October 29, 2020 at 7:30 AM - Projects Committee Meeting

Rationale:  No unfinished business to address.

Rationale:  Elliott continues to work with our approved fall SWCP applicants and NRCS personnel in getting jobs ready for construction.  At this point we have about 50% of our approved fall projects ready for construction.

Rationale:  None presented.

Rationale:  None presented.

Rationale:  None presented.

Rationale:  None presented.

Rationale:  The contractor has started construction on this project which should be completed in November. 

Rationale:  No new information. We have $365,000 grant funds from NDEE and $90,000 available from NET to assist with upcoming Shell Creek erosion/water quality projects. A significant amount of these funds will be used toward assisting with with the Shell Creek Channel Improvement/ Benching Project near Schuyler. 

Rationale:  David Geilenkirchen - $4800.00

Rationale:  Brandon Groteluschen - Work has been completed on his approved septic system upgrade.  Bill Bos inspected the work and contractor has submitted a bill for $8,700.22.  Groteluschen has been approved for up to $4800.00 of cost-share through our Shell Creek NDEE Water Quality Phase 2 grant.

Rationale: 
Update on Wahoo Creek Economics - Ryan Roenigk , FYRA (attachment): 
"Attached is an update on Wahoo Econ.  I can add more detail if needed but basically I am working on developing a toolbox in ArcMap to combine the rasters, store the info in a way that can be easily read and combined with the depth-damage values, and determine a damage amount.  A sample reach will be analyzed once a working version of the toolbox has been developed.  I would estimate about 2 weeks out from having the toolbox completed. Connor mentioned he had to take a look at the HEC-RAS model first before getting the updated inundation extents.  Those will be needed in order for the results of the first reach.  But if the toolbox is ready within a couple weeks it should be easy enough to get the results as soon as the HEC-RAS outputs are ready."

Update on Wahoo Creek Cultural Resource Review - Melissa Baier, NRCS Archeologist:
"The disappointing news to report is that I haven’t been able to work on Wahoo Creek for a while.  I had a bunch of EQIP projects that had to get finished before the funding deadline and those took up every minute of July, August, and September.  October was supposed to be when I got back to watershed work, but then I had travel for training, fieldwork, and vacation.  The year is slipping by rapidly, as you mentioned in the message, but I do still have plans for getting at least the Omaha Nation representatives out for a site visit this year.  The Pawnee and Otoe are still under travel restrictions because of Covid, so I’ll have to get creative on how to do a site visit for them.  The Omaha are a more pressing concern though as I need to figure out what they really want, so I want to meet with them on site to get a better idea of how to resolve our issues.  My agenda this week is to send out an email to Thomas Parker to see if there is a day in November that would work to meet with them on site (Site 83)  and then call the landowners for permission to access those areas.  I’ll let you know which day so you can come too. "

On November 3rd, we received two invoices as attached from FYRA Engineering for contract work completed on the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan. One invoice (8/1/20 through 10/2/20) is for $3,639  and the other for $13,892 (10/3 through 10/23/20) for a combined total of $17,531. After these payments, $77,938 remains on our $95,469 contract addendum.
 

Rationale:  Reimbursement requests and reports are being submitted to Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) and Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) for the recently completed Mike Chvatal Dam and Lands for Conservation Payments.

Rationale:  No new information. Olsson is basically on hold until the watershed plan is approved by NRCS.

Rationale:  As discussed at LPNNRD’s October Board Meeting, while LPNNRD has signed our portion of the Rod & Gun Club Interlocal Agreement (attached) , both Fremont and the Rod and Gun Club have had second thoughts and requested some changes before signing.  Attached is the latest draft, that I assume will be close to the final document.  This does not change LPNNRD’s commitments or subject us to increased liability, since the changes suggest more City and County involvement.  There could be additional changes before its all said and done, but we have made it clear that LPNNRD would not be interested in signing contracts or talking on liability. 

The Projects Committee is requested to review and recommend approval for potential Board action on November 9^th. 
 

Rationale:  North Bend Drainage District, Fremont, Dodge County, FYRA and LPNNRD have participated in partner and conference calls  with FEMA to ask questions on the best path for submitting the HMGP assistance application (attached).  Dodge County, with FYRA's assistance, have been in the lead through the application process with other partner input.  After much discussion, it appears that the best route will be to apply for FEMA assistance in two phases, one for engineering and another for construction. This will ensure that FEMA will provide 75% assistance for the engineering expense, even if it is determined at the end of that phase that a project isn't feasible.  

Rationale:  As reported earlier, the LPNNRD Hazard Mitigation Plan has been approved and JEO continues to work with obtaining approved plan resolutions from communities and other entities. The flood risk assessments for Fremont and Schuyler are complete and both have reimbursed LPNNRD their 25% of the local share. JEO is assisting with the final phases of the dam breach overlay districts for Saunders County, Wahoo, Prague and Yutan. 

Rationale:  The Sanitary & Improvement District No.8 (Woodcliff) has submitted assistance requests for project repair of their existing bank stabilization project and also for a new road raise project at the same location (letter attached). This is the first LPNNRD has been informed of these projects and construction is well underway on much of the project. 

The SID's first request is for assistance on the local share for repairing 2019 flood damages to their bank stabilization project.  Their letter stated that they are working with FEMA/NEMA to recieve up to 87.5% federal/state cost share assistance for on the repairs (approx. $300,000) and additional road protection along an area by their lagoons approx. (approx. $700,000), The SID's estimated local 12.5% on the repair was stated as $137,000.   LPNNRD approved $300,000 assistance toward the original bank stabilization project and has made three $75,000 payments ($225,000) thus far, with one $75,000 payment remaining this fiscal year.

The SID's second request is for $400,000, which is 50% of an estimated $800,000 for a road raise flood risk reduction project (engineering and construction).  We have been informed that this project is 75% complete with the remaining work to be completed soon. 

Since we just received these requests, staff felt it best present to discuss the requests with both the Projects and Operations Committees before inviting SID representatives to elaborate.  While we have budgeted funds for flood damage repairs under Interlocal Project Emergency Repairs and the Rock and Jetty Program, there no budgeted funds available for the road raise project this fiscal year. 

Mountford has asked the JEO project engineer and an SID representative attend the December 3, 2020 committee meeting to provide project details and present their assistance requests. It was explained that LPNNRD policy requires that assistance requests need approval prior to work being completed. 

 

Rationale:  The Project Committee Meeting adjourned at 8:25 a.m.