August 8, 2022 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 the consent agenda.

Rationale:  The Annual Dam Safety Conference is being held September 18-22 in Baltimore MD see attachment for agenda.

Rationale:  Attached find details about the NARD Fall Conference being held September 25 - 27 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney. Please let Breunig know if you are interested in attending the Fall Conference. The registration deadline is September 1st.  

Rationale:  Attached find Director Lawrence excuse of absence for the Apirl Borad Meeting (out of state on company business) and Director Yosten for the May Board Meeting (took wife to grandson's graduation since she can't drive) 

Rationale:  Attached find the NARD FY2022-2023 Annual Dues in the amount of $31,322.98. 

Rationale:  Attached find the draft June 30th Financial Statement. Grant reviewed the Draft June 30th Financial Statement. 

We will not approve the June 30th Financial Statement until after the Annual Audit. 

 

Rationale:  Attached find Gottschalk time and expense sheets.

Rationale:  Each Committee has reviewed their portion of the budget with the Executive Committee charged with reviewing the Administrative and Personnel Expenses.

The Budget Workshop will be held on Tuesday, August 2nd at 6:00 p.m. 

Our Budget Hearing will be held on Monday, August 8th, beginning at 5:00 p.m., just prior to our August Board Meeting.  It is anticipated that we will approve our FY 23 Budget that evening.

At the September 12th Board Meeting we will set our FY 23 Levy.

A motion will be needed at the Board Meeting - to approve the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget with total expenditures of $_______________
 

Rationale:  There is nothing to consider for unfinished business.

Rationale:  Nothing to report.

Rationale:  The O & M crew continues to do inspections and maintenance on our watershed dams and cut trees on many different areas.

Rationale:  Update from FYRA/Houston:
Design is proceeding. We have nearly completed assessing options for a combination of various concrete thicknesses vs. the number of anchors required for each thickness. With thinner lifts, there is less embedment of each anchor (the cone I have showed you below each anchor that holds the weight.)  We have decided that the fiber-reinforced concrete is the best way to go and are moving forward.
Next things in front of us:
1) Asking General Excavating what it would take to grind the higher portion of the floor down vs. raising the floor some and all points in between.
2) The uplift pressures are the main design consideration and there is little to no history nationally for this specific instance of a structural concrete overlay on an RCC monolith. So the design calculations and procedures are being reviewed not only internally, but by other industry professionals as well....even if to just bounce ideas off of them.
We may have better answers by the Board Meeting. 

Rationale:  Attached are the Pump Test graphs for the seven relief wells. Andrew Rieschick of Rieschick Drilling stated, "We had good-excellent results on all wells except 22-A. It didn't appear to have much impact on the well. Initially, it showed pretty good specific capacity compared to the other wells, so perhaps it was not in dire need of rehab as some others were. It was the only well that really exhibited iron deposits upon pumping and rehab".

From Sean Parks of Olsson's; After reviewing the data, the wells cleaned by Rieschick Drilling look to have been effective. The cleaning has reduced the piezometric elevation in piezometers 4, 6, 7, 10, and 12 by 0.3 to 0.9 feet. This reduction is after the impact of the pressure relief wells completed by Valley Corp. Based on these findings, we would recommend the well cleaning be continued next fiscal year. I’ve attached a map that shows the wells we have just cleaned, the wells we suggest cleaning next year, the remaining flowing wells, and the non-flowing wells. The next wells include: 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 36, and 37.
I’ll start writing the follow-up memo discussing our findings. I’ll also circle around with Tim Gokie and let him know of our findings and make sure we include all the different analysis he is wanting to see and that we have addressed all of his concerns.

We have used up the budget on the current contract for instrumentation and well cleaning (except for survey). I would like to send you over a new scope and fee for finalizing the analysis of the well cleaning along with future instrumentation measurements.

Rationale:  Rosendahl Farms Seed & Feed sent in $1,399.00 for drill rental for the first half of the year, 23 cooperators used the drill.
Rezac Seed had 12 cooperators use the grass drill. The District's revenue is $1,034.25 but there were repairs of $1,115.45 for tires and plow coulters. The District owes Rezac Seed $81.20, which they will subtract from the end of the end statement.

Rationale:  As mentioned previously, the District owns six lots at Thomas Lakes (map attached). Two lots are on the Clear Creek Levee and four on the Thomas Lakes high ground tied into the Clear Creek Levee. The District has written and registered easements with the Saunders County Register of Deeds, completed a Title search and had the County Surveyor mark the lots. We can now proceed to sell them with a recommendation from our legal counsel. Two adjacent home owners have an interest in the two lots on the levee and the Thomas Lakes HOA has an interest in the other four.
 

