June 14, 2021 at 6:00 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 consent agenda.

Rationale:  Attached find Mountford's NRD/NARD Employee Intergovernmental Risk Management Pool Association Loss Control Meeting Minutes. The Employee Committee approved two recommendations.  The first recommendation is for a 5% premium increase for both health and dental insurance for FY 2021-22.  

The second recommendation is to add the Specialty Pharmacy, MRx Select Saving Program and Easy Dose option to our Magellan Rx Program.

These two recommendations will be submitted to the NARD Board for consideration at their June 7th Board Meeting.

Rationale:  Attached find absence requests received from Director Olson from the January Board Meeting (work commitment), Director Saafeld (out of State funeral) from the March Board Meeting and Director Ruzicka (Sick) from the May Meeting. 

Rationale:  The below e-mail was received in our office last week.  It appears LARM will continue our P/C coverages as they have in the past without the coverage for downstream liability.  Discussion is needed for our district's next step as it relates to our insurance coverages.


LARM Member Natural Resource District Directors,

LARM values and appreciates all LARM members, including the NRDs. Although the LARM Board of Directors decided to no longer accept other NRDs wishing to join LARM, LARM will continue to honor its contracts with those NRDs that currently are LARM members. However, effective October 1, 2021, LARM will no longer provide coverage to NRDs for "downstream liability."

Thank you for your understanding and consideration.


Dave Bos, ARM 
Executive Director  
League Association of Risk Management
1335 L Street |  Suite 200 |  Lincoln,  NE  68508
402-853-1055  |   dave.bos@larmpool.org


Staff was directed to look into Insurance Companies that would possibly offer "downstream liability" coverage.
 
 

Rationale:  Attached find our final audit worksheet and final audit invoice from LARM for the 2019-2020 Pool Year.  Amount due to LARM after the payroll audit for Workers Compensation is $2,244.09.

Rationale:  Discussion is needed to gauge the desire of LPNNRD to develop an official resolution regarding this issue.  Tri-Basin NRD has approved a resolution regarding this topic.

Rationale:  With the recent changes to the Nebraska Open Meetings Law, discussion is needed on how our district wishes to proceed with our monthly board meetings.  We can continue to offer all our meetings via video conferencing however we must have at least 1/2 our meetings as "in-person" meetings and cannot allow directors to participate remotely during these meetings.

The June Board of Directors meeting will be an in-person meeting and Directors will NOT be allowed to vote via Zoom.  Within the next couple months staff will be drafting a policy/guidelines to address the new Open Meeting Law. 

Rationale:  Management has concluded evaluations for all LPNNRD staff and are finishing one-on-one reviews.

In the past Director Saalfeld has coordinated the directors review of the General Manager's evaluation on behalf of the personnel sub-committee, I have spoken with Dave and he is willing to coordinate the evaluations again this year.  Once complete, a Personnel sub-committee will need to be scheduled to review evaluation results with General Manager.

Rationale:  Last year Committee and Board approved $ 26,000 for total payroll increase to be distributed by General Manager based on annual performance evaluations.  Of this amount, approximately $ 24,500 was utilized.  I am asking for a small increase this year to raise the total maximum available increase to $ 28,000.
Plan is to increase staff salaries in same manner and values as last year and are as follows:
- Needs improvement - No salary increase
- Fully Satisfactory - $ 1,000 salary increase
- Commendable - $ 1,250 salary increase
- Exceptional - $ 1,500 salary increase

Rationale:  Management would like to offer $.50/hour raise to
Richard Mullen, Sharon Kremlacek, Sam Kavan and Jaci Schnakenberg as all four are returning for their 3rd season as a Wanahoo Park employees and all are important assets to our team.
Would also like to offer $.50/hour raise to Morgan Oden as she begins her 2nd season on the staff.

This year we have hired two new Wanahoo Park Entrance staff members.  Due to the nature of this work load, work schedule and the responsibility of handling large sums of money, I would like to set their pay rate at $ 11.00/hour once their training is complete and they have demonstrated the ability to perform their duties to the required standards.

Rationale:  Grant will be available for a conference call to go over the Financial Reports. 

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

Rationale:  We do not have any unfinished business to consider.

Rationale:  Corners for Wildlife Payment of $3,820.00 to Gerhold Inc. in Butler County on 38.2 acres. The District is reimbursed the full amount from Pheasant Forever.

Bids for the Lake Wanahoo Habitat Enhancement grant through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program to eliminate invasive trees were due June 1, at 4:00 pm. Bids will be opened at Committee meeting. We did not receive any bids. We will have to reevaluate how to approach this problem.

