December 10, 2018 at 1:30 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 Legislative Conference is scheduled for January 29 - 30, 2019 at the Embassy Suites in Lincoln.  As in years past we will host along with LENRD, LCNRD, UENRD and  LNNRD a Dinner with Senators.  

Rationale:  The NACD Annual Meeting is scheduled for February 2-6, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas.  Our District was selected to present at this year's meeting showcasing the education and recreation components and the disc golf course we installed at Lake Wanahoo.  Management is recommending to send Desirae and Bret to this year's NACD in addition to the two staff we typically send.

Rationale:  The Annual Director Retreat is normally held in February. The Executive Committee suggested February 13th at the Benedictine Retreat Center near Schuyler.  

Rationale:  The date for the Lower Platte basin caucus is set for 12:30 pm Friday, January 11th at Lower Platte South NRD.  Lunch will be served.
 

Rationale:  Attached find Director Kavan, Meduna and Bailey's excuse of absence from the November Board Meeting.

Rationale:  Dave Ruder with Live Well Go Fish is available to give a brief review of his group's activity this past season at Lake Wanahoo and update our board with future plans of his non-profit organization.

Rationale: 

Annual Officer Election is to take place in January.  The Nominating Committee is composed of our immediate past three (3) board chairpersons currently serving terms on the NRD board who are: Hannah, Hilger and Saalfeld.  A policy has been adopted to guide the Nominating Committee through their assigned process which is attached.  The Board Chair is to appoint a Chair from the pool of sub-committee members with the sub-committee secretary to record minutes for inclusion into the January board agenda packet.

 

Rationale:  Due to the fact that no one filed for election in Sub-District 4 and Vacancy needs to be declared.  Along with the declaring a vacancy and Search Committee needs to be appointed. 

Rationale:  Director Ruzicka has asked if the Executive Committee could be at 8:00 a.m. and Projects Committee at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 3rd.

Rationale:  - Robert Hedges Construction has begun erecting the education building
- 2019 Wanahoo park permits have been ordered and will be on sale next week
- Informational park signs have been ordered and will go up 1-1-19
- Wanahoo brochures have been ordered and will be here next week.
- We have begun discussions with potential seasonal staff.
- Wanahoo promotional video is complete and ready to promote.
- Compost toilets for Pork Chop Island will be built in-house this winter.
- Gottschalk and Schomer will be visiting with local businesses, groups and organizations over the next few months promoting Lake Wanahoo and soliciting education building donations.  We are offering 3 levels of support:
    - $ 1,000,  $ 2,500 and $ 5,000 +
Last month we were informed our $ 30,000 application to the Wahoo Community Foundation was approved.  Our goal is to raise $ 96,000 to cover our local share of the construction and furnishing of the building.

Rationale:  Discussion on LPNNRD owned properties and possible plans for auction.

Rationale:  As of today, I am introducing our new "District First" award program.  I believe recognizing and acknowledging outstanding employee attitude and performance is crucial in developing and maintaining a positive and productive employee culture.  A "District First" philosophy is one that recognizes the Lower Platte North NRD is more than just our employer, it is our Profession, our Passion and our Pride.  I will be relying on each of you to keep me informed of the great work, attitude and professionalism our staff is displaying on a regular basis so I can recognize their contributions to our district.
                I believe this "pay it forward" approach will help us all become better stewards of the Lower Platte North NRD and provide us all an opportunity to promote and acknowledge our "District First" culture.
 
                Thank you all for the work you do and please let me know if you have any questions.
 
E
 

Rationale:  Attached find the October Financial Statements.  Grant will be available for a conference call at 10:15 a.m. 

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

Rationale:  Nothing to consider.

Rationale:  There is nothing new to report. There are no longer any landowner contracts in Wild NE or CREP.

