June 3, 2021 at 7:30 AM - Projects Committee Meeting

Rationale:  No unfinished business to address.

Rationale:  None.

Rationale:  Below are two completed tree plantings ready for payment:
 

APPROVED TREE PLANTING:
		LEE SEEMAN	$                     1,860.00
		BRUCE WILLIAMS	$                        820.00

Rationale:  None.

Rationale:  We received two applications for septic system upgrades within our Wahoo Creek Watershed water quality area.
 

KENNETH SOUSEK		$4,800.00
RON SABATKA		$4,800.00

Rationale:  Attached is JEO's $6,603.50 Invoice for updating our Shell Creek Watershed Quality Management Plan.  After this payment, $25,025.50 will remain under our $31,630 contract.

Rationale:  Attached is the signed amendment to our Shell Creek 319 grant agreement awarding us an additional $226,000 of EPA 319 funds for use in the Shell Creek Watershed.  This has been reported to the Board that these additional funds and amendment would be coming. General Manager Gottschalk signed the addendum electronically. 

Rationale:  We received two new applications for a septic system upgrade within the Shell Creek watershed:

GLEN THEIDEN

$4,800.00

TERRY HELMER

$4,800.00

Rationale:  The Klug buffer strip has been seeded and certified.  The original approval was for $3,456.48.  The actual cost came in less than estimated; the 75% cost-share amount is $1452.26.

REECE/BEAU KLUG

$   1,452.26

FILTER STRIP SEEDING

Rationale:  A  Zoom meeting with several LPNNRD, NRCS and FYRA representatives was held on May 26, to discuss options for completing the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan and staying on our funding schedules with NRCS. The primary topic was whether or not to include Dam Site 83 in the plan (where several cultural resource findings have been discovered) or remove it to expedite completing the plan.  Allen Gerhing, NRCS State Engineer, said while it initially seemed better to leave Site 83 in the plan, after further review, it now appears best to remove the site from the plan and finish it with the ten remaining dam sites. Leaving Site 83 in the plan will likely delay completing it for several months for review and consultation with the Omaha and Pawnee Indian Tribes and the State Historical Society.  Even after several months of working on a desired Memorandum of Understanding for mitigating archeological findings, it appears challenging  that a final solution could be found to continue with the site.  In addition, the required further investigation (which would likely discover more findings) and increased mitigation costs are estimated to be in hundreds of thousands in additional expenses.  All the investigation and mitigation expenses would be entirely LPNNRD's responsibility.  

Removing Site 83 from the watershed plan will require FYRA to do additional work that is not in their current scope of work. A contact amendment with FYRA and a funding reimbursement amendment with NRCS would be needed to proceed with this option.  This additional work on the plan will take FYRA an estimated two months to finish and submit it to NRCS for their review. Janel Kaufmam, FYRA, discussed (Zoom) the proposed additional scope of work and cost ($22,305) for the contract amendment, as attached. Allen Gehring, NRCS, discussed (Zoom) our agreement with them to reimburse us for the additional expense.

Allen Gerhing, NRCS, and FYRA have been asked to attend our June 3rd Projects Committee Meeting and our June 14th Board meeting. The Board will be asked to consider approval of FYRA's contract amendment ($22,305) and to approve and authorize chairman to sign the NRCS amendment for reimbursement for the amount of $22,305 to be presented at the June 14th meeting. 

Rationale:  Olsson is on hold from proceeding with their contract work until the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan is approved by NRCS. 

Rationale:  Attached is JEO's $756.00 invoice for updating our Shell Creek Watershed Quality Management Plan.  After this payment, $25,026.50 will remain under our $31,630 contract. Also included is JEO's draft plan undate for review.

Rationale:  Below is Dodge County Emergency Manager Tom Smith's status summary of the various Dodge County projects that are moving forward in both LPNNRD and LENRD as shown below.
 

