February 29, 2024 at 10:00 AM - Executive Committee Meeting

Rationale:  Directors Thompson and Sabatka are planning to attend the Washington DC meeting along with Gottschalk and Chapman.  

Rationale:  The Director's Retreat is scheduled for March 28th starting at 11:00 a.m.  Please let staff know if you have any specific agenda items. 

With the Director's retreat starting at 11:00 a.m. the following Committee start times have been modified:

Operations Committee - 9:00 a.m. 
Projects Committee - 9:00 a.m. 
Executive Committee - 10:00 a.m. 
Director Retreat - 11:00 a.m. 

Rationale:  Tom Mountford will be present at Board Meeting to give a brief update on the February 21st Natural Resources Commission Meeting.  He will also be bringing two NRCS State office employees that are involved with watershed projects. Nicole Zimmerman is  a Hydrology and Hydraulics Engineer and Alessandra Sealander (Ali) is a Geologist. 

Rationale:  Last week we received confirmation of the deposit of $2,497,729.59 from FEMA for reimbursement of our 2019 damages below our Wanahoo structure.  An additional $131,459.45 is expected to closeout this work which will complete our 100% cost-share reimbursement. Discussion is requested on the short term and long term placement of these funds.  I have contacted local banks as an option along with Nebraska CLASS for potential investment locations for this lump some of funds.

Rationale:  A Pre-Bid meeting was held on Thursday Feb. 22nd and was very well attended.  As of Wednesday, 2-28 there have been 10 contractors picking up designs documents for bid along with multiple sub-contractors so there appears to be significant interest in bidding the project.  All bids are due by 2:00 pm on Thursday March 7th with a formal bid opening to take place at that time in the LPNNRD board room.

Rationale:  I received a call from Jesse Bradley with DNR last week informing me he and his staff has met with the Governor's office regarding LB 1412.  Jesse stated the intent. is now to leave $15 million in the JEDI fund for this year and an amendment to put $10 million in JEDI next year.  This amount will leave a total of $25 million to cover all current contracts (including our $19.66 million)
 

Rationale:  Staff and Danielle Allen with Olsson have been working to finalize our easements for sites 26A, 26B and 27.  We have reached agreements with all landowners/parcels except for one.  Staff will inform the committee of the final situation we are facing and potential next step.  We are planning to be ready for a motion at the March 11th board meeting to proceed to closing on all sites where agreements have been reached.

Rationale:  Heimann and Gottschalk have met with John Peterson at JEO and he has nearly finished designs for the filters needed to mitigate the utilities currently running through our Wanahoo dam.  Nebraska DOT has approved our mitigation work to be included as a change order to their larger construction contract allowing us to utilize their contracted unit costs.  I will be meeting with Windstream and the City of Wahoo in the next couple weeks to share the plans and discuss estimated cost.

Rationale:  Who from the NRD signs the easements and purchase agreements.
A motion from the board will be needed to make payments for land rights.

Rationale:  Attached find Directors that have filed for re-election.

Rationale:  Tractor & Truck

Rationale:  After receiving high interest in this position and interviewing 3 quality individuals, I have offered the position to Jacob Stover, and he has accepted.  Jacob comes to us from The Flatwater Group in Lincoln, where he served as the Junior Water Resources Specialist.  The beginning salary for this position is $50,000/year.

Rationale:  This opening has also received multiple qualified applicants.  We are finalizing interviews this week and plan to have an individual hired and ready for approval at the March 11th board meeting.

A motion will be needed at Board Meeting to ratify the hiring to fill the vacant Operation and Maintenance Technician position. 

Rationale:  Funding assistance for this position is available on a cost-share basis and discussion is requested. This grant funded position will take effect in FY 2025.

Rationale:  With Kaitlyn moving into her first Wanahoo recreation season there is the potential of assistance needed from Bret Schommer regarding recreation issues that may arise.  Discussion and possible action requested  

Rationale:  Grant will be available at 10:00 a.m. to present the January Financial Statement. 

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