Rationale:  The O & M staff have put in 2 wire gates for access at Sand/Duck site 3 and have 1 to install at Sand/Duck site 2, all for Bob and Rich Peseka. We also cut and treated trees at these locations. We also have trees to remove in the fence line at Sand/Duck site 24 for Dan Mensik.
We took out the docks at Lake Wanahoo. We marked the easement boundary along Rawhide Ditch 8 on the 3 properties of concern. Continue to do routine maintenance on vehicles and equipment.

Rationale:  This message was received on Nov. 13, 2018 from Chris Fassero, Project Manager.
We haven't met with our division yet to discuss which nonstructural plan to recommend because we encountered a problem with our economic model, which wouldn't run after our economists had Windows 10 installed on their computers.  We finally got that resolved and were able to run our updated existing conditions model last week.  The team is working on the nonstructural alternative modeling now, and I should know by early next week when we'll have that completed and be able to meet with our division.  I apologize for the delay, an I'll provide a more definite schedule update by the middle of next week.
We (NRD) have not received an update.
 

Rationale:  On November 14 and 15, 2018 we received the draft documents of the Clear Creek/Western Sarpy O & M Manuals, all appendices and maps. The COE requested that the NRD's review and comment on all documents by Nov. 26, essentially giving us 4-5 business days to review and comment. Heimann told the COE that the Nov. 26th date was not adequate time for a review and requested that the COE present and explain the O & M Manuals to NRD staff in person. Petermann and Zillig agreed, Petermann gave a list of dates for a possible meeting.  The COE has not responded.

Rationale:  To date the camping revenue from Czechland Lake is $10,020.
The trapper from Prague caught 4 beaver in the silt basin in the tail waters of the lake. He was going to move to Cottonwood 6-E and possibly Sand/Duck site 24.
It's with great sympathy to tell you Bill Warner passed away on November 20th at the age of 86. Bill was our first groundskeeper at Czechland and Homestead Lakes.

Rationale:  Meduna Family Farms harvested 225 bales from the Wanahoo property and paid the District $5,841.  The Meduna bid was $40/ton.

Rationale:  NRD staff has marked the easement boundary along Rawhide Ditch 8 for three landowners who have encroached with their farming practices. Each landowner has been informed that the boundary has been marked with orange flags and lath.  Two of the three are requested to reseed the area. The District has not received comments from the landowners.

Rationale:  The Dept. of Natural Resources Dam Safety did a review of classification on Bellwood 2-C.  The recent analysis of the dam and the area downstream shows that if the dam fails, up to nine downstream homes could experience shallow, non-life threatening flooding. The hazard potential classification for the dam has been changed from low to significant. The Department will increase the frequency of inspections from once every five years to once every three years.

Rationale:  Staff is still reviewing and updating the Park Regulations which will be for Czechland, Homestead and Lake Wanahoo.

Rationale:  There is nothing to report to date.

Rationale:  The current KTIC radio ad and Wahoo Newspaper eAd promote the December 15^th deadline for water use and fertilizer application reports.  These ads will run until December 16^th.  The ads are attached.
 

Rationale:  LPNNRD has received the completed Lake Wanahoo promotional videos from redthread.  There is a 46 second version for promotional use and a 30 second version for potential television promotion.  The video will be shared at committee meetings and the December Board of Directors Meeting.
 

Rationale: 

• Monday, December 3^rd:  TePoel will be a judge at the FFA Leadership Development Event (LDE) for the natural resources speaking contest.
• Tuesday, December 4^th: TePoel will present an environmental education program to St. Wenceslaus Pre-K.
• Friday, December 7^th: TePoel will present an environmental education program to St. Wenceslaus Pre-K.
• Survival Club (Wahoo Public Schools): Tentative plans include a presentation on safety on trails/outdoors.

Rationale:  Attached is the revised bid from Phoenix Web Group to provide  LPN RWD with remote meter reading and billing software/hardware in response to the Board's approved motion at the November Board meeting to accept the bid for RWD's budgeted funds of $13,700.00.

PWG has been providing remote meter readings in Colon for the past several months (at no cost to the NRD RWD) with good results.  

A motion was made at the November Board Meeting to go forward with the remote meter readings with Phoenix Web Group.