Rationale:  A Preliminary Budget sheet will be available.

Rationale:  We haven't received any applications or payment requests.

Rationale:  For the month of June, the District received $10,462.50 in park permit revenue. The year by year break down of annual permit sales is listed below.
 

Month	Monthly Total	YTD
June 2022	$10,462.50	$62,573.00
June 2021	$10,567.50	$73,132.50
June 2020	$13,030.00	$80,140.00
June 2019	$15,597.50	$67,385.00

Rationale:  For the month of May, the District received $17,755.42 in camping revenue. The year by year comparison is listed below.
 

Month	Month Total	YTD
June 2022	17,755.42	61,564.56
May 2021	16,352.03	67,185.82
May 2020	20,362.09	75,030.04
May 2019	15,709.51	42,870.46

Rationale:  During the month of July, the building was rented 19 times with 3 NRD rentals. Revenue for the month was $1,120

Rationale:  July's KTIC Radio ads and Wahoo Newspaper E-ads featured the upcoming variance deadlines. This will continue through August.

Rationale:  Lower Platte North NRD had a booth at the Butler County Fair. Stickers and magnets went over well. Not a lot of brochures were taken other than the tree booklet and the NRD booklet that includes general information about all the NRDs.

We will hopefully have a float in today's parade in Wahoo, unless it is raining.

Rationale:  The Summer Viaduct if finished at the printer, most have been delivered or shipped to the area newspapers. The plan is to have them inserted in the first and second week in August. 

Rationale:  The LPNNRD Facebook/Twitter pages, and the website are the fastest and low-cost ways to get information out to the public. The analytics are a way to see if people are seeing the information and what ways seem to be most effective. If you are on Facebook or Twitter, please like, follow, share, or retweet the Lower Platte North NRD posts!

Total reach/impressions show how many people saw the post/tweet. Engagements include likes, comments, shares/retweets and link clicks.
 

FACEBOOK	Total Reach	Engagements	Followers
July 1-27	8,108	673	1,388
June	7,325	413	1,384
May	5,222	279	1,372

 

TWITTER	Total impressions	Engagements	Followers
July 1-27	3601	158	377
June	3,114	140	372
May	2,140	112	367

Top Posts on Facebook and Twitter:
• Tom’s retirement party
• Fireworks at Lake Wanahoo on July 4th
• Weekly drought monitor updates
• July’s Coffee Lakeside flyer
• The NRD internship program

Rationale:  Coffee Lakeside: Plant ID Walk - 10 adults & 2 kids

Trivia and Game Night - 0. I was targeting middle schoolers on purpose, but I think that was my downfall. Next time I will market it as a family trivia and game night and hopefully we will get more people. It was also the first night of the rodeo, so maybe that conflicted as well.
 

Rationale:  August 3rd: Back to School Night
August 11th: Coffee Lakeside: Fireflies
August 12th: Nocturnal Night
August 17th: Wildflowers and Wine
August 18th: Grand Opening of the Story Walk 
School is back in session! 

Rationale:  The current projector does not display presentations very well, so we are looking at purchasing a new one to replace it. Diode Technologies will be sending us a proposal with prices for a new laser projector and installation. 

Rationale:  The RWD responded/marked three locate (811) requests the past month.  We have been working with Phoenix Web Group at moving our WaterWorks software (billing and meter reading) to be housed on the LPNNRD local server.  PWG has also been working on updating the remote meter reading.

Rationale:  As part of ongoing maintenance plan the RWD has been addressing issues with meter pits; extending pits to grade, repairing pits due to damage or normal wear.  All of the meter pits are PVC casing, some have been cracked/broke by mowers/other mechanical means, and some have had landscape changes that resulted in them being below grade which creates a runoff issue within the pit.  
Routine monthly sampling completed, meters read and bills to be mailed 7/29.

Rationale:  The lead and copper results were received and results were sent to tested households.  Confirmation of results were also submitted to NDEE Drinking Water division. All results were below action limits.
Bruno RWD has been in contact with Black Hills Energy about their plans on extending a natural gas line parallel/across our water line east of David City.  They are currently planning on early 2023 for construction.
Routine monthly sampling completed, meters read and bills will be mailed 7/29.

Rationale:  Lindsay Manufacturing is doing a project for cleanup purposes utilizing vapor extraction wells and thermal monitoring points.  Staff and representatives from EA Engineering will update the Committee.  