Core Strategy	Projects	Project Sponsor/Applicant	Federal Funding	Activities
				Documented	Federal Approval	Implementation	Project Closed
1. Non-Structural Planning	1.1 Rawhide Creek Watershed Plan-EA	Dodge County	NRCS-EWP				12/2022
	1.2 LPNNRD Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan	LPNNRD	FEMA Mitigation
	1.2 LENRD Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan	LENRD	FEMA Mitigation
	1.3 LENRD Maple Creek Watershed Plan-EA	LENRD	NRCS-EWP
2. Structural-New Projects Structure	2.1 Elkhorn Township/East Fremont	Dodge County	FEMA Mitigation-4420 404 program				7/19/2023
	2.2 Platte Township/West Fremont	Dodge County	FEMA Mitigation-BRIC Program				9/1/2024
3. Structural-Existing	3.1 North Bend Cutoff Ditch	North Bend Drainage Ditch-Dodge County	FEMA Mitigation-4420 404 program		PHASE 1		9/1/2023
	3.2 Rod and Gun Club-Breach Lake	Dodge County	CDBG-EM				n.d.
	3.3 North Bend Levee	LPNNRD	FEMA 4420 428 Program Funds				9/1/2021
	3.4 City of Fremont, Railroad, Farmland Levee	City of Fremont	FEMA 4420 428 Program Funds and CDBG-EM				n.d.
4. Structural-Individual Flood Proofing	4.1 Dodge County Elevations	Dodge County	FEMA Mitigation-4420 404 program				9/1/2023
	4.2 Fremont Elevations-FEMA	City of Fremont	FEMA Mitigation-4420 404 program				9/1/2023
	4.3 Fremont Flood Proofing-USACE	City of Fremont	USACE-205				n.d.
	4.4 Winslow Acquisitions	Village of Winslow	FEMA Mitigation-4420 404 program				9/1/2023
5. Non-Structural-Warning Systems	5.1 Platte River Monitoring	Dodge County	FEMA Mitigation-4420 404 program				6/16/2023
	5.2 Fremont Sirens-Silver Jackets	City of Fremont	Not Determined				n.d.

Rationale:  The bid opening for the Platte River Breach Repair Project (Fremont Rod & Gun Club) was held on May 12, 2021. There were four bidders (attached) with Yost Excavation, Inc. (Nebraska City) submitting the low bid of $597,323.50.  The engineer's estimate was $728,000. It is anticipated that Dodge County will approve Yost's bid. LPNNRD has committed up to a maximum of $50,000 toward the project. 

Rationale:  Attached is the proposed O&M Agreement for the Platte River Breach Repair Project located on Fremont Rod & Gun Club property.  The City will hold the public  project land rights for the project through an easement.  Committee recommendation for approval and authorize the Board Chairman to sign is requested.

Rationale:  As you recall, Dodge County has received up to $600,000 (75%) FEMA assistance toward assessing the drainage system east of Fremont with the hopes that the project will receive construction funding assistance if a viable project is identified. LPNNRD has approved $66,500 toward the estimated local 25% share of $200,000 (attachment). One of the next steps is to approve an interlocal agreement between LPNNRD, Dodge County and Fremont.  Attached is the proposed agreement for committee review and approval recommendation. 

Moving forward, RFP's have been sent to qualified engineering firms for completing the drainage system assessment ( attachment).  JWMAB members Dodge County, Fremont and LPNNRD  met on June 1st to review received RFPs submitted by Burns & McDonnell, FYRA and JEO (attachments). All three firms are very qualified and the review group requested to ask the firms for an estimated price for the scope of work.  A future recommendation from the review group will be presented to the Projects Committee/Board for concurrence after price information is obtained. 

Other past project information is once again attached for your convenience. 