 

Rationale:  In an effort to trend the financial situation of the Colon RWD in the positive direction the LPNNRD RWD is recommending an 8% increase to our water rate and meter rate to the Colon RWD.  This increase would go into effect for the February 2019 billing cycle so as to allow the RWD to give adequate notice to our customers. See attachment
Proposed water rate : $2.43 per 1000 gallons
Proposed meter fee for Colon residents: $29.19
Proposed meter fee for rural Colon RWD customers : $43.20


Meters read and bills will go out this week.
Testing completed 11/20.

Rationale:  Meters read and bills will go out this week.
Testing completed 11/20.

Rationale:   The District has received an extension request on variance LPN-NDV-016-0039 located in Sections 4&5 of T14N-R6E, Saunders County, Weston Subarea, Non-Hydrologically Connected Area. The new well variance was originally approved in September of 2016. The well was drilled within one year of the approval date (12/16/2016), and by rule the irrigation system needs to be in place by the end of 2018. Per staff's discussion with Ms. Meduna in the office, she was agreeable to a 90 day extension should the Board allow it.

Rationale:  Chris Hobza and Matt Moser representing USGS were gave an update on the stream gages and Platte/Elkhorn Study.  
Attached is the contract with USGS to continue with these sites.  Also does the Board want to include LPN-80 to the contract for 2019? 
Regarding continuation as a partner with the Leshara Water Quality gauge, staff will meet with USGS to review the benefits and costs ($24,808 over three years) for continuing with that site. 

Rationale:  Ryan Loseke has submitted a request to increase 5.6 irrigated acres on a field located in S24-T18N-R1E, Colfax County. Well G-120056 is certified to irrigate 121.73 and has an estimated annual consumptive use of 26.29 acre feet which cannot be exceeded should the acres be approved by the Board. Attached is a map of the field.

Rationale: 

Wells Permits Approved: 2

Landowner	Number of Wells	Number of New Irrigated Acres	Type of Well	County	Subarea
Hynek Farms	1	0	Irrigation (Supplemental)	Saunders	Morse Bluff
Ruzicka Farms Inc	1	0	Irrigation (Replacement)	Dodge	North Bend

 

 

 

 

 

 

The total number of approved permits for 2018 is 22

Location of Approved Well Permits for 2018:  Correct as of 11/28/2018
 

County	Irrigation - New	Irrigation - Replacement	Stock	Commercial	Municipal	Other	Total
Butler	1	0	1	0	0	0	2
Colfax	0	2	0	0	0	0	2
Dodge	1	2	0	0	1	0	4
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	3	3	0	0	0	1	7
Total	10	8	2	0	1	1	22

 

Rationale:  Kyle Herchenbach has applied for a new livestock well in the NW1/4 SW 1/4 of S23-T20N-R3W in Platte County, Lower Newman Grove subarea. The well will be used to supply water to a new chicken operation. There will be a second well drilled under the same permit for redundancy. 

Rationale: 

In November Oaklund and Jackie Polacek (UNL) installed cable and logger in ten UNL priority sites.  As UNL analyzes their spatial distribution they may have a couple of more strategic wells.  Oaklund has installed shelters at a couple more wells.

Attached is a agreement and contract to relinquish the transducer to the LPN after 2023 in which LPN will take care of the maintenance and provide data to both agencies. 

Rationale:  314 irrigation kits have been mailed.  One mailed to Micek in November (Bellwood Phase 2 Area) has not yet been returned.  All sample results have been mailed to producers.
 

Rationale: 

2018 is the sixteen year for this Phase 2 Area. Five fertilizer application reports have been received for this area. 

