits and received number of them back already.  

Rationale: 

For 2020 we have 695 renewals and 52 new permit applications for a current total of 747.  Inspections for 215 renewal permits have been completed.
 

Rationale: 

The LPNNRD has received no livestock permit applications from NDEE since the last Water Committee meeting. 
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

 

 

 Description of permit application

 

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

 

Rationale:  Other discussion?

Rationale:  Attached is a presentation given to the technical group on July 23.  An update was given on current and potential future projects.  Katie is planning on an update to the Committee/Board next year.  

Rationale:  Staff has been collecting water samples from the 53 statewide networks wells along with doing extra water sampling in Dodge County and the Phase areas.  This year staff is assisting with a project for UNL. Staff just collects water in an additional bottle at a site that the NRD is already sampling. 

Project information:

An irrigation water quality survey for NRDs of Nebraska
Charles Wortmann, Soil Fertility Specialist, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL cwortmann2@unl.edu

Substantial amounts of nutrients essential for crop growth are applied through irrigation in Nebraska. With the exception of nitrate-N, irrigation-applied nutrients have not been directly credited in fertilizer use decisions but some may be credited through the interpretation of soil test results. Information for some nutrients applied in irrigation water has been reported by county based on a survey of irrigation water quality done in the 1960’s which presents the case for the need for a new survey and for analysis of all irrigation water sources https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2019/crediting-essential-nutrients-applied-irrigation-water. This article addressed only phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), boron (B), and chloride (Cl). I propose that we conduct a new survey that addresses these nutrients and zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and molybdenum (Mo), as well as nitrate-N, ammonium-N, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), electrical conductivity, pH, and bicarbonate concentration. Concentrations are not expected to change much over years and survey results will be valid for years. The objective is generate a database and a report similar to the attached but with sample results mapped by latitude and longitude with interpolation for 17 water properties.
 

Rationale:  A drought map for the week of July 28 with some information from NeDNR

According to the July 25^th Palmer Drought Severity Index (Att 2), conditions in the Nebraska panhandle are -3.0 to -3.9, which indicate that the area is currently experiencing a "severe drought."  But directly adjacent and east of the panhandle are areas in north and central Nebraska that are experiencing +3.0 to +3.9 PDSI, indicating a "very moist spell."  Minimum stream flows on the Platte River at Ashland (Att 3), according to gage 0680100 are hovering above 3,000 cfs, with a maximum of up to 9,500 cfs, so drought conditions have not been met in eastern Nebraska at this time according to the drought triggers. 

Also, the Nebraska Climate Assessment Response Committee (CARC) met today. Presentations given at that meeting can be found at this link: https://carc.nebraska.gov/minutes.html

Key points were:  

• • Warmer than normal conditions have dominated the state and region recently with regional temperatures averaging about 2-4 degrees F above normal the last 60 days.
  • Almost the entire state of Nebraska has recorded below normal precipitation for 2020 so far with areas of northcentral Nebraska the anomaly with areas 4 inches above normal.
  • Nebraska is currently showing 22.92 percent of the state in drought and this has been trending upwards over the last 3 months.  Most of the drought is moderate (D1) with some pockets of severe in the Panhandle.
  • The seasonal drought outlook has drought persisting in Nebraska through the end of October in the areas that are currently in drought.  Some improvements could be seen in the far northwest part of the state as well as the extreme northeast.

Rationale:  Week of July 20th, 2020

This week's beach Bacteria and Harmful Algal Bloom results are now posted on the NDEE web page (Current Health Alerts and Sampling Results For This Week). 


We have a larger number of Health Alerts than usual this week. Why, you may ask. Last year the EPA recommended lowering the concentration limit for Health Alerts associated with Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Over the past few years states, universities, and researchers have been working with the EPA to determine if the older criteria in place since the the late 1990's was still a good benchmark for Health Advisories for beaches and other recreational waters. A lot of research has been conducted since the first criteria was issued.  Using this newly gained knowledge about HABs and their affects on human health it was found that a lower human health criteria was needed. We have read the new recommendations as well as the associated research and believe the new human health criteria of 8 ppb is based on very good science.  As such we adopted the new lower criteria of 8 ppb for this year. This means we have a few more lakes listed this week than we would have in years past. This certainly does not mean that the lakes are more dangerous than years past it is just science doing what science does, constantly testing what we know and making the necessary changes as we learn more

Rationale:  An invoice is attached for the annual payment on stream gauges and groundwater monitoring wells per agreement 20NRJFA00170.
Some information is shown from the gauges.  

The data is available at this website:
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ne/nwis/rt

Rationale:  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:  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: 

NOTE: The agenda is on file at the LPNNRD office and may be changed up to 24 hours prior to the meeting as scheduled.