March 29, 2017 at 8:30 AM - Operations & Education Committee Meeting

Rationale:  The FYRA Lake Wanahoo Lake Level Management Plan contract was tabled until the Operation & Maintenance Manual for the Wanahoo Environmental Restoration Project was complete and reviewed.

Rationale: 

There are no contract payment this month.

We will continue our grassland renovation at Homestead Lake this spring by applying Round-up to knock out Brome grass and then inter-seeding warm season grasses with pollinator plants.

Rationale:  O & M staff repaired one bathroom door at Czechland Lake, two more will be replaced. Moved dirt for the bird watch parking area on County Road O. Cut volunteer trees on different areas.

Rationale:  The Lake Wanahoo Lake Level Panel met at 8:00 a.m. before the O, E, RW Committee meeting. Information will follow.

Rationale: 

The Dump Station will be close to finished by the end of the week, March 31, weather permitting but, will be operational. An hour and one half operations demonstration of the dump station took place on Friday, March 31. An invoice of $52,318.94 was received that same day and will be paid. There is retainage of $13,691.96 for final grading. The original contract price is $128,504.55.

Game & Parks seasonal personnel will start April 3rd or soon after.

The roads were evaluated, they were graded and there are a few areas that need rock or gravel.

The lake level is very near one foot below conservation pool 1210. We are managing one gate to keep it at 1209.

The 3/8" cable in the buoy system is breaking regularly. We keep splicing it with cable and clamps. Staff recommends replacing the cable with 1/2" cable in which we would need 1,000'.  Purchase 14 buoys at approximately $135/each and one white can buoy at $370.  We would refurbish one half of the system with new buoys and use the best of the old buoys with new cable on the other half.  Material cost is approximately $3,300, does not include shipping charges.

We will also be in need of more crumb rubber for the playgrounds.

 

Rationale:  We are attempting to set up a meeting with FEMA during the week of April 17 - 21 or April 24th, 25th, 28th. This meeting would be invitation only for elected officials from six counties, six communities, three NRD's,  and DNR.  This meeting would examine the options and process (short and long term) in getting the FIRM Maps updated in a timely manner.

Rationale:  Lausterer sent Paul Gifford's attorney a letter after the last board meeting. The letter explained our reasons per the agreement as to why a box culvert can not be placed in the large portion of Ditch 10.  We have not received a response back.

Rationale:  Brief update on the Camp Ashland project from Martin Reed with the COE.

The concrete slab for the fuse plug was placed on Friday, the levee is mostly complete up to the fuse plug and once weather permits, (next week) the levee will be completed.  Looking to seed the site probably the week of 10 April.

Beacon view:  Rock blanket is 95% complete and bollards installation will begin this week.  I do not anticipate any issues as we have held several coordination meetings regarding the placement of the bollards.

Trees were removed from the CC levee three weeks ago.

All for now, things are moving along well.

Rationale:  With the transfer of our 2005 Dodge pick-up to Czechland Lake, we will need a topper.  Heimann has inquired to three companies in Omaha, the price range for a topper with side Win-doors is $1,700 to $2,000.  The old topper on the 2002 Chevy will not fit and will be sold with the truck.

Rationale:  Heimann has updated the Emergency Action Plans for the Districts three high hazard dams in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources Dam Safety.  All updated information was send to plan holders and plan holders responded by returning a post card. This acknowledgment was then sent to DNR as required. 

Rationale: 

Through the NRCS Watershed Rehabilitation Program the NRCS did assessments on Clear Creek 22-A and Bellwood 2-C in 2014.  The assessments are to provide a "snapshot" of the condition of the structures and used to make decisions for future actions.

Heimann and Miyoshi met with Kevin Gustafson, NRCS Dam Safety Engineer and Tim Gokie, DNR Chief of Dam Safety. The two dams were low hazard structures.  Today since housing development has increase in the rural areas these two dams will now be classified as significant hazard dams.  Below these two dams there are 1 - 2 homes that may be effected by flood water approximately 1 foot deep if the dams failed.  If they were to be classified as high hazard then a Emergency Action Plan would have to be developed.