Year	Nitrate-nitrogen Range	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen 0 to 8.0 ppm	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen 8.01 to 10.00 ppm	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen greater than 10 ppm
2004	0 to 25 ppm	46.3% (44 of 95)	8.4% (8 of 95)	45.3% (43 of 95)
2005	0 to 25 ppm	47% (44 of 94)	15% (14 of 94)	38% (36 of 94)
2006	0 to 24 ppm	41% (29 of 71)	14% (10 of 71)	45% (32 of 71)
2007	0 to 31 ppm	48% (48 of 100)	9% (9 of 100)	43% (43 of 100)
2008	0 to 28 ppm	53.75% (43 of 80)	7.5% (6 of 80)	38.75% (31 of 80)
2009	0 to 22 ppm	45.5% (41 of 90)	15.5% (14 of 90)	39% (35 of 90)
2010	0 to 35.7 ppm	48.65% (54 of 111)	11.71% (13 of 111)	39.64% (44 of 111)
2011	0 to 26.6 ppm	51% (56 of 110)	6% (7 of 110)	43% (47 of 110)
2012	0 to 28.9 ppm	57% (61 of 107)	9% (10 of 107)	34% (36 of 107)
2013	0 to 25.8 ppm	50% (53 of 107)	9% (10 of 107)	41% (44 of 107)
2014	0 to 22.3 ppm	51% (55 of 108)	13% (14 of 108)	36% (39 of 108)
2015	0 to 32.3 ppm	43% (31 of 72)	8% (6 of 72)	49% (35 of 72)
2016	0 to 35.1 ppm	34% (25 of 74)	11% (8 of 74)	55% (41 of 74)
2017	0 to 23.5 ppm	36% (27 of 74)	15% (11 of 74)	49% (36 of 74)
2018	0 to 30.9 ppm	39% (24 of 62)	11% (7 of 62)	50% (31 of 62)

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. Three fertilizer application reports have been received for this area. 

Year	Nitrate-nitrogen Range	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen 0 to 8.0 ppm	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen 8.01 to 10.00 ppm	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen greater than 10 ppm
2016	1.47 to 41.8 ppm	29% (10 of 34)	9% (3 of 34)	62% (21 of 34)
2017	2.44 to 25.4 ppm	23% (8 of 35)	(0 of 35)	77% (27 of 35)
2018	1.75 tp 29.3 ppm	26% (5 of 19)	11% (2 of 19)	63% (12 of 19)

 

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.  Five fertilizer application reports have been received for this area. 

Year	Nitrate-nitrogen Range	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen 0 to 8.0 ppm	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen 8.01 to 10.00 ppm	Percent Nitrate-nitrogen greater than 10 ppm
2004	0 to 47 ppm	30% (42 of 139)	10% (14 of 139)	60% (83 of 139)
2005	0 to 120 ppm	31.3% (74 of 236)	10.2% (24 of 236)	58.5% (138 of 236)
2006	0 to 53 ppm	28% (50 of 181)	14% (26 of 181)	58% (105 of 181)
2007	0 to 99 ppm	32% (75 of 231)	10% (22 of 231)	58% (134 of 227)
2008	0 to 46 ppm	28% (53 of 190)	12% (23 of 190)	60% (114 of 190)
2009	0 to 57 ppm	33% (72 of 216)	6% (13 of 216)	61% (131 of 216)
2010	0 to 57.5 ppm	31% (70 of 229)	7% (15 of 229)	62% (142 of 229)
2011	0 to 65.8 ppm	28% (67 of 241)	9% (21 of 241)	63% (153 of 241)
2012	0 to 52.6 ppm	29% (70 of 241)	9% (21 of 241)	62% (150 of 241)
2013	0 to 94.0 ppm	25% (63 of 252)	9% (23 of 252)	66% (166 of 252)
2014	0 to 101.0 ppm	27% (68 of 251)	9% (22 of 251)	64% (161 of 251)
2015	0 to 53.3 ppm	23% (55 of 238)	12% (29 of 238)	65% (154 of 238)
2016	0 to 50.5 ppm	25% (58 of 228)	10% (22 of 228)	65% (148 of 228)
2017	0 to 53.4 ppm	25% (60 of 238)	6% (14 of 238)	69% (164 of 238)
2018	0 to 56.9 ppm	25% (46 of 182)	7% (12 of 182)	68% (124 pf 182)

 

Rationale:  One online test was completed in November (see following table).

