August 28, 2025 at 7:30 AM - Projects Committee Meeting

Rationale:  We recieved our FY26 NSWCP allocation from DWEE: $93,020.16.  DWEE confirmed that there is no cash-carryover from FY25, however, ALL unused NSWCP funds have been pooled into a general fund that will be exhausted before an NRD will tap into their respective FY26 allocation.  The general fund sat at $2,050,000.00 as of 8/18.
Listed are the remaining applications to be approved:
 

S-25-12	KYLE OSMERA	$                     15,000.00	TOT/WASCB
S-25-14	KAREN SMAUS	$                     15,000.00	TOT/WASCB
B-25-1	TOM SAMEK	$                     15,000.00	TOT/WASCB
B-25-2	RONALD SWOBODA	$                     10,625.01	TOT/WASCB
S-25-18	JAMES KUBIK	$                     15,000.00	TOT
S-25-19	BEN SPATZ	$                     15,000.00	TOT/COVER CROPS
S-25-20	MICHAEL ANDERSEN	$                       6,038.53	GWW
S-25-21	SCOTT FORAL	$                     15,000.00	TOT

 

Rationale:  A public open house occurred on August 21st at the UNL Extension office in Fremont.  A summary of responses will be compiled and added to the final EA document.

Rationale:  Staff will submit an NET application, due September 2nd, requesting $200,000 for the next 3 fiscal years (July 1, 2026 through June 30th, 2029).  The next SCWIG meeting is TBD.
Bill Bos submitted an two applications for approval:
 

Eldon Mohrmann

Onsite Wastewater

$10,500

 

Tony Brandt

Cover Crop

$5,500

With the potential of more cover crop applications coming in after committee/board meetings and the preferred timeframe for seeding being now, staff would like the ability to approve eligible cover crop applications as we receive them to prevent seeding delay.
 

Rationale:  On 8/21 LPN staff hosted NRCS State Office staff for a field tour of WCW sites 26 & 27 (pic attached).  Allen Gehring, State Engineer, has requested to bring an engineering class from UNL to the sites the first week of November.
Monthly construction update meeting was 8/26 (agenda attached):

• Earthfill has begun at Site 27.  
• Overexcavation/channel cleanout continues at 26A; more than contractor anticipated due to glacial outwash/sand layer and subsurface moisture.

TCI invoice and Olsson invoice attached

Rationale:  Olsson is wrapping up DNR reviews for site 77, then will send off to NRCS National Watershed Center (NWC) in Ft. Worth.  The NWC review is required for site 77 due to it's size, and hazard class rating.  That review should take a couple months.
Site 84 has been submitted to NRCS state office for final review.
Revisions continue to our ACOE 404 permit reflecting comments received on our biological assessment.
Attached is a progress report, and July invoice.  The invoice reflects the "held" billings that were approved with the last contract amendment.  A monthly breakdown of held billings is also attached.

Rationale:  Danielle and Cody will be available at committee meeting to discuss current status of acquisitions and landowner appraisals.
The ECP Corporation acquisition (Site 84) did not get ratified at the last Board meeting due to oversight.  We will need official Board approval of the acquisition, $4,144.00

Rationale:  We have met with the State NRCS to ask questions and get next steps for the NWQI program. The next step for Jake is approaching the local agronomists/coops in the area to promote the program and work with them on the potential for atrazine substitutions and to share with them the pay rates on them through NWQI. Deadlines for applications are going to be in mid-November, and we are planning on doing more outreach before then with radio ads as well as social media announcements.

Rationale:  Gottschalk and Chapman were on the agenda for the Saunders County Board meeting on August 19th to discuss our potential repair project.  Several directors and twenty to thirty members of the public were present.  The County requested an updated estimate from their engineer, Mainelli Wagner & Associates.  Our next step is securing grant funding and working with both Boards to negotiate an interlocal agreement detailing who is responsible for what.

Rationale:  Elliott was subpoenaed to testify at a hearing on 8/28 for the ongoing Mike Kaspar/Cliff Prochaska lawsuit.  

Rationale:  We held a meeting with JEO to discuss public outreach with the HMP and Drought Plan. We will be looking to get into contact with 3 communities to look at the potential of adopting ordinances based off of triggers from historical pumping and available data. These communities will be chosen based off the drought vulnerability matrix from the drought mitigation plan.

Invoice is attached.