September 2, 2015 at 8:30 AM - Operations & Education Committee Meeting

Rationale: 

There are no payments this month.

The Homestead Lake Grassland Enhancement federal grant through NE Game & Parks has been approved. Staff would like to advertise and accept bids for tree removal on site.  The estimate for tree removal by G & P is $3,750.  The project deadline for tree removal is April 15, 2016. This project is approved through the budget. 

Rationale:  The O & M Crew has completed shredding at Homestead, Czechland, Sand/Duck Creek Dam 6, Cottrell  and Ames Levees and Section 10 Ditch.  Currently on Rawhide Ditch 8.  Checked watershed dams after heavy rains in August.

Rationale:  Heimann has been working with Ken Kotera of the NRCS to establish specifications for the rehabilitation of Watershed Dam Bellwood 3-B.  The specs are ready, staff would like to advertise the project and solicit bids for this rehabilitation.  We would like to open bids September 29th or the day of Committee meeting Sept. 30. This project is in the District's budget.

Rationale:  The General Contractor, Klocke Construction, is required by the Corps of Engineers to eliminate woody vegetation on a segment of the Clear Creek levee that is 1.1 miles long and approximately 8 - 11 acres.  The tree cover was heavy and the larger trees were taken out.  This area is heavily rip-rapped making it very difficult for access. Heimann suggested to the contractor to aerial spray the segment with the helicopter contractor used to spray Phragmites on the Platte River.  The General Contractor agreed to have it sprayed with the appropriate herbicide by the helicopter for a price of $2,420.   The District will pay Skycopters for the herbicide application, the General Contractor, Klocke Construction, will reimburse the District the full amount.

Rationale: 

A decision needs to be made on moving forward with paving the Wanahoo Entry Road.  Our choices are to move forward with our normal bidding procedure or piggyback onto Saunders County’s bid for paving County Road 17 (road past Wanahoo SRA entry). 

If we use the County bid then our unit prices are locked into what ever is being used for the road project.  On top of unit price will be engineering and project survey.  We have requested a price from Collins (low bid on the road project) that we were told we would have by committee meeting time.

If we choose to go to bid on the project we will need to have specifications put together and bid as a design/build or hire an engineering firm to put together a design with specifications and a bid package.

Our estimate on the project cost has been $150,000 for construction plus engineering (usually close to 30% on projects of this size).

We have a $75,000 commitment from Game and Parks for the road plus we can use NRDF funds for 60% of our costs (G&P state funds are not eligible for NRDF cost-share).  If we bid the project our estimate at this time is:

Game and Parks $75,000.00

NRDF $56,600.22

  Saunders County Lodging Tax Grant $8,000.00

LPNNRD $29,733.48

Total $169,333.70

 

The committee needs a motion to accept and approve the Collins price, have staff prepare a design/build bid package or hire an engineering firm to prepare specifications for the entry road paving project.

It was recommended by McDermott, seconded by Ruzicka, that the NRD prepare a design/build bid package for the entry road paving project and advertise for bids.  Motion failed. (AYE: McDermott and Ruzicka - NAY: Hagerbaumer, Gibney, Sabatka and Seier)  

Rationale:  Dan Kadavy harvested 56.84 tons of hay on the northern portion and paid the District $3,836.70.  Daren Sutton has hayed the southern portion and now has to haul bales away, he has approximately 513 bales.  He will also bale the fields below the Wanahoo Dam.

Rationale: 

Melissa Harrell, Wahoo City Administrator will present a request for funding assistance from the District for the trail across the face of the Wanahoo Dam.

We currently have a grass trail across the dam.  This trail serves as the crossing for the Game and Parks mowers and light vehicles.  With the opening of the Expressway the trail will also act as the access road for out gates and spillway area that increases the need to allow access at times of bad weather.  The bid price includes 50 foot pipe panels on both sides of the spillway for safety and to deter people from the spillway and riprap areas.

The Trail will be eight feet wide with a crushed limestone chip surface above a fabric base layer.

Estimated cost is:

  Trail Grant 73,340

  NRDF 11,001

  LPNNRD   7,334

       Total 91,675

Rationale:  A meeting has been set for Friday, September 11 at 9:00 a.m. at the City Council Chambers in Fremont.  The Corps of Engineers will introduce a new Project Manager, Gwyn Jarrett, for the study and discuss the process to finalize this study before the construction phase can occur.  Partners, Dodge County, Inglewood and Fremont have all been notified.

Rationale:  To date the revenue for the camper pads at Czechland Lake is $5,158.49.

Rationale:  Mark Seier may lead the discussion, but Newman Grove School will apply for a NET Grant for "Know Your Well Project" which will test wells in their community.  The school is asking for a letter of support from the District in pursuing this grant.

Rationale:  There is nothing to report.

Rationale:  The contract for KTIC radio ads is up for renewal. Contract terms (see attachment) are unchanged from last year - 312 radio & Internet spots throughout the year for $2,190. 

Rationale:  LPN is helping host the Area 5 Range Judging Contest this year. The contest will be held Wednesday, September 23 in Saunders County. The NRD is handling registrations and will help score the contest.

Rationale:  The two new Epson Projectors have been installed along with the projection screen on the west wall.  Some drywall work is still needed on the east wall before we paint the high definition screen paint.

Rationale: 

July Colon water samples took a sampling hit for total coliform.  All follow-up testing came back clean and we are back on our regular testing schedule.  Bruno tests all passed.

August meters were read on the 27th and bills have been sent.

I am looking into the purchase of a water line casing to install under the proposed paved entrance to Lake Wanahoo.  Our plans are to install and empty casing approximately 5-8' from our existing water main to allow a new line to be placed under the drive if needed in the future.

Rationale:  We received notice from David City concerning an upcoming water rate increase.  Rates will increase 12.5% effective November 19, 2015 and 11% effective November 19, 2016.  As per our existing agreement we are obligated to increase our rates at the same percentage as David City.

Rationale:  Colon water customer Rich Timm (account #16) has moved out of state with an outstanding bill of $144.92. I have made multiple attempts to reach Mr. Timm over the past few months with no success.  Mr. Timm's security deposit has been applied to his amount due. If this account is written off we will continue to collect the amount due.

Rationale:  We have met with USDA and JEO regarding the Brainard water study.  This study covers the options for Brainard to build a water treatment facility or purchase water from our Rural Water System.  We will continue to update the Board as it pertains to the possibility of expanding our system to Brainard.