Cert #	Cert date	Name	Re-cert	Comments
7134	11/13/2018	Michael Lindhorst	no

Rationale:  The 2019 class schedule has been set.   The 2019 classes will start with a test allowing any attendee who passes the test to leave and be certified.

Class	Date & time	Location
# 1	Thursday, January 3rd @ 3:30 p.m.	Fremont - Extension Office
	? Note: Corn Expo at Christensen Field ?	(after the Corn Expo)
# 2	Monday, January 14th @ 7:00 p.m.	ENREC - Mead (formerly ARDC)
# 3	Friday, February 1st @ 9:30 a.m.	Columbus - Ag Park  ?
# 4	Monday, February 4th @ 1:00 p.m.	David City - Butler County Events Center at Fairgrounds
# 5	Thursday, February 7th @ 9:30 a.m.	Lindsay - Village Office
# 6	Wednesday, February 20th @ 9:30 a.m.	Columbus - Ag Park   ?
# 7	Monday, March 11th @ 6:00 p.m. u	Fremont - Extension Office
# 8	Tuesday, March 12th @ 9:30 a.m.	David City - Butler County Events Center at Fairgrounds
# 9	Wednesday, March 20th @ 7:00 p.m.	ENREC - Mead (formerly ARDC)
# 10	Thursday, March 21st @ 7:00 p.m.	Columbus - Ag Park ?
	? Ag Park classes will be on second floor.  Entrance is	Ten classes
	on south side - accessible by stairs or elevator.
u	"Zoom" class

 

Rationale: 

Attached is the annual report that is sent to NDEQ. 

Nitrogen: (Gallons) 181,491 ---equivalates to 644,293 lbs
Nitrogen: (Pounds) 2,331,067
= Total : 2,975,360 lbs of N
Acres Treated: 41,704
Avg. Application/ Acre : 71.3 lbs of N

Rationale:  An open house is scheduled for Wednesday, December 5 at Lower Platte South NRD from 5 to 7 to present and take comments on the Lower Platte Basin Drought Plan. 
Attached is the working draft of the Drought Plan. 

Rationale: 

Water samples from these three wells have been collected this month.  Tyler and Will retrieved the sample from the east well this afternoon.  Sample results have not yet been received.

The Lower Platte North drilled some Dakota Wells during June and July in cropland fields. Some damage did occur in these fields with growing crops.  Staff was very appreciative to the producers in allowing us to drill these wells.  Pictures are attached showing the damage in which staff thanks John Hannah in providing these drone pictures and an estimated of dollar loss damage. Estimated yields were 220 bu/acre at $3.58 corn price.   

East Site: David Grotelueschen - owner, Tony Sayer - operator
Estimate Crop Damage - $146.49
Seed Cost, labor and cooperation - $225.00
Total - $371.49 or round up to $400

Middle Site: Tom Neemeyer - owner, Brad Loseke - operator
Estimate Crop Damage - $212.62 
Seed Cost, labor and cooperation - $225.00
Total - $437.62 or round up to $450

Rationale:  Ground Water Level Summary Comparison of Fall 2017 to Fall 2018
Fall collection of ground water levels has been completed.  Not surprisingly, and as anticipated, the numbers look good.  Precipitation in July and August reduced irrigation pumping.  Crops is a large area in central Platte County had significant hail damage and, as such, there was little to no irrigation is the area.
 