A presentation was given by Jason McNew from EA Engineering explaining the cleanup that Lindsay Manufacturing is planning on removing solvents around 40 feet below the surface in about 2000 square feet area.  They will be installing 12 vapor extraction wells which will release about 2 GPM.  This project has already been approved by EPA but EA Engineering wanted to make sure that all permits are obtained that are needed.    

Staff explained State Statue 46-735:
(1) Any person who intends to construct a water well in a management area in this state on land which he or she owns or controls shall, before commencing construction, apply with the district in which the water well will be located for a permit on forms provided by the district, except that (a) no permit shall be required for test holes or dewatering wells with an intended use of ninety days or less, (b) no permit shall be required for a single water well designed and constructed to pump fifty gallons per minute or less, and (c) a district may provide by rule and regulation that a permit need not be obtained for water wells defined by the district to be replacement water wells. A district may require a permit for a water well designed and constructed to pump fifty gallons per minute or less if such water well is commingled, combined, clustered, or joined with any other water well or wells or other water source, other than a water source used to water range livestock. Such wells shall be considered one water well and the combined capacity shall be used as the rated capacity. A district may by rule and regulation require that a permit be obtained for each water well or for one or more categories of water wells designed and constructed to pump fifty gallons per minute or less, other than a water source required for human needs as it relates to health, fire control, and sanitation or used to water range livestock, in ground water management areas in which regulations have been imposed to control declining ground water levels. Forms shall be made available at each district in which a management area is located, in whole or in part, and at such other places as may be deemed appropriate. The district shall review such application and issue or deny the permit within thirty days after the application is filed.

The committee felt that staff should send the well permits back but wanted EA Engineering to keep LPN informed on the process.   

Rationale:  A draft variance scoring sheet is attached.  It was mentioned that should  Water Quality BMPs be included in a Water Quantity Variance?

Water Quantity BMPs - 
Variable Rate Irrigation
Soil Moisture Sensors 
Cover crops might be justified because of erosion control and catching winter snowfall 

Water Quality BMPs -
Split Application of Nitrogen
Grid Sampling
Chemigation/Fertigation - easy to verify.  

Grassed waterways or buffer strips?

Committee felt that the BMPs should be easy to document.  It was pointed out that these practices are designed for producers to make their variance eligible for consideration.  

Attached is a recommended corrected form from the Committee meeting.  

Rationale:  Applications are due August 15.

Rationale:  There will be some carry-over applications from last year.  

Rationale: 

Wells Permits Approved: # 2 replacement wells

Landowner	Number of Wells	Number of New Irrigated Acres	Type of Well	County	Subarea
Donald Hemmer	1 Replacement	0	Irrigation	Platte	Middle Newman Grove
Arps Gravel and Concrete	1 Replacement	0	Commerical	Colfax	Octavia

 

 

 

 

 

 

The total number of approved permits for 2022 is # 18

Location of Approved Well Permits for 2022:  Correct as of 7/25/2022

County	Irrigation - New	Irrigation - Replacement	Stock	Commercial	Municipal	Other	Total
Butler		3					3
Colfax		1		1			2
Dodge	1						1
Boone
Madison
Platte	3	4	1				8
Saunders	4						4
Total	8	8	1	1			18

 

Rationale:  Discussion of grant collaboration with University of Nebraska Med Center.

Staff and Committee discussed a proposal that UNMC wanted LPN to take the lead on a grant dealing with an environmental project on water sampling around AltEn.  The committee felt that this project really doesn't fit the NRD's responsibility, but would consider a  letter of support.   
 

Rationale:  There are over 60 water samples at the lab,with a lot of kits being sent. 

Rationale:  Attached is some information from sites that NRD cost-shared on the equipment.  

Staff reviewed the information with the committee showing the different sites and equipment.  

Rationale:  Staff have been receiving more requests for tests with 15 producers attending the 4R program.   

Rationale:  2022-23 dues are attached

Rationale:  Staff reviewed the groundwater budget portion with the Committee.. 

Rationale: 

For 2022 thus far, we have 676 renewal permit applications, 52 new permit applications, for a current total of 728.  All 52 new permits have been visited and passed inspection. 200 Inspections for renewal permits have been completed. 252 permitted sites have passed inspection. There are 4 inspections left to complete. There were 30 permitted sites that needed reinspection. Mainly due to leaks/broken springs on the mainline check valve and interlock failures (not wired correctly or did not have a dedicated plug in installed).

Rationale:  Informing the Committee and Board that staff will be assisting in the water sampling project around AltEn.  Staff will be collecting samples from some LPN monitoring  wells and taking them to UNL Water Center for analysis.  There will be no cost to the District as this is part of UNL/UNMC water sampling project.    