Rationale:  The O & M crew finished planting trees. We continue to clear trees from the Trouble Creek Dam emergency spillway & Czechland Rec area. Regular maintenance on equipment.

Rationale:  The Corps of Engineer's contractor (Young's) is mobilizing to excavate the excess fill in the Salt Creek floodway in the National Guard Camp and also to add fence to the breach area north of Co. Road F. It's anticipated to take 10-14 days.
The Corps has not made a determination on the elevation of the 48" culvert with a gate valve that regulates Turner Lake in Camp Ashland and flows into the Salt Creek floodway.

Rationale:  Valley Corp. has finished the concrete baffles and additional welding on the bracket supports for the gabion baskets. They are starting to excavate material out of the basin to add filter 1 & 2 material, gabion baskets and their deadman anchors. They are estimating 2 weeks of work.

Rationale:  The Western Sarpy Clear Creek O & M Manual is being published and will be distributed soon. Lower Platte North will have 2 hard copies and 2 CD's.
There will be addendums in the future for current work being completed.

Rationale:  Staff would like to purchase a new vehicle to replace the 2010 Chevy. A list of available vehicles from the State of Nebraska's materials website is attached, there are three SUV's, and three Extended Cab trucks listed.

Rationale:  The District has been contacted by a Sand/Duck Creek Dam/Landowner, Dave Mensik, in regard to the fencing around a dam site. When these sites were built the fence around them were not installed with gates, limiting the landowners/tenants access. The District has placed gates on other Sand/Duck Creek dams to give access to landowners. Mr. Mensik is asking permission to remove the barbwire and steel posts, leaving the corner posts. (wood). Just the fence that is against my farming ground. The goal is not to have limbs hitting machinery, trees pulling moisture from crops, and keep ground available for haying.
The areas of concern are downstream or upstream of the dam. Staff would recommend allowing the landowner to place gates or take down selected portions of fence.
The committee is directing staff to work with Sand/Duck Creek Dam landowners on a case by case basic to remove barbed wire & steel post to improve their property.

Rationale:  Find attached a letter of request from the North Bend Tree Board for $10,000 to assist with completing their trail system. The District assisted North Bend in 2009 with $10,000 for this trail. North Bend has been doing this in phases. They would like to start construction this summer/fall.

Rationale:  Staff is seeking Board discussion on the future approval of new equipment for our flood damaged areas, Lake Wanahoo breakwater, Rawhide Ditch 8, Clear Creek Levee & Fuse Plug Levee. The District has access to FEMA funds that will cost-share 75% on new equipment to help maintain projects impacted by the floods of 2019. Staff would like to purchase a utility tractor (approximately 35hp) and a second side by side. The tractor cost will be approximately $25,000 to $30,000 before cost share, and the side by side will be approximately $10,000. Potentially replace our existing Bobcat and JD 4450. Board and Staff discussion is needed in preparation of the upcoming 2021-22 budget.

Rationale:  Attached is the Operation & Maintenance budgetary list through May for your review.

Rationale:  We have not received any new payment or application request.

Rationale:  For the month of May, the District has received $14,032.50 in annual park permit revenue. Year to date revenue totals $62,595.00. The year by year breakdown for the month of May is listed below. May 2020 was the first month we required permits after the free park entry period approved by the Board was lifted. We were still the only large recreation area open at full capacity.
 

Month	Monthly Total	YTD Total
May 2021	14,032.50	62,595.00
May 2020	29,177.50	67,110.00
May 2019	15,597.50	55,095.00

Rationale:  For the month of May, the District recieved $17,715.12 in camping revenue. The year-to-date total is $50,390.22.

Rationale:  Staff has completed the mowing and installation of signage on the ~5 miles of new trails at Lake Wanahoo. There will be a grand opening on Friday, June 4th, at 10am with refreshments afterwards at the Education Building.  Any directors interested in attending are encouraged to do so.

Rationale:  During the month of May, the building was rented 19 times. This number includes 3 NRD/NRD-involved meetings, and 6 youth events. Revenue for month of May $1,640

Rationale:  The May KTIC Radio ad and Wahoo Newspaper e-ad are attached. These ads featured the chemigation permit amounts and deadline.

Rationale:  LPNNRD Website: In May, users were connected to the LPNNRD website directly, also from outdoornebraska.gov, nrdnet.org and visitnebraska.com. We also had 47 clicks from Facebook posts to our website. More and more users are accessing our website on mobile devices.