Ground Water Level Summary Comparison of Fall 2017 to Fall 2018
Aquifer	Number of Wells Measured	Median Change (Feet)	Mean Change (Feet)	Number of Wells Increased	Number of Wells Unchanged                (+ or - 0.3 Feet)	Number of Wells Decreased
Subarea
Platte Valley	58	0.60	0.64	37	14	7
Bellwood	5	0.09	0.28	2	2	1
Fremont	7	-0.10	-0.43	1	3	3
Fremont East	3	1.04	0.95	3	0	0
Leshara Platte Valley	1	0.04	0.04	0	1	0
North Bend	9	0.26	0.54	3	4	2
Octavia	5	0.39	0.94	4	1	0
Platte River Uplands	4	1.02	1.56	4	0	0
Schuyler	6	0.83	0.80	4	2	0
Wann	18	0.81	0.86	16	1	1
Shell Creek	46	4.76	5.58	46	0	0
Lower Newman Grove	2	[+4.72, +6.83]	5.78	2	0	0
Lower Shell Creek	6	2.03	1.66	6	0	0
Middle Shell Creek	17	6.42	6.88	17	0	0
Newman Grove	3	4.39	5.34	3	0	0
Platte Center	6	4.02	3.85	6	0	0
Shell Creek Uplands	2	[+1.24, +15.07]	8.16	2	0	0
Upper Newman Grove	9	6.15	5.91	6	0	0
Upper Shell Creek	1	9.29	9.29	1	0	0
Todd Valley	19	0.10	0.40	9	6	4
(north of Hwy 92)	8	0.96	0.96	7	1	0
(south of Hwy 92)	11	-0.08	-0.11	2	5	4
Uplands	56	1.57	3.90	37	12	7
David City	18	8.37	8.40	17	0	1
Leshara Uplands	4	0.62	0.65	2	2	0
Morse Bluff	3	2.26	4.11	3	0	0
Prague	6	2.28	5.82	5	1	0
Swedeburg	9	-0.08	-0.06	2	5	2
Weston	7	0.51	1.77	5	1	1
Yutan	5	-0.30	0.81	2	1	2
Yutan South	4	0.53	0.32	2	1	1
				72%	18%	10%
			Last year's %	43%	17%	40%

 

Rationale:  Attached is an invoice from Phoenix which contract was signed July 2018.  

Rationale:  18-S-6     Carl Sousek -   $10,409.87    Terrace w/ Tile outlet

Rationale:  Lands for Conservation (LFC) payment approval:

Ray Urban - 34ac - $6,732.00
James Smaus - 19ac - $3,762.00
Jerome Urban - 7ac - $1,386.00
Patrick Bartek - 11ac - 2,178.00

Rationale:  Ryan Hamilton ( Mainelli Wagner) has reported that seeding operations have been completed on change order No. 2 on the Kramer Bank Stabilization Project (Vavricek). Rock riprap was installed per the change order No. 2 plans and covered with soil just like the original project and the change order No. 1 project.  Attached is the final pay application No. 6 which includes completion of Change order No. 2 ($7,352.93) plus an additional $1,319.90 for retainage that was held on change order No. 1 (Hamata) for a grand total of $8,672.83.  All work has been inspected by LPNNRD staff and elected officials as well.  This amount will be reimbursed to LPNNRD from NDEQ 319 grant funds.
 

Rationale:  Ken Kotera updated the committee on progress with the Tom Sprunk Shell Creek Bank Stabilization/Wetland Project Ken has been assisting Tom Sprunk by providing detailed project design information to the USACE who will be issuing a Section 404 - 43 permit. This particular permit is for creek bank stabilization and flood flood water retention in the creek.  The project is planned to be completed in the summer of 2019. 

Rationale:  Elliott, Mountford and Mike Placke (Olsson) met with NRCS watershed funding personnel in Lincoln on November 30 to start planning future design activities for the 11 sited Wahoo Creek flood reduction dams. Geotechnical soil sampling and analysis efforts have begun on sites 26a, 26b and 27, however design activities on the other eight dam sites needs to be delayed until NRCS approves the final watershed plan which in anticipated by April 1, 2019.   Another meeting is being scheduled on December 11, 2018, with NRCS, Olsson and FYRA to coordinate planning and design activities as we move forward.

Attached is FYRA's recent  $22,945.96 invoice and summary report for your review. Since this work falls under an approved contract, no Board motion for payment is required.  After this payment, $316,219.93 will remain on our $574,990 contract. NRCS will reimburse us the entire amount.

