January 6, 2026 at 8:30 AM - Operations Committee Meeting
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1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Rationale:
There is nothing to consider for unfinished business.
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2. WILD NE AND OTHER PROGRAMS
Rationale:
A meeting with our partners to discuss the 5-year O & M plan for the Wanahoo Wildlife Areas will take place Thursday, January 15 at 9:00 here at the NRD office.
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3. OPERATION & MAINTENANCE & OTHER ITEMS
Rationale:
The O & M crew finished cutting & mulching trees with the new mulcher at Homestead Lake. We have moved to Czechland Lake. We are cutting trees on Rawhide Ditch 8, burned tree & wood debris in our pit and doing regular maintenance on equipment.
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3.A. Rehabilitation of Cottonwood 21-A, NRCS & HDR
Rationale:
The NRCS did one last review and analyzed HDR's design cost estimate. We have asked HDR to sharpen their pencil a bit on their design proposal estimate. If HDR's new cost estimate isn't satisfactory, we could advertise for new RFP's for other firms.
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3.B. Wanahoo Basin Damage & Repair, FEMA, & Houston Engineering
Rationale:
After researching Mitigation Benefit Cost Analysis, Mike Sotak emailed FEMA questions regarding mitigation on the Wanahoo Dam damage. Mike also reached out to colleges within his company for assistance with mitigation.
As of December 15th, FEMA is evaluating Mike's questions and comments. |
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3.C. NET Grant for No-Till Grass Drill
Rationale:
NET is meeting on Thursday, January 8 to approve grant applications. We have preliminary been notified that our grass drill application should be approved. If approved, this drill will replace the old drill at Rezac Seed here in Saunders County.
We have an old drill from Platte County to sell. We sold our last drill for $15,500. |
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3.D. Stanley Keiser Dam Repair Request
Rationale:
Stanley Keiser, dam owner, and Harold Kolb, Clear Creek Drainage board member, were present to discuss what can be done with Keiser's dam, which is failing (see picture). It is also believed the water and sediment in the dam and stream bed are contaminated from the Alten plant at Mead. DWEE was on site last November to take water and sediment samples. DWEE and Dam Safety will be on site January 16 to discuss the sampling results and the deteriorating dam. Before any dam renovation can take place, the remediation of the contamination needs to be cleared up if necessary. An engineer's estimate would also be necessary for rehabbing the dam.
Attachments:
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4. ROCK AND JETTY
Rationale:
Harold Kolb, Clear Creek Drainage member, asked if the District would assist with adding limestone to the top of the Clear Creek Levee. We could assist at 50% or greater since the District is the primary sponsor of the project. We have an Interlocal agreement between us to assist in project O & M. The drainage members will line up the rock, hauling and leveling the rock. We could use Rock & Jetty funds, Project Repair — Other funds, O & M Sinking Funds, or District Wide Flood Reduction Sinking Funds. We have asked for an estimate.
Two Corps of Engineers representatives inspected Seth McGinn's jetty maintenance project and found it satisfactory. |
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5. LAKE WANAHOO
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5.A. Lake Wanahoo Permit Sales
Rationale:
For the month of November, the District received $722.50 in park permit revenue.
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5.B. Lake Wanahoo Camping Revenue
Rationale:
For the month of November, the District received $11,062.81 in camping revenue.
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5.C. Clint Johannes Education Building
Rationale:
The Clint Johannes Education Building at Lake Wanahoo was rented 16 times in November, with 2 NRD event. Revenue for the month was $1,150.
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5.D. Potential Amphitheater
Rationale:
The Chair-appointed Wanahoo Amphitheater sub-committee met in December and their remarks are as follows:
The subcommittee, while not unanimously in favor of an amphitheater on the Wanahoo property, if built, the subcommittee is unanimously in favor of the new Southeastern location. This location will be very close to all needed utilities, reduce safety concerns by utilizing round-a-bout, not affect any existing Wanahoo trails or roads, allow for a potential separate access off hwy 109, be further from existing residential and camping and is not currently within any Wanahoo future development areas.
Recommended Motion(s):
To work with and allow Lonny Hansen to proceed with design of an amphitheater at the east side location (generally located on the south side of tree grove, east of existing of road) within the Wanahoo Property. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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6. INFORMATION AND EDUCATION
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6.A. Information
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6.A.1. Radio & eAds
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, 2026: Tree orders |
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6.A.2. Analytics
Rationale:
Top Posts for Facebook and X during December included:
• December Coffee Lakeside flyer • Natural Resources Grant December deadline • Science and Scenes Event • Lake Wanahoo Park Permits 2026 • January Coffee Lakeside The main page, forestry and wildlife, and Lake Wanahoo page had the most views. Mobile and tablet usage went up and desktop viewing went down. 2,700 people visited our website which was up 0.5% compared to the last previous 28 days. |
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6.B. Education
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6.B.1. Past events
Rationale:
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6.B.2. Upcoming Events
Rationale:
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6.B.3. Nebraska Alliance for Conservation & Environmental Education Sponsorship Ask
Rationale:
An email I received:
"My name is Amber Schiltz, I’m the Program Director of the Nebraska Alliance for Conservation & Environmental Education, and right now we are planning for the fourth annual Nebraska Environmental Education Conference to be held February 6 & 7, 2026 in Kearney, NE - at both the University of Nebraska - Kearney & Rowe Sanctuary. This year our conference theme is "Rising Together: Building Belonging through Art, Ecology, and Stories of Place". This event brings together environmental educators, natural resource managers, and community partners from across the state who are collectively nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards in Nebraska. Nebraska’s Natural Resource Districts play an essential role in conserving and sustaining our state’s natural resources, and your district has long been a leader in stewardship and conservation. I know you understand how vital environmental education is to achieving our shared conservation goals - especially as this work strives to deepen Nebraskans’ ecological literacy and connection to the natural resources you work to conserve. Because of this alignment, I’m reaching out to ask whether the Lower Platte North NRD would consider partnering with NACEE by sponsoring the Nebraska Environmental Education Conference this spring. We are inviting NRDs to support this effort with a suggested sponsorship level of $500, or whatever amount may work for your district. Your support would make a meaningful difference in strengthening Nebraska’s environmental education community and would highlight your district’s ongoing commitment to conservation and public education. We would be honored to collaborate with you in this effort. I’ve attached our official sponsorship packet, and have linked our sponsorship form here. You can also find more info about the conference here. Please feel free to look through either document and reach out if you have any thoughts or questions. We appreciate your consideration, and hope regardless of your sponsorship status you join us at the conference next February!" Sponsorship levels and benefits:
Recommended Motion(s):
Recommend sponsorship at the $500 Friend level. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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7. RURAL WATER SYSTEMS
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7.A. Colon System
Rationale:
Routine monthly sampling completed, meters read and bills mailed.
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7.B. Bruno System
Rationale:
On 12/18 the NRD held a kickoff meeting with representatives from the Village of Abie, and JEO to discuss the potential of developing a rural water district with Abie (agenda attached)
The study is expected to take ~6 months, and once completed, the NRD and Abie will have to decide if we want to proceed with pursuing funding options to design/build the RWD.
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7.C. Other
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