Rationale:  As reported earlier, NRCS has obligated $670,500 to Dodge County for the development of a Watershed Work Plan-Environmental Assessment (Plan-EA).  These funds are for planning and conceptual design costs are for surveys and investigations, environmental studies, evaluation of alternatives, and preparation of plans and design prior to the authorization of assistance for the installation of works of improvement.  The assessment will evaluate feasible flood reduction projects that can hopefully be eligible for future federal Watershed Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) program. While LPNNRD is a participating partner, this planning effort is 100% funded by NRCS, so we have not obligated any funding at this point.
Attached is the RFP that was advertised and sent to qualified engineering firms.  Dodge County, LPNNRD and Fremont representatives met on June 1, 2021 to review the RFP proposals.  The three firms that submitted proposals (FYRA, JEO & Burns & McDonnell) were considered equally qualified, and the final review committee's recommendation came down to the proposed  cost to complete the watershed plan. Burns and McDonnell had the lowest proposed cost to complete the plan.
Proposals for this project can be viewed at the following link:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XJTJ7_uvUcW5GZC2_Ebc-BrHI2rPJtBG?usp=sharing
 

Rationale:  On May 28, NBDD, LPNNRD, Dodge County and  Fremont representatives met with FYRA to inspect the four mile North Bend Drainage Ditch and assess needed repairs for completing the phase I project evaluation. An update will be given.

Rationale:  The final step on our approved Hazard Mitigation Plan has been JEO collecting approved resolutions from the 55 participating entities. 

Becky Appleford, JEO, has reported that the following jurisdictions have passed and provided a copy of their adoption resolution for the Lower Platte North NRD Hazard Mitigation Plan:
               North Bend Volunteer Fire Department
               Colon Volunteer Fire Department
               Pohocco Township
               Yutan Volunteer Fire Department
               Village of Platte Center
               Village of Richland
               Village of Surprise

Two jurisdictions (out of 55) have yet to pass the adoption resolution:                        Linwood Volunteer Fire Department
                East Central District Health Department

JEO will continue to work with the final two entities to obtain their resolutions.
 

Rationale:  On May 10, 2021, the Board approved assisting the City of Schuyler with their flood reduction and drainage improvement project. Part of the project was to install three additional flap gates on storm sewer outlets to help prevent backup flood waters from Lost Creek and the Platte River from entering the south part of Schuyler. The Board's approved motion was to pay  $25,000 each year for two years.  Attached is Schuyler's request for $25,000 for the first payment this fiscal year.  Our second payment will be budgeted in FY 2021-2022. A committee recommendation for payment is requested. 

Rationale:  SID No. 8 has one more assistance payment ($75,000) remaining on the Board's commitment of $300,000 to pay over four years on their levee/road stabilization project. Attached is their request for payment.

Rationale:  It is this time of year to move budgeted funding into our sinking funds. 

Rationale:  Assistant Manager Mountford participated in the Lower Platte River Corrodor Alliance Zoom Meeting on May 14th.  Several topics were reported on and discussed (agenda attached). One item was a USGS proposal for conducting a study of the dynamics of sand depositing at the mouth of one of the environmental chutes that LPNNRD has operation and maintenance responsibility for. Before any study of the area is considered, it must first be determined what exact operation and maintenance responsibility LPNNRD  has to keep the chute open and what value a study would have toward that effort.  Environmental Chutes were required by the US Fish & Wildlife Service as a condition of their blessing of the Western Sarpy/Clear Creek Project. After recent follow-up with the US Fish & Wildlife Service, they indicated that the chutes were considered an experimental effort without full knowledge of how they would perform. They proposed a future addendum to our Operation & Maintenance Agreement clarifying that while some woody debris removal from the chutes may still be expected, removal of sand bars plugging the chute entrances may not be expected.

Another interesting topic was that at the next LPRCA meeting, one topic might be to remove LPNNRD as a non-dues-paying Alliance member.  When LPNNRD left the Alliance a few years ago, they decided to keep us listed as a non-active, non-dues-paying member since we were still involved with a few project efforts with LPSNRD & PMRNRD. To be an active member, the annual dues are now $1,000/ year.  

Attached is LPRCA FY 2022 Budget.  The only item LPNNRD is still active in under Alliance activities is the Lashara Water Quality Monitoring gauge, which has one more year (2021) of sampling under the current USGS agreement.
No action is requested at this time.

Rationale:  The Projects Committee adjourned at 9:30 a.m.