The committee discussed inviting FYRA, Olsson and Buried Past to an upcoming meeting to give verbal progress reports. 

Rationale: 
Buried Past LLC  has begun their cultural resources investigations on the eight remaining Wahoo Creek Dam sites and plan to resume again next week.  before Thanksgiving and will resume next week.  Attached is a report of work completed November 7-16. We we are working closely with FYRA Engineering and NRCS on any potential impacts their findings may have at dam site 83 along with any other possible findings.  Recovery of prehistoric cultural material  was discovered at site 83 so after pinpointing  the exact location and potential impact, we will then evaluate what steps, if any, will be needed at this location. 

Also on November 30, Elliott, Mountford and Mike Placke (Olsson) also met with Elisha Mackling, NRCS State Cultural Resources Specialist, on November 30 review ou Buried Past LLC, findings at site 83 and what might be required if this site shows potential impact to the cultural site,. This could require an extensive geomorphic investigation  to better evaluate the area and what additional steps will be needed to avoid or protect the area. 

Rationale:  There are four Lands for Conservation payments where conservation practices were completed as outlined in 2.D. above. These payments totaling $14,058 will be reimbursed to LPNNRD from approved NDEQ 319 grant funds. 

Rationale:  We have been preparing for requesting a project scope change on Wahoo Creek Dam Sites 26 & 27 to the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) on December 18, 2018.  Since the locations and number of dams has changed, we need to formally get approval from NRC who have approved about $2.3 million from the State Water Sustainability Fund toward these sites.  While there are cost savings and environmental reasons why it is in the best interest of our funding partners to allow this change, we need to provide detailed information to best explain and justify  these changes to NRC.

Rationale:  We have advertised and e-mailed out Requests For Proposals (RFP) for updating our District Wide Hazard Mitigation Plan and completing a flood risk analysis for Fremont and Schuyler as attached, Proposals are due December 19th. The plan is to bring a summary and staff recommendation to the January 3 Projects Committee Meeting. 

Rationale:  Allen Kaspar contacted the NRD to discuss several issues he has with multiple neighbors on his farm north of Prague.  NRD staff met with Allen, and his son Mike, and documented their concerns.  One issue they brought up is in regards to fence location in regards to legally surveyed property line and Elliott recommended legal counsel for that matter.  Elliott recommended Kaspar's first course of action was to pursue USDA Farm Program Compliance check.

Their two other issues are legitimate so Elliott notified the neighbors in question to notify them of the complaint.  Elliott has been in contact with all landowners and explained the concerns that Kaspar expressed to us, as well as, potential solutions that the NRD can assist in providing.  All were receptive to addressing the issues presented and will proceed as field conditions allow.

Rationale:  At the last Executive Committee, there was a discussion on various LPNNRD owned property and potential sales as listed. 

1.  Sand Creek Site #15
2.  Pheasant Forever Wetland
3.  Wahoo Air Park
4.  Thomas Lakes Lots

Project and Executive Committee members present discussed what proprieties we might want to start making plans to sell.  Representatives from Stock Reality were present to discuss their on-line bidding process for selling property. Discussions will continue for planning potential property sales in 2019. 

Rationale:  Elbert is working on arranging a field trip for the Newman Students to visit water research programs at UNL. It will probably be February 20. Elbert would like to provide snacks and lunch and a recreational break (perhaps bowling) and was wondering if the NRD would consider picking up that cost. We’re thinking UNL might set it up as a package registration fee of $20-25. There would be 8-12 students and a few chaperones, maybe 15 total.

 

Rationale:  Tim Shanahan has submitted to the District a variance extension request for his application LPN-V-017-0454 in Section 28-T16N-R7E, Saunders County. The application for a new well to irrigate 135 acres was approved 11/13/2017 and letters were sent 11/15/2017. Mr. Shanahan feels that the letter was lost in the mail.

Staff recommends approving an extension for Tim Shanahan LPN-V-017-0454 in Section 28-T16N-R7E, Saunders County.  

 

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.