November 25, 2025 at 8:30 AM - Operations Committee Meeting

Rationale:  There is nothing to consider for unfinished business.

Rationale:  A meeting will be set up between G & P, NRD, NRCS & Pheasants Forever in late January or early February to redraft a new 5-year (2027–2031) plan for the management of the Wanahoo Wildlife land area (excluding the recreation area). This includes hay & burn rotations, spraying, Todd Valley wetland disturbance, tree removal, etc.
We'll let you know when the date is established.

Rationale:  The O & M crew has the new tree mulcher up and running. Cleared trees on the Wanahoo property, the Wanahoo WRP and are presently at Homestead. We did maintenance on the two Clear Creek Dams and three Swedeburg dams. We are addressing a beaver issue at Cottonwood 6-E and are keeping an eye on others (see pictures). Also, regular vehicle and equipment maintenance.

Rationale:  Heimann forwarded the Design Cost Estimate from HDR to NRCS for their review and comments.

Rationale:  We had a virtual meeting with FEMA, NEMA and Houston Engineering on Thursday November 20. The meeting dealt with mitigation and the benefit cost analyses. There seems to be some confusion with this area. Mike Sotak is figuring it out.

Rationale:  We received 4 quotes (attached) from refrigeration companies; Tech Masters — $14,503.80, Marking Refrigeration — $14,550.00 and $15,300.00 w/ heater, and Kaar Sheet Metal — $16,761.87.
Last month, director Lawrence asked staff to research CoolBot equipment.
On CoolBot's website, two things stuck out; 1) efficient to 36 degrees 2) it's not recommended to open the door more than 5–6 times an hour.
We like to keep the cooler between 34–38 degrees. To get a Coolbot system below 36, you would have to oversize the AC unit, and have optimal insulation in the walls, ceiling, floor and door, plus minimize opening the door. 
Heimann spoke with a gal at Coolbot. She said frequently opening the door letting more humidity in and warming the interior, the AC would work harder to try and catch up, causing it then to possibly freeze up. Then you have to thaw and start over. I gave her our dimensions of 16' x 18' x 8' and asked how many BTU's we would need? She said 65K and that we would need multiple units (AC & Coolbots) to get what we want.
When we are packaging tree orders for our customers, the cooler door is constantly opened and closed for two days (all dependent on how many orders we must fill).
We don't believe the smaller AC units will handle our needs and the gal also agreed. We will need a recommendation to accept a bid to proceed.

Rationale:  Meduna Family Farms hayed areas "A & B" on the Wanahoo property. They had a total of 514 bales at an average weight of 1,348.4 lbs. The total tons are 341.9 at $41 = $14,017.90.
Ken Cejka hayed area "C" on the Wanahoo property. He had a total of 129 bales at an average weight of 1,254.75 lbs. The total tons are 80.93 at $68 = $5,503.33.

Rationale:  John Kasper is an adjacent landowner on the west side of Sand/Duck Dam 2 (see photo). He is requesting to take out the fence but leave the majority of the fence post to mark the boundary. He wants to control trees on the area and the fence lines are full of trees.
We have honored this request on one other Sand/Duck Dam.

Rationale:  A reminder of our aging dams in our district, state and nation. Attached is a list of 25 dams in our district that have exceeded their planned service life of 50 years. In March, ASDSO released an update to its Cost of Rehabilitating Dams in the U.S. Current figures place the total cost estimated for non-federal dams at $165.2 billion. Non-Federal, high-hazard potential dams are estimated at $37.4 billion. ASDSO is always striving to secure federal funding for dam rehabilitation.
We do have an O & M sinking fund of $300,000 and a District Wide Flood Reduction sinking fund of $3M in case a dam is in need of rehab.  

Rationale:  Seth McGinn has submitted an invoice for $8,000 for jetty work on the Platte River in Dodge County. He is eligible for 50% cost-share. A representative from the Corps of Engineers will inspect it on November 26th because of a complaint by the next-door neighbor.
The Corps did an on-site inspection and the project is good.

Rationale:  For the month of October, the District received $2,332.00 in annual park permit revenue.

Rationale:  For the month of October, the District received $13,335.73 in camping revenue.

Rationale:  The Clint Johannes Education Building at Lake Wanahoo was rented 16 times in November, with 1 NRD event. Revenue for the month was $1,000.