LPNNRD Website	# of Users	Top Pages/views	Viewing Device
April 2021	1,530	Lake Wanahoo 1129 Home 926 Czechland Lake 210 Outdoor Recreation 187 Downloads 163	Desktop 53.20% Mobile 43.73% Tablet 3.07%
May 2021	1,678	Lake Wanahoo 1,496 Home 819 Czechland Lake 300 Outdoor Recreation 206 Downloads 141	Mobile 50.48% Desktop 45.95% Tablet 3.58%

Facebook:
The top posts for the month of May included a press release for the celebration of 4.5 additional miles of trails at Lake Wanahoo, a press release and pictures from the 30^th year of the Spring Conservation Sensation, and May’s migratory bird month Coffee Lakeside event.

Facebook	Total Views	Total Reach	Followers
April 2021	2,461	2,360
May 2021	4,355	4,176	1,256

Twitter:
Our top posts for May on Twitter included the Outdoor Recreation Workshop we hold with UNL Extension, flyer for the Herpetology Day, and a press release about the additional trails and Lake Wanahoo.

 

Twitter	Impressions	Engagements	Followers
April 2021	7,138	205	332
May 2021	4,824	169	334

Other posts on Facebook and Twitter in May featured the June 1^st chemigation permit deadline, pictures from North Bend Elementary students with their Blue Spruce trees, June's Coffee Lakeside event and other education events.

Rationale:  There are a few County Fairs that we can have a booth in this summer. We will plan to have one at Butler County.
• Butler County (David City) - July 13-18 (booths in place July 15 - 18) 8’ x 10’ booth $125
• Dodge County (Scribner) - August 4-8 booth $100 - getting clarification if must be manned at all times or not. 
• Boone County (Albion) - only doing outdoor exhibitor booths
• Saunders County (Wahoo) - July 25-Aug 1 not doing exhibitor booths               
• Madison County (Madison) - no response
• Platte County (Columbus) - no response
• Colfax County (Clarkson) - no response

Rationale:  We are currently rotating through three of our videos with News Channel Nebraska (Operations & Maintenance video, Projects video and Lake Wanahoo video). They are airing :30 second commercials and :05 spot with LPNNRD logo. For May, our logo was shown 61 times and the commercials aired 101 times. 

Rationale:  30th annual Spring Conservation Sensation was a success! Kids from Wahoo Public, Logan View, and St. Mary's attended (217 total kids). Overall reviews showed the kids and teachers had fun and were happy with the content/activities provided. The animal encounters show at the very end was a huge hit. 

May's Coffee Lakeside featured Paula Hoppe; Paula is a master naturalist and gave a presentation on birds of Lake Wanahoo. This was our largest attendance yet of 14 people. 

We had our final field trip at the lake with Wahoo 3rd graders. David Ruder of Live Well Go Fish brought his pontoon out again and the kids had a blast driving it, flying a kite, and dancing to music. 

Planning and prepping is underway for Wahoo's 151 Celebration where we will feature a drive in movie night at the lake on Thursday, June 24th. We will be playing Sandlot and the Hospital Auxiliary will be running a small concession stand. A shore fishing tournament and a kayak scavenger hunt will take place on Sunday the 27th. 

 I attended some virtual Project Learning Tree trainings through the Nebraska Forest Service. 

The annual Outdoor Recreation Day with the Saunders County Extension Office took place on the 28th. Kids learned the basics of kayaking (unfortunately it was too cold to actual kayak). They learned how to start a campfire and then were able to make waffle smores in pie irons over the campfire. They also learned how to play disc golf and finished the day dissecting owl pellets in UNL's mobile learning lab. Roughly 20 kids attended and were able to take an NRD tree home with them. 

Kids summer institute kicked off Tuesday with beginners disc golf; 19 kids participated. 

Wednesday we held a Herpetology Day with Dr. Ferraro, herpetologist from UNL. Four people attended and learned all about the equipment used to track, trap, and tag snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, toads, and salamanders. We then went out to check the tree frog "boxes" that I've hung on trees on the north end of the lake to see if they were occupied.

Rationale:  Looking at June, Coffee Lakeside is today and will feature Mike Luben, Conservation Officer for the NGPC, talking about fishes of Nebraska. 

Friday is our National Trails Day event, grand opening of the new trails! 

Kids summer institute sessions: Friendship rocks; and Nature Hike and Water Quality. 

We have our quarterly I & E meeting held in York.

