March 31, 2022 at 8:30 AM - Operations Committee Meeting

Rationale:  There is nothing to consider for unfinished business.

Rationale:  Standing C Excavating has finished tree removal on the Wanahoo property. The District approved a contract/agreement for Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program with Game & Parks in May 2021, the grant pays 75%. We approved a bid of $15,000 from Standing C Excavating in August 2021.
We will send payment of $15,000 to Standing C Excavating. We have submitted documentation to G & P for reimbursement of $11,250.

Rationale:  The O & M crew continues to clear trees and brush at Homestead and Czechland Lakes. They have hauled and placed rock on eroded areas and roads, also keep up with equipment maintenance.

Rationale:  Stilling Basin
Valley Corp has completed all the work except for final grading, seeding and a few punch list items. At this time, staff is recommending the execution of Change Order No. 2 in the amount of $77,266.69 which takes the total contract price to $1,682,618.06. This change order was negotiated with Valley Corp after they had provided rock tickets for another $300,000+ in additional filter material. After negotiations with FYRA and Valley Corp, Valley Corp could not produce where the material was used and never let anyone know they were running over until the project was complete. This change order (without additional filter material) was negotiated in exchange to complete the project with the understanding, upon Board approval, the District would not pursue liquidated damages from the time overruns. Valley Corp also installed the additional chain link protection for the gabion at no cost to the District.

Valley Corp is requesting payment for all work completed, including that added as part of Change Order #2 to be executed along with this progress payment and the release of retainage. That total amount at the Board meeting will be very near $846,879.22 (depending on if they have punch list items completed) so the only item remaining is seeding which totals $20,049.12.

Staff recommendation is to approve payment of $678,618.22.  This amount will include Change Order #2 and Valley Corp's pay request minus 10% retainage of $168,261.00.

Apron Floor Overlay
FYRA is putting together a 2 phase plan for the repair of the stilling basin apron floor. Two contractors (General Excavating and ME Collins) were sent the attached diagram for the purpose of obtaining a bid to de-water the basin pool, re-route relief well water, clean the basin pool of debris, and place anchors in the floor for testing. Terracon, a sub-consultant to FYRA under their contract, will do the anchor pull testing.

FYRA's most current invoice is $37,991.25 which gets the contract to 96.5% complete.

 

Rationale:  Rieschick Drilling of Falls City will start the well cleaning this Spring, date TBA.

Rationale:  The three products recommended by the Sika representative were forwarded to the State Dam Safety Engineer for his approval. The State inspector did not approve all the products for the cracks and wants a product that is flexible for expansion and contraction. The Sika rep. will get back to us with recommendation with approval from the State Dam Safety Engineer.
The contractor, Fisher Building Service has been notified of the change and doesn't think it will affect the bid much if at all. He stated that most of the cost is labor.

Rationale:  Areas for haying on our three recreation areas have been mapped. We have sent a public notice to the local newspaper. Packets will be developed and sent to interested parties. Bids are due Wednesday, April 27 and will be presented at Committee the next day.

Rationale:  To date we have ordered 16,750 trees & shrubs. Trees may be delivered the week of April 18.

Rationale:  There hasn't been any activity.

Rationale:  April marks the unofficial start to the recreation season at Lake Wanahoo. Our full time seasonal employee, Rich Mullen, has returned to park and campers are starting to visit at a higher rate. In the next few weeks we will be opening the shower building, deep cleaning vaults, and preparing equipment. 

Rationale:  The west end of the breakwater has been eroded and is in need of repair. Attached are pictures of the damage as well as quotes from M.E. Collins, Girmus Dirtworks, and Lierman Excavating.  Chris is checking with FEMA to see if this work can be cost shared through the 428 funds.

Rationale:  The warranty of the original Hustler mowers, purchased at the beginning of the 2019 season, has expired and staff would like to purchase two new mowers. Attached are two quotes for two Hustler Z Diesel's and 2 John Deere Z994R's. Ty's Outdoor Power currently has the Z Diesel's in stock while John Deere cannot provide an accurate delivery date for the Z994R's. 

Rationale:  Staff has begun work on the new non-electric camper pads that will be located south of the cabins in the primitive campground. These sites will be reservable for $15 per night through Reserve America and will be limited to 14' and under campers. Generators will be allowed.


Following our goal to provide expanded "Outdoor Recreation Opportunities" to our park-goers and due to the overwhelming success of our primitive cabins, Management has investigated purchasing two small, "Boondocking style" campers for rent within the park.  Campers would be paid from our Wanahoo Recreation account and all proceeds would be returned to this account.  The cost for two small, off-grid campers is
$ 22,085  and would be ordered and built from the Nebraska company "Outbound Trailer" located in Hastings.