Staff is planning a water sampling project between Richland and Schulyer to evaluate the area that is lower in nitrates.  A proposal of the cost is attached.  Cutouts from the Geological Framework Project show the area that will be sampled.  

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 Estimate	County

 

Rationale:  A cover crop inter-seeding field day will be August 8 just north of Cargill at Schuyler.  A flyer is attached.  There will be 1325 acres that are participating in this project in Shell and Wahoo Creek Watersheds.  Other times will be available to view as the equipment moves throughout the area.  

Pictures are attached from the Iron Chlorosis Demonstration Field.  

The grant has been submitted to WSF for best management practices in this area.   A cost-share program will potentially need to be developed.  

Rationale:  An invoice is attached from USGS for $17,635 for streamgages at Shell Creek near Columbus and Wahoo Creek at Ashland, and one real-time groundwater level monitoring site.  These sites have been a joint project with USGS for numerous years.  

Rationale:  We received our FY22-23 apportionment from the state for our SWCP program.  Our allocation is $86,748.17.
Eligible applications recommended by staff for fall 2022 SWCP total $83,652.00 and one approved summer SWCP application for $10,000.  Our proposed FY23 SWCP allocation would be $93,652.00.
The Board allocated $28,800** for 2022 Lands for Conservation which will be budgeted under local funds.

Rationale:  We have received nine eligible applications for our fall 2022 SWCP program.

B-1-22	CHARLES MEDINEER	$                     10,000.00	TERRACE/TILE OUTLET
S-2-22	GREGG FUJAN	$                     12,500.00	BASINS W/ TO - SITE 26B
S-3-22	JAMES VANEK	$                     12,500.00	BASINS W/ TO - SITE 26A
S-4-22	MICHAEL SWANSON	$                     12,500.00	TERRACE/BASIN W/ TO COTTONWOOD 21-A
S-5-22	NICK SOUSEK	$                     12,500.00	TERRACE/BASIN W/ TO CZECHLAND
S-6-22	JOHN KASPAR	$                       8,852.00	BASINS W/ TO (LOW)
S-7-22	NORM LINDGREN	$                       2,300.00	TERRACE W/ TO (LOW)
S-8-22	GREG DIVIS	$                     12,500.00	TERRACE/BASIN W/ TO WANAHOO

 

Rationale:  Financials are being wrapped up for the current EPA/NDEE Section 319 grant that ends on 10/30/2022.  A final report is due at the same time.
Our new grant is being drafted and will be submitted along with the required update (every 5 years) of our EPA 9-element Watershed Management Plan.

Rationale:  Tom, Sean, Bill, and Ryan visited Tom Sprunk's wetland stabilization and tributary stabilization chute projects.  It appears to be functioning as designed and is a good example for others.  Tom mentioned that he might do a quick grazing and wildflower interseeding this fall/next spring.  The potential to add signage/project recognition was discussed and will be discussed with the SCWIG in the future.  Final invoice is attached for $39,647.56.  We previously reimbursed Tom $6,500 (to clean up NET funds).  Our obligation is 75% of the total project. $39,647.56 + $6,500 = $46,147.56 x 75% = $34,610.67 - $6,500 = $28,110.67 due to Tom Sprunk.

Rationale:  Our current 319 grant has $8,529.28 of grant funds and $159,869.28 of required match remaining.  Tom Sprunk's projects will finish grant funds and several completed activities will complete our required match: Colfax County Shell Creek Benching engineering, design, observation, oversight, excavation/shaping, and land rights, Bill Bos and NRD staff time, and EQIP landowner share.

Rationale:  We are finishing up with the final bills.  As attached Colfax County has provided in kind costs for engineering and land rights along with a final invoice for construction costs of $3,986.00.  Per our interlocal agreement (attached), the NRD has agreed to pay all construction work with the county providing all engineering work.

Rationale:  We received a septic system upgrade application from Earleen Potmesil, for a residence in Platte County, ~1 mile south of Newman Grove.  SCWIG cost-share request is for 60% up to $6,500.

Rationale:  Andrew Phillips, of Olsson, will be available to discuss the status of the design/permitting progress of our Wahoo Creek Flood Reduction plan.
Attachments include:

Progress Report
Invoice 1: $26,023.09
Invoice 2: $39,428.25
Contract breakdown 2 sites
Contract breakdown 7 sites

Rationale:  Received an invoice from USGS for the installation and operation of 5 cameras and 2 stage-only streamgages on the Lower Platte River bridges.  The invoice was for $19,920.00 to be split 4 ways between Dodge County, Fremont, Papio-Missouri River NRD, and LPNNRD at $4,980.00 each.  We plan to pay in full and bill partners via already approved and signed agreements.