The 151 celebration June 24th-27th. 

And I'll be working on coordinating state standards with lesson plans for the upcoming school year and developing new content for presentations. 

Rationale:  Elliott reached out to Dave Henke from JEO in regards to the proposed addition in Colon.  He responded that the project is on hold for now due to material prices being too high.  
Routine monthly sampling completed, bills mailed 6/1.

Rationale:  Lead and copper testing kits were delivered.  The testing will be done the week of 6/7.
Routine monthly sampling conducted, bills mailed 6/1.

Rationale:  Staff has sent out certified letters to Jim Lamprecht, Mark Young and Galen Kamrath to voided their variances.  A receipt has come back on all three individuals.  

Other Discussion:
Gene Novak purchased the NW1/4 Section 33-18N-3E.  As shown by the map, the N1/2 has been previously irrigated.  Gene claimed that he used to irrigate the corners in the SW and SE 1/4 of this section.  He wanted to transfer them acres to this quarter, but he only certified what is shown.  Gene then requested that he could irrigate the S1/2 this year as this is planted to corn.  This has been done in the past and staff said this would be OK, as long as he didn't exceed the acres already certified.  He has put in a variance for this fall to irrigate the whole quarter.  Gene was asking if he could transfer these acres that was previously irrigated?  

Rationale: 

Wells Permits Approved: #

Landowner	Number of Wells	Number of New Irrigated Acres	Type of Well	County	Subarea

 

 

 

 

 

 

The total number of approved permits for 2020 is #

Location of Approved Well Permits for 2020:  Correct as of ####

County	Irrigation - New	Irrigation - Replacement	Stock	Commercial	Municipal	Other	Total
Butler
Colfax
Dodge
Boone
Madison
Platte
Saunders
Total

 

Rationale:  An invoice for $22,600 is attached for the first year payment on the geological AEM study with Papio NRD.  This is the first year payment with the remaining amount being included in next year's budget.  

Rationale:  Committee and staff reviewed the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.  
Attached is a draft budget for the Water Department for 21-22.
 

Rationale: 

For 2021 we have 620 renewals and 20 new permit applications for a current total of 640.  Inspections for 6 new permits have been completed.
 

Rationale:  Maps are attached showing the differences between 2020 and 2021 Spring water levels along with comparing 2013 to 2021.

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 Payment	County
Gaylen L. Swartz	Domestic	$576.83	Saunders
Kenneth J. Sousek	Hand-dug	$1,500.00 (capped limit)	Saunders
Kenneth J. Sousek	Domestic	$437.62	Saunders

 

Rationale:  The LPN water staff had a meeting to discuss the approach for the Nitrate Areas. The Committee requested that more information and education for these areas should utilize current staff.  Staff has been working on an outline to accomplish these goals with more details shown as an attachment.   

Committee discussed on having a farmers panel on nitrogen recommendations and what is working for them.  It was also mentioned that a producer in the area might have a High-Boy Rig to plant cover crops in late summer.  

Information is attached on utilizing wheat for nitrate cleanup.  Here is a link on a similar project with UNL https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2021/evaluating-performance-kernza-perennial-grain-eastern-nebraska

Rationale:  Test holes were drilled week of May 24, 2021, with one north of Richland and the other east of Fremont.  A third site is scheduled for northwest of Columbus in the fall.  The site north of Richland went down 180 feet and the one east of Fremont — 264 feet.  The cost for these holes should be around $5,500 (12/ft).  An invoice has been requested before the June Board Meeting, to put the cost in this year's budget.  After receiving the information from UNL/CSD, staff would then start to look at installing the monitoring well.  The priority well will be north of Richland.   

Actual invoice has been received from UNL (attached), for $4,467.50, which is under the estimate.  This is a continuation contract (expiration date 6/30/2022) with UNL/CSD for drilling and analyzing test holes for LPN.  

Rationale:  No lakes within LPN are on the advisory for bacteria or blue-green algae.  Complete information on all lakes are on the NDEE website.   

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:  Merlin Groteluschen - Livestock Well, Pump, Tank and Forage Planting - $9,079.63

Rationale:  Discussion needs to take place on setting up a new sinking fund for Operation and Maintenance on our Large Structures (Wanahoo, Czechland and Homestead). We can move some of our carry-over cash from FY21 into the sinking fund and possibly budget dollars in next year's budget for this.

Rationale:  Attached find LPNNRD Project/Progress Report

Rationale:  Elaine Zoucha - Acreage Windbreak - $300.00

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