Rationale:  For the month of March (as of 3/30), the District received $5,475.00 in annual park permit revenue. The year by year breakdown for annual permits sold during the month of March is listed below. 
 

Month	Monthly Total	YTD Total
March 2022	5,475.00	27,182.50
March 2021	9,980.00	34,917.50
March 2020	5,357.50	27,542.50
March 2019	4,455.00	29,090.00

Rationale:  For the month of March (as of 3/30), the District received $4,105.00 in camping revenue. For the 2022 camping season (December 1st, 2021 to January 31st, 2022), the District has received a total of $13,838.58.

Rationale:  Staff is looking into creating a procedure to handle future Wanahoo donations as we have recently received more inquiries regarding both private and public donations..  We have used the Wahoo Community Foundation in the past for our education building donations and will most likely, work out an agreement with them again.  This partnership allows all donations to be tax deductible and have the potential to earmark funds towards a particular project.

Rationale:  During the month of March, the building was rented 20 times, with 5 NRD rentals/events. Revenue for the month was $620.

Rationale:  Radio and e-ads for March promoted trees and shrubs available for purchase. Ads are attached.

Rationale:   

FACEBOOK	Total Reach	Engagements	Followers
March 1-30	18,460	1,770	1,346
February	4,253	345	1,330
January	31,463	2,550	1,325

 

TWITTER	Total impressions	Engagements	Followers
March 1-30	6,523	289	362
February	1,755	85	357
January	5,527	333	353

Top Posts on Facebook and Twitter:
• Pictures of the geese at Lake Wanahoo
• Docks in at Lake Wanahoo
• Platte Center Test Your Well Event
• Upcoming Rain Barrel event flyer
• Science and Scenes event flyer
 

WEBSITE	Users	Traffic Channel	Top Pages	Devices
March 1-30	1,850	Organic 48.6% Direct 36.6% Referral 10.7% Social 4.4%	Home Lake Wanahoo Czechland Forestry Downloads	Desktop 49.08% Mobile 47.89% Tablet 3.03%
February	1,239	Organic 58.1% Direct 28% Referral 11.1% Social 2.8%	Home Lake Wanahoo Forestry Downloads Staff	Desktop 55.04% Mobile 41.97% Tablet 2.99%
January	1,598	Organic 57% Direct 27.1% Referral 13.1% Social 2.9%	Home Lake Wanahoo Downloads Forestry Staff	Desktop 55.63% Mobile 41.30% Tablet 3.07%

55 from NARD’s website.
10 clicks from our ad on Wahoo-Ashland-Waverly newspaper website.
85 clicks from Facebook to our website and 1 clicks from Twitter to our website.
 

Rationale:  The :30 Lake Wanahoo video has been running on News Channel Nebraska through March.
 

Rationale:  We received 3 applications for the Shell Creek Scholarship:
Elyssa Cuevas, Newman Grove, plans to attend Wayne State College for Pre-Pharmacy, minor in Laboratory Technology.

Isaac Potmesil, Newman Grove, plans to attend Wayne State College for Science Education.

Emma Jedlicka, Schuyler, plans to attend Northeast Community College for nursing/transfer program to UNMC.

No applications from Columbus Lakeview. Last year we approved having 3 scholarships available since we have 3 schools involved in the Shell Creek testing. Will need a motion to proceed.

Rationale:  Survival club: didn't have anyone show up this last time. Talked with the middle school principal and he made the comment that this group of kids just doesn't show as much interest in the outdoors as the previous years' group. 
Pike Sampling was canceled for volunteers outside of NGPC because of weather.
Science and Scenes was a hit. See picture. The goal is to keep doing these randomly but using different techniques and new teachers.
Started developing some more activities and lesson plans for future classroom visits.
 

Rationale:  April 5th: Logan View Middle and High School Day: Geocaching, water quality, and recycling.
April 7th: Coffee Lakeside: Paula Hoppe will be coming to talk about shorebirds and how best to view them.
April 10th: Rain Barrel event: Still have some spots open. 
April 13: Lawncare, composting, and greenhouse event with UNL extension.
Pre-k and Schuyler classroom visits.
Preparing for the upcoming Spring Conservation Sensation.
Preparing for upcoming field trips.

Rationale:  Elliott attended the Nebraska Rural Water Conference in Kearney on March 17-18.  The conference offers continuing education credits for all operators as well as many opportunities for networking.
Governor Ricketts gave a presentation emphasizing the importance of maintaining quality drinking water throughout the state and prioritizing the aging rural infrastructure.
 

Rationale:  Routine monthly sampling completed, all meters read and bills to be mailed 3/31.

Rationale:  The new water rates (attached) for the Bruno RWD went into effect this billing cycle.
Routine monthly sampling completed, all meters read and bills to be mailed 3/31.