January 30, 2015 at 10:00 AM - Executive Committtee Meeting

Rationale:  The NARD Annual Washington DC Conference is scheduled for March 21-25, 2015.  Last month we authorized up to two Staff and two Directors attend this meeting. 

Rationale:  The Director's Retreat is scheduled for February 11 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Benedictine Center north of Schuyler.  Discussion should occur on agenda items.

Rationale:  Attached find Director Ruzicka's and Veskerna's excuse of absence from the January Board Meeting.

Rationale:  The Weaver Monthly Conference Call will be held Wednesday, February 4th.  Attached find Weavers Monthly Report. 

Rationale:  Several suggestions have come forward for our monthly education program which include:
Video from GMDA on the Arizona Central Valley Project
LPRB Water Plan Update
UNL SENSE Nitrogen Application Project

The Committee asked that all three educational programs be move ahead and take place prior to the board meeting either during or after the Public Hearings.

Rationale:  Briefs have been scheduled at the Appellate Court on Tuesday, February 10 beginning at 1:00 p.m..  Lausterer can give an update at board meeting.

Rationale:  Attached find Bill Taylor's letter of resignation. A vacancy needs to be declared and Chair Hannah will need to appoint a Search Committee and Chair to bring forth a candidate at the March Board Meeting.  In the past the committee make-up has been directors from the area of the vacancy, in this case Dodge County (Olson, Clausen, Pollard, Hagerbaumer, Saalfled and Ruzicka).

Rationale:  The final version of the legislative positions from the NARD Conference earlier this week have not yet been received.  These will be forwarded to all directors when received.

Rationale:  Attached find a thank you note from Brooke Pieke for the assistance and support she has received from LPNNRD.

Rationale:  Attached find a note from Schuyler Mayor Dave Reinecke thanking LPNNRD for our support of the Schuyler Levee Project and a special thanks to Mike Murren for his leadership and guidance on the project.

Rationale:  Dave Licktig purchased the NRD property that Sand Creek Site 16 is located on.  He recently complained that he purchased the property believing that 100% of the lake was located on the 120 acre tract.  We explained that all of the maps we have show that all but a small corner of the lake would be on the sold land and that the land was sold as is.  Unfortunately the auction company that sold the property put on the sale bill that 100% of the lake would be on the tract.  We have surveyed the property line and there is a small area within the pool of the lake that is on neighboring property.  It also appears the contractor borrowed some soil from the west shoreline area which also places a small additional area in the pool onto the neighboring property.  Miyoshi has asked Licktig to submit a formal written request on what he wants the NRD to do.

This is for information only and no action is required.

Rationale:  The Alliance River Obstruction Removal Project has been on the books for years.  There has been permit changes and costs have tripled in price.  We have also picked up additional funding partners but the project still is not underway.  A group of board members have said that this project is the only negative problem they have with the Alliance and if we could get this project stopped they would fully support the Alliance activities.  Miyoshi approached Meghan Sittler with this and she is very open to stopping the project if it that important to LPNNRD.  Discussion by Executive Committee was that we should ask the Alliance to halt the River Obstruction Removal Project.  Discussion at board meeting is needed.

Rationale:  Last month a request was made to look into a Microphone system for the board room.  O&M Technician Mitch O'Reilly is looking into this and purchase of a speakerphone for the board room.  Two companies will be inn our office this afternoon to see what our needs are.  A report should be ready by the next committee meeting.

We also have Thompson looking at allowing board members to participate in committee meetings remotely.

The Executive Committee also directed that we look at a projection screen option for the board meeting so the public can better follow the board meeting.

Rationale:  During the Personnel Sub-Committee the overall staffing needs for the district was reviewed with three recommendation coming forward.

Rationale:  The Rural Water Manager position was reviewed.  The best opportunity for the district is to fill the Rural Water position by promoting Gottschalk with the following responsibilities which will be put into a new job description.  Rural Water District Management (20%), manage NRD community outreach to continue to assist small community water systems (30%), continue to manage NRD cost-share programs for conservation and water (50%).

Rationale:  The Acre Certification position expires at the end of March.  With the re-allocation of duties for the Rural Water Manager position we now have a void in the remaining duties.  A hybrid position is needed to fill duties in the Water and O&M departments.  The committee recognizes that on top of this position another position is needed in the Water Department.  At this time the suggestion is to combine the following duties into a hybrid position with the following responsibilities: Chemigation (40%), O&M Tech (40%), Acre Certification and Data Base Management (10%) and SQS responsibilities (10%).

Rationale:  The last time the district preformed a Salary Survey was 1999.  There have been some board members who question our current methods and salary scale.  After discussion the consensus was that it is time to take proposals on an updated Salary Survey.

Rationale:  Accounts Receivable were reviewed by the Executive Committee.