Rationale:  1)  JEO was selected by the committee to complete the planning process.
2)  Awareness regarding scope of work verbiage - conceptual vs final design.  We don't know what we are designing yet.  Attached email contains specifics.

Rationale:  Cost overrun discussions are ongoing with Nebraska Department of Economic Development as there may be an opportunity to reallocate unused administration funds to supplement the overrun.  Should this not be a possibility, the NRDs share will be $14,145.19 ($42,435.56 / 3).

Rationale:  On 7/18 JEO updated the JWMAB on the status of the Rawhide Creek WFPO study, highlights:
JEO meets with NRCS (WFPO administrator) on 8/1 for a formal status update.
The "preferred alternative" is due to be finalized 9/22.
Design alternatives:
1. Detention cell creation - airport and Merlon England.
2. Fremont Cut-off road raise as a stand alone project.
3. Fremont Cut-off road raise with a berm/diversion combination to divert overflow towards Merlon England diversion.

JEO believes that the third alternative would provide the best flood reduction benefits and best benefit to cost ratio.
 

Rationale:  On 7/18 JEO updated JWMAB on the status of the E.Fremont/Elkhorn township drainage study being funded through FEMA's advanced assistance program.  Highlights:
JEO has had encouraging meetings with UP Railroad in discussing the need for the UPRR to increase flow (via culvert replacement to bridges) through their right-of-way on the southeast end of Fremont.  Without the possibility of increased capacity at this location the reality of mitigating the stormwater drainage problems in Fremont is limited.

Rationale:  Partners meeting will be scheduled in October.  Our dues will be billed after this meeting in Nov/Dec.  Project ideas should be articulated to the group at the October meeting.

Rationale:  Tom, Sean, and Ryan met with JEO on 6/30/2022 to briefly discuss the status of the NRD's Hazard Mitigation Plan due to expire in August 2025.  JEO suggests plan sponsors begin the grant application process 2.5 to 3 years before the current plan expires to receive 75% federal cost share for the planning process.  This means submitting the grant to NEMA ~December 2022.  JEO is willing to prepare the grant application for us free of charge as long as we go through the federally required procurement (Request for Proposals/Qualifications) process before hand.  As an alternative, the District can prepare and submit the application in-house and complete the procurement process while we are awaiting funding notification.
JEO estimated a basic plan update is roughly $100k with add-ons in the $50k neighborhood.  An example of an add-on is the dam breach inundation mapping completed in 2020.  Should any of the planning partners (counties, communities, etc.) be interested in add-ons, those will need to be included in the application this fall/winter.  For those reasons, we are currently investigating procurement options.

Rationale:  FY23 Budget will be discussed and handouts will be provided.

Rationale:  Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive Grants:

• Recycling systems and equipment - Equipment used in integrated solid waste programs and projects, such as balers, shredders, densifiers, and trucks/trailers to collect recyclables
• Food and yard waste composting - brush chippers, tub grinders, compost turners, and compost screens
• Household hazardous waste, electronic waste, and pharmaceutical collection events
• School chemical cleanouts
• Market development for recycled materials
• Deconstruction of abandoned buildings owned by the city/county (available to cities of the first class, cities of the second class, villages, and counties of five thousand or fewer population

Scrap Tire Grants:

• 50% reimbursement of crumb rubber for rubber modified asphalt, manufacturing, landscaping, or playground mulch
• 25% reimbursement of mats or tiles for playgrounds, poured-in-place playground surfaces, athletic tracks, and artificial turf football, soccer, and baseball fields
• 100% reimbursement of the cost of scrap tire cleanup events (political subdivisions, only)
• 50% reimbursement of capital costs for processing, manufacturing, collection, and transporting scrap tires
• Cost-sharing for civil engineering uses ($20/ton)

Litter Reduction and Recycling Grants:

• Public Education - funding to promote recycling and litter reduction awareness through educational activities and program
• Cleanup - funding for cleanup activities on public spaces and roadways
• Recycling - funding for equipment and operating expenses

Illegal Dumpsite Cleanup Program:

• Available year-round to political subdivisions for illegal dumpsites along a road right-of-way. There are no deadlines for applications. The applications are currently received on paper.

Rationale:  Shell Creek Septic System Payment
Stanley Johannes        $5,715.39
This payment will come from our Shell Creek local monies. No grant monies are available at this time.

A motion will be needed at Board Meeting
To make payment of $5,715.39 to Stanley Johannes for his completed Septic System Upgrade in the Shell Creek Watershed. 

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.