May 30, 2024 at 10:00 AM - Executive Committee Meeting

Rationale:  Just a reminder that the GMDA Annual meeting will be in Omaha July 17-19 and the early registration deadline is June 17th. Please let Breunig know if you are interested in attending. 

Rationale:  Attached find Director Saalfeld's excuse of absence from the March and April Board Meetings.

March - Vacationing (Japan)
April - Attending Funeral out of state 

Rationale:  Kelly Thompson Matt Manning scheduled to attend our June board meeting to discuss the Perkins County project

Rationale:  New building subcommittee met with JEO and Scheele - Kayton on Wednesday May 29th to discuss construction progress and current updates.  
Discussion is needed on all aspects related to the benefits and/or drawbacks of having the new office tract of Wanahoo property annexed into the city of Wahoo.  Issues such as electrical, water and natural gas supplies and how they will affect the project will be among the main topics.

Rationale:  As discussed at the Construction update meeting, developing a process with a maximum dollar amount to deal with potential change orders would benefit the timeliness of change order turnaround.  A recommendation from the subcommittee was to set $5,000 as the max change order amount to be approved without full board approval.  Initial approval would be given by G.M. or Board chair with formal board approval at the next board meeting.

Rationale:  Discussion on the direction for sale of our existing office property. 

Rationale:  Attached find a letter sent to the Secretary of State notifying them of the vacancy in Sub-District 8.  Discussion and possible action on how LPNNRD intends to proceed with the vacancy for the remainder of 2024.

Rationale:  The Financial portion of our General Operating Policies were reviewed at the September Board Meeting and a motion will be needed at Board meeting to approve the changes as attached. 

Rationale:  Gottschalk will updated the committee on the May 21st storm event and district damages.

Rationale:  Drew ten Bensel has resigned his position with the District effective May 24th. The District will need to pay him for his unused annual leave, and he will need to reimburse the District for his tuition assistance ($1,428) for leaving within one year of receiving the assistance.   

Rationale:  The NARD Benefits committee met to interview potential health insurance administration companies and has selected Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska as our new health coverage adminstrator.  BCBS will replace Mid America Benefits which the plan has utilized for over 10 years.  This administrator change could provide a substantial savings to the plan an thus, the rates.  The changeover will not take place until 1-1-25.

Due to a very good health-cost experience this past year, it is once again the recommendation of the NARD Benefits committee to have a 0% insurance premium increase for the next fiscal year.  This solid performance helps us as we move into the budget planning for next fiscal year.

Rationale:  Management is currently in the annual staff review/evaluation period as we plan for our cost of living and merit increase to take effect July 1.  Last year the board approved a 5% total district salary increase (3% COLA & 2% merit) to be divided equally between all full-time district employees. 

Each year our district closely monitors the State-wide NRD Salary Survey to insure all our employee are being compensated adequately.  LPNNRD is the 7th largest district in the state (based on valuation) and since I began as general manager, this is my justification to all employees on how their salaries are structured.  In recent years we have continued to keep all positions within this range and this year we have seven positions in need of adjustment to be within the top seven of their specific positions within the NRD system.  An additional $ 33,000 of base salary is requested to accomplish this adjustment.

A recommendation and motion is requested allowing us to budget total salaries for fiscal year 2025.

Rationale:  Direction an possible action requested:
As discussed last month, through discussions with NRCS management, it appears to be beneficial to create and additional job classification for our NRCS office staff.  We currently have one position titled NRCS Field Office Assistant.  We have a couple employees taking on more and more responsibilities within the NRCS office and a position of NRCS Programs Assistant position would more closely describe the work our employee are performing.  Discussion and possible motion to create a position, NRCS Programs Assistant.

Rationale:  Grant will be available to update the Executive Committee on the April Financial Statements. 

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

Rationale:  Discussion is requested if the board is interested in creating a new investment account to place FEMA reimbursement funds. Our current NPAIT and Union accounts appear to be higher than any other area banks and very close to the Nebraska CLASS account discuss at prior meetings.