Looking ahead at next year, many of the weekends were already booked as of earlier this month:
(Saturday or Sunday Availability 2026)
January: 1 date
February: 3 dates
March: 3 dates
April - June: 0
July: 1 date
August: 3 dates
September: 3 dates
October: 3 dates
November: 6 dates
December: 6 dates
 

Rationale:  A 2025 Wanahoo Recreation season review and 2026 budget is being prepared and will be presented at the December 8th board meeting

Rationale:  There was no subcommittee meeting held this past week, but Mr. Hansen's had a survey crew out taking and staking elevations.

Patty Lindgren purchased a memorial bench and planted some trees several years ago on the east side of Wanahoo, and she contacted our office with several concerns.  She was initially concerned with paint and stakes located on the concrete slab where her bench is located, as well as a rebar pin.  She is also concerned about any proposed amphitheater location that could potentially interfere with her memorial bench.  I explained to her no location has been determined for a potential structure and I would keep her informed as the planning proceeds.  She also informed me, in the event the amphitheater is built near or on her current bench location, she would not be interested in moving she would want a refund for her costs.

Rationale:  KTIC radio ads schedule:
November: water use reports due December 15
December: accepting tree orders
January: Water Management/Nitrogen certification classes

Digital display ad schedule:
September 8 - December 31, 2025: Environmental Education
October 22 - February 28, 2025: Tree orders
 

Rationale:  Top Posts for Facebook and X during November included:
• November Coffee Lakeside flyer - Water Department
• Natural Resources Grant December deadline
• Water technician opening
• Shared article about the CEO program - https://www.nebraska-advantage.org/place-come-back-inside-wahoo-high-schools-ceo-program-and-community-behind-it
• Tree and shrub orders open

On the LPNNRD website, we received traffic from Facebook (23), NARD (17).
Forestry page views are up (likely due to tree orders and KTIC digital ads, Education page views slightly down (KTIC digital ads).

The full reports are attached. 

Rationale:  On November 12, 2025 at noon, the latest newsletter was sent out to producers.
Topics included:
• Nitrogen Reduction Incentive Act (NiRIA)
• looking for producers for demo fields
• meter usage/nitrogen report reminders - Due December 15
• UNL’s recommendations of fall application
• TAPS information

The information was sent to 1261 emails. 93.34% delivery rate. 56.58% opens the email. 65 users clicked on information within the newsletter. We had many phone calls in the days following the email about producers wanting to sign up for the NiRIA or report their meter usage. The full campaign and report is attached.
 

Rationale: 

• November 13th: Coffee Lakeside - Water Department (20)
• November 18th: Bishop Neumann Career Fair 
• November 19th: David City HAL am (15) & Survival Club PM (16)
• November 20th: St. Wenceslaus Pre-k (30)
• November 25th: Aquinas Middle School (100)

Rationale: 

• December 4th: Wahoo 5th grade
• December 5th: Survival club 
• December 10th: Science and Scenes event
• December 11th: Coffee Lakeside 
• December 15th: Aquinas Catholic
• December 17th: East Butler

TBD: St. Wenceslaus, other classroom visits. 
 

Rationale:  Please help share and promote the LPNNRD grant! December 19th is the deadline. 

Rationale:  On 11/7 the NRD was notified by the City of Wahoo that they were issuing a boil order for water due to multiple positive coliform tests during their monthly testing regimen.  Due to the Colon RWD being a connected system, we had to issue a boil order and make a best effort to notify all customers within 24 hours.  We posted a notice on our social media pages, as well as, posted flyers at public spaces within the village and hand-delivered notices to each residence.  Wahoo chlorinated to disinfect the system, the RWD flushed hydrants in Colon to expedite chlorine entering the Village system.
Monthly sampling completed (NO coliform positive), bills to be mailed 12/1

Rationale:  The NRD and the Village of Abie both approved an interlocal agreement to study the potential of extending the Bruno RWD to include Abie.  JEO is the contracted consultant that will complete the study which is expected to take ~6 months.  Once study is completed we will determine whether, or not, to move forward with acquiring funding; USDA RD loan/grant, Neb SRF, e.g.
Monthly sampling completed, bills to be mailed 12/1