Tim Gokie and his staff do appreciate the effort the Lower Platte North NRD puts into our dam maintenance program.  He said our structures are in good shape and typically have just minor deficiencies if any at all.

Rationale:  St. Peter Lutheran Church of North Bend would like assistance in developing a windbreak of Douglas Fir and Black Hills Spruce north of their church.  This is a continuation of the project they started and the NRD assisted on in 2014.  Through the District Community Forestry Program, we can assist at 50% cost-share up to $1,000.

Rationale: 

Kay Poppe with the assistance of her tenant will be re-establishing a washed out levee on Skull Creek.  This site was observed by staff and directors last October and mentioned at the late October Committee meeting. Standing C Excavation will be doing the work for $4,100. Through the Bank Stabilization Program the District can cost-share at 50% up to $2,000.

A short email note from Kay Poppe:  

Dear NRD board

Att. Bob Heimann                                                                                                     

A number of years ago after some local storms in the area, skull creek overflowed out its bank.  It washed away at my farm as well as surrounding neighbors. In October of 2016, I asked a group of NRD directors to view the creek and see if there were some financial aid to repair our damages. Therefore this is my request to the NRD board for financial assistance to repair this.        

Thank You

Kay Poppe

Rationale: 

The KTIC radio ad and the Wahoo Newspaper eAd for April will promote the chemigation deadlines for new permits and renewals.

Rationale: 

An awards picnic, similar to the event in 2015, has been scheduled for Sunday, June 4^th at Czechland Lake.  It was recommended to have a social hour at 5:00 pm, dinner at 6:00 pm, and awards at 7:00 pm.  It was suggested to invite all past and current staff and directors.

Rationale: 

Spring Conservation Sensation will be May 3^rd at Czechland Lake.  Online Registration opened March 7^th and the deadline to register is April 10^th.  Currently, 173 students are registered from St. Wenceslaus (Wahoo), Logan View, North Bend, St. Mary’s (David City), Bellwood, Lindsay Holy Family, and Wahoo.  The registration flyer is attached. 

Sessions from guest presenters include Helpful Hydrogels (Nebraska Extension- Colfax & Butler Counties), Wildlife CSI (Lower Platte South NRD & David City FFA), Reptiles of Nebraska (Nebraska Game & Parks), and Wildlife Round-Up (Mike Luben, Nebraska Game & Parks).

Lower Platte North NRD staff will present sessions including: Lake Ecosystems, Cast-o-Rama, Tree Planting, and Hunger Games.

This year Raptor Recovery/Fontenelle Forest will present a culminating session at the end of the day with all students.  Their program includes 3 live raptors. 

Rationale: 

Soil & Water Stewardship materials have been ordered.  The 2017 theme is “Healthy Soils Are Full of Life”.  There were 12 orders from schools and churches within the district.  Printing was coordinated with Lower Elkhorn NRD and Lewis & Clark NRD.   

Rationale: 

TePoel presented several educational activities in February & March.

• February 16^th: Bishop Neumann High School (FFA meeting)- 20 students
• February 27^th: Aquinas Middle School (7^th Grade)-40 students (2 sessions)
• March 8^th: North Bend Elementary (4^th Grade)-41 students (2 sessions)
• March 17^th: Aquinas Middle School (6^th Grade) Mini Courses- 58 students (3 sessions)
• March 21^st-22^nd: Earth Wellness Festival (Lower Platte South NRD)- 222 students (10 sessions)(approximately 3,500 students attend this festival)

Rationale:  Met with Neil with Phoenix Group regarding our pressing need for new meter reading equipment.  They have reviewed both lines and are working to develop frequency reader that will work with our existing meters and read all meters remotely.  Initially, their intentions were to fit all our existing meters with their own radio transmitter but we soon discovered the initial cost per meter would not be in our total price range.  Neil will be getting back to me in the near future with additional information.

Rationale: 

Monthly water samples were taken and delivered to the State for testing.  Bills for this system will be sent out by the end of this week.

Scheduling to repair Oak street service line as soon as weather permits.

Rationale:  Monthly water samples were taken and delivered to the State for testing.  Bills for this system will be sent out by the end of this week.