July 2, 2015 at 10:30 AM - Executive Committtee Meeting

Rationale: 

Attached find Mountford's Report from the National Watershed Conference held May 18-20 in Fort Worth, TX.

Rationale: 

Attached find the following absence requests:

June Meeting - Hilger, Sabatka, Clausen and Meduna

February Meeting - Meduna

  January Meeting - Meduna 

Rationale:  The Monthly Weaver Conference Call will be scheduled the first week of July.

Rationale:  The June Weaver bill has not been received.

Rationale: 

Saunders County Clerk and Election Commissioner Patty Lindgren asked to be placed on the board meeting agenda to discuss Election Costs for LPNNRD and the seven counties we cover. 

We will have Patty as our Educational Program at Board Meeting.

Rationale:  Attached find the renewal purchase agreement for our Accounting Software.  The total renewal cost is $1,586.59.  This includes $1,211.84 for the Business Ready renewal of our Great Plains Software along with $374.75 for renewal of Greenshades.  

Rationale: 

Attached find a resolution needed to amend and restate the NARD 414(h) Retirement Plan. The plan is being restated to incorporate language from the three "tag on" amendments that were adopted separately by the NARD Board.  These amendments were adopted between 2008 and 2012 and are as follows:

•   415 Amendment
• Pension Protection Act Amendment
• HEART WRERA Amendment - Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 and Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008.

The re-written documents will include a Plan amendment summary and the Plan trust document with all three amendments included.  No additional amendments or changes and no required legislative or regulatory changes have been made. 

Rationale: 

HBE will perform our annual audit in August, this is the third year of our three year contract with them.  Attached find a proposal from HBE to extend our agreement with them for an additional three years.

Two years ago we advertised and took bids for our annual audit to make sure the price is competitive.  At that time we received three bids that were very close.  HBE has preformed our audits since 1983.  The decision today is if we wish to renew our agreement with HBE or advertise for bids.

Rationale:  Attached find a summary of EPA's final rule on Waters of the United States as prepared by Don Blankenau for the Nebraska Water Coalition (we are a member).  We have been informed this rule will go into effect on August 28, 2015.

Rationale:  Chalk one up for the good guys as the U.S. Forest service has withdrawn their proposed rule that would "establish management of groundwater resources on National Forest System Lands."  A copy of the Federal Register for June 19 is attached which is the official notice.

Rationale: 

At the June 16 meeting of the Natural Resources Commission NRDF funds were distributed for FY16.  At last years NRC meeting the plan was to pay our project out over the next two fiscal years with $1,175,471 being paid in FY16.  During the past legislative session we were successful in the addition of $12 million to the expected $6 million over the next four years that pays off the six existing projects.  We were shocked when the NRC voted to distribute funding equally over the next four years to pay off all projects which nets our Wanahoo project $603,590 next year and stretches out our payments over four years. See attachments.

The NRC also took action on our request to distribute funds that have been collected from haying and dirt sales on the Wanahoo property.  We have $36,925.01 banked with $13,660.23 belonging to NRDF and $23,264.78 belonging to LPNNRD.  The NRC agreed to lower our NRDF allocation by the $13,660.23 and turn these funds over to us.  A motion is needed to approve this action.

With the above action it is prudent to use this $36,925.01 as payment on our Union Bank (Wanahoo) loan.

Rationale:  In computing the FY16 Salaries that were approved last month an error was made.  The base FY15 salaries used as the starting point for this year did not include the step additions that were approved last year.  This will affect five employees,  Discussion can occur on how to make the necessary changes to correct this error.

Rationale:  The May Financial Statements are not completed and will be emailed to all Directors prior to Board Meeting.  A motion will be needed at Board Meeting to approve the May Financial Statements.

Rationale:  The administrative portion the budget as well as an overall look was performed by the Executive Committee.  Copies have been placed in all mailboxes.

Rationale:  Each year the Nebraska Department of Revenue makes projections for valuation changes in each county.  Attached find a copy of the Revenue document plus a spreadsheet for our seven counties.  The overall impact for LPNNRD is projected to be a 8.25% increase.  Historically this projection has been 1 - 1.5% lower that actual valuations that are sent to us in August.