July 13, 2020 at 6:00 PM - Regular Board of Directors Meeting

Rationale: 

NOTE: The agenda is on file at the LPNNRD office and may be changed up to 24 hours prior to the meeting as scheduled.

 

Rationale:  Are there any additions or corrections to agenda? 

Rationale:  Are there any additions or corrections to the Board Meeting Minutes? If not they will be approved on the consent agenda. 

Rationale:  I will hand out a letter from our LARM attorneys regarding the potential litigation with Stoeber and Harding.

Rationale:  I have placed Director Absence request in each director box.  

Rationale:  With our first meeting back from our Zoom meetings is there any interested in having an educational program?

Rationale:  Personnel Sub-Committee meeting

Rationale:  I would like to schedule a personnel sub-committee meeting prior to our next board meeting.  The meeting would be limited to reviewing General Manager evaluations and staff evaluations/salary adjustments.

The Personnel Sub-Committee will meet Monday, July 13th at 5:00 p.m. 

Rationale:  All annual staff evaluations and reviews have been conducted.  As in the past two years, a dollar amount increase, not a percentage increase will be given to staff dependent on the outcome of their evaluation and will be staff-wide, regardless of position.  The 2021 annual salary rate increases will be as follows:
Unsatisfactory or Needs Improvement - No salary increase
Fully Satisfactory - $ 1,000
Commendable - $ 1,250
Outstanding - $ 1,500
 

Rationale:  Attached are the May Financial Statements. Grant gave the monthly update to the Executive Committee. 

Rationale:  Attached find Gottschalk's time and expense sheets.

Rationale:  If we plan to have a budget workshop we need to set the date and time. We normally hold it before the August Board Meeting.  

Rationale:  We normally hold our budget hearing on hour prior to our August Board Meeting and our levy hearing one hour prior to hour September Board Meeting.

Rationale:  At the July board meeting I will be sharing the initial '21 draft budget.  This year we will be using a new budget format which will allow us to budget and track our fiscal year expenses in the same format as we see each month in our financial statements.  

Rationale:  There is nothing to consider for unfinished business.

Rationale:  Nothing to report.

Rationale:  The O & M Crew has and continues to inspect and do maintenance on watershed dams, we have completed 37 of the 45. We have also gone over the Clear Creek Levee. Also, regular maintenance on vehicles and equipment.

Rationale:  The fourth train of rock arrived Sunday and will be used in the levee area of Thomas Lakes which is approximately 90-95% complete. They have received a permit from BNSFRR so work can start in the Fuse Plug floodway along the BN tracks. It is anticipated that the above mentioned work will be completed by July 10. They anticipate having all work/repair completed by the third week of July.

Rationale:  We will submit our final paperwork on this project to NEMA the first week of July and wait for reimbursement.
JEO's contract was for $45,765 and in final we will have paid them $44,503.75, a difference of $1,261.25.

Rationale:  On Tuesday, June 23, FYRA conducted a Pre-construction meeting for interested contractors. Five contractors attended the meeting and Heimann showed them the site. FYRA hopes the contractors give some feedback on the project so final design can be completed.
FYRA did not receive any feed back from the contractors. Design will be sent to NDNR Dam Safety this week for permit review. We will advertise July 10, 17, 24. Open bids July 28th, take bids to Operations Committee July 30 and the Board August 10. We will issue Notice of Award August 11and Notice to Proceed September 8.

Rationale:  Heimann requested interest from six Concrete Repair Companies via email addressing the RCC cracks in the Auxiliary Spillway on the Wanahoo Dam. Two companies have interest and looked at the site, one declined and three did not respond.
Aksarben Concrete gave a quote of $38,493 and the Driveway Company $70,000. The Driveway Company didn't seem to enthused.
The auxiliary spillway is approximately 670' long and 100 -120' in length vertically.
This information can be used for budgetary purposes and in consideration as how we want to approach it.

Rationale:  As a reminder, Cottonwood 21-A (High Hazard Dam) is considered to be "in poor condition" because of "Inadequate Spillway Capacity".
Saunders County's engineering firm, Mainelli Wagner has completed a survey and potential design in which they will review with Saunders County Highway Dept. It will also be sent to NDNR Dam Safety for their review. If it's approved by NDNR we will need to discuss how to approach this improvement. We can ask Saunders County if they can assist with construction and develop an agreement or we may have to hire a private contractor to do the work.
We do not have a cost estimate at this time.

Rationale:  As of June 26, the monetary amount received from camping at Czechland Lake is $8,284.00

Rationale:  See attached a preliminary budget spreadsheet for Operations & Maintenance.

Rationale:  Heimann inspected the Drahota project in Colfax County and payment was made.

Rationale:  Lake Wanahoo Annual Permit sales for the month of June totaled $12,945.00. June totals from 2019 totaled $12,290.00. The District is continuing to see an increase in annual permit sales. At the end of June 2019 the District had received $67,384.50 in annual permit sales income, compared to $80,027.50 for the same time period in 2020. 

The 2020 Annual Park Permit Sales spreadsheet breakdown is attached.

Rationale:  The new primitive cabins are nearly complete. In June, Hancock Construction completed their portion of the interior framing, Butler Public Power trenched in the service line, and Harris Electric started the finish work on the electricity. The District will open the cabins for reservations on July 8th. Over the Fourth of July three cabins have been rented through our office. Public interest has been very high and staff is excited to finish this unique addition to the campground at Lake Wanahoo.

The reservation rate for these cabins will be $40/night and all will be available on Reserve America.

Rationale:  We are featuring our three recreation areas for our KTIC Radio ad and Wahoo Newspaper eAds which are attached.

Rationale:  Direct traffic to our site has picked up. This could be from past users directly typing lpnnrd.org vs searching for our site through a search engine. We received 31 clicks from our Facebook page to our website. Overall we’re showing a decline in users to the website, but Lake Wanahoo, Czechland and the Outdoor Recreation page views remain steady.
 

Month	# of Users	Top Pages/views	Viewing Device
October 2019	710	Home 543 Lake Wanahoo 355 Staff 121 Czechland Lake 100 Contact 95	Desktop 58.73% Mobile 34.48% Tablet 4.79%
May 2020	2,943	Lake Wanahoo 3,411 Home 1,690 Czechland Lake 677 Outdoor Recreation 487 Downloads 251	Mobile 53.89% Desktop 41.93% Tablet 4.18%
June 2020	2,003	Lake Wanahoo 1,992 Home 1,008 Czechland Lake 574 Outdoor Recreation 344 Downloads 195	Mobile Desktop Tablet

Our Facebook page has slowly declined in views since May, but our followers keep increasing. The page has 1,152 followers as of July 1. Our top posts included: a summer water conservation graphic from EPA, June board meeting date and time, and well decommissioning program info.

Month	Total Views	Total Reach	Total Engaged Users	Followers
October 2019	9,446	6,772	1,273	873
May 2020	5,724	5,047	253	1,142
June 2020	3,399	3,106	147	1152

Our Twitter page continues to slowly grow with more followers each month.  
Our top posts included: Pollinator seed available at the office (sadly we didn’t see many people stop by to grab some - still available if anyone would like to take some home!), well decommissioning program, Nebraska pollinator week downloadable activities.

Month	Impressions	Engagements	Followers
October 2019	3,707	61	300
May 2020	3,347	89	323
June 2020	3029	118	331

Rationale:  During the months of April, May and June, we purchased the "News Sponsorship" package with News Channel Nebraska for our Lake Wanahoo commercial. The commercial spot was a 30-second spot, with a 5-second spot showing the LPNNRD logo. The commercial and LPNNRD logo was shown a total of 47 times during the last half of April. And 114 times during the month of May. The time of day for the ads to be shown ranged from early AM to late PM.  We have not received our update from June’s schedule yet. June is the last month we will be advertising the Lake Wanahoo commercial. News Channel Nebraska has been great to work with and we hope to continue advertising with them in the future.
 

Rationale:  Nebraska Pollinator Week was held June 21-27. Throughout the week we shared posts about pollinators, created 3 activity sheets and offered free pollinator seed mix. https://lpnnrd.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/LPNNRD_Pollinator_Activity_set.pdf

I have also attached the Fiscal Year 2020 Educational Opportunities report. We were going very steady with numbers throughout the school year until March when the effects of COVID-19 began to cancel many events. Here are the list of events that had been cancelled.
Wahoo Cub Scouts event - approx 10-15 kids
Spring Conservation Sensation - approx 300 
Wahoo Headstart year-end celebration - approx 30
Wahoo 9th grade PE class - approx 75
Schuyler 3rd grade year-end fun day - approx 30
4H/NRD Outdoor Day - approx 40
Youth Ag Tour - approx 20
Kids Summer Institute - approx 20

Sadly, if we would have been able to hold those events we would have been around 2500 youth impacted which was nearly the same exact number as we were at for Fiscal Year 2019. With the uncertainties of how schools plan to operate in the next few months we plan to continue promoting our educational resources as we have in the past and will wait to hear more from educators soon.

Rationale:  Colon RWD was due for our three year Lead and Copper testing this month.  One of the five test sites opted out of participating, so a new cooperating site that met DHHS testing qualifications was located and testing completed the week of June 15.
Routine monthly sampling completed, meters read and bills mailed June 30.

Rationale:  On June 19 the RWD was alerted by the Buter County Landfill about a leak on their property.  The leak was out of the RWD's utility easement and was caused by Waste Connections staff excavating near their truck fill station.  Supply was shut at the meter and repair was handled by Waste Connection.
Monthly sampling completed and bills mailed June 30.

Rationale:  The Committee heard from the staff on the changes shown on attached document.  The changes are making the variance a 3 year commitment and establishing a deadline of March 15.

Rationale:  Larry Kaspar (Kaspar Tree Farms, west side of Hwy 77)) has applied for an additional well on Section 34-16N-8E, Yutan Subarea, Restricted Development Area.  A review of DNR’s Well Registration database indicates that the only high capacity well within 600 feet of the proposed new well is their existing well, G-122873.  Kaspar has concerns about the continuing dry weather and needs second well for the trees.  He would like to drill the well as soon as possible. Drip Irrigation will be used as the irrigation system for trees with 136 certified irrigated acres.

The Committee would like more information and deferred the decision to the Board Meeting on July 13.

After the Committee meeting, staff had Katie Cameron review the location.  Her comments are shown below with detailed information attached with AEM information. 

Katie's comments: After looking at the 2018 AEM Flight Line data and nearby registered well logs, it looks like the SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Sec 34 T16N R8E would be as good as or possibly better than the current irrigation well in the NE1/4 of the NE1/4 based on the resistivity shown on the App. 1 Profiles as far as the sandstone saturated thickness that is potentially available. As usual there is not a line directly over the land we are looking at but based on the nearby information that is my opinion. It also looks like the logs are reporting the first deep thicker sandstone unit deeper than some of the images might make it appear.

With this additional information staff doesn't see an issue with this new well permit.

Rationale: 

Wells Permits Approved: #

Landowner	Number of Wells	Number of New Irrigated Acres	Type of Well	County	Subarea

 

 

 

 

 

 

The total number of approved permits for 2020 is #

Location of Approved Well Permits for 2020:  Correct as of ####

County	Irrigation - New	Irrigation - Replacement	Stock	Commercial	Municipal	Other	Total
Butler
Colfax
Dodge
Boone
Madison
Platte
Saunders
Total

 

Rationale:  Staff has been setting up demonstration field sites in the Schuyler-Richland Area. There are two fields with nitrogen test strips with different rates of fertilizer.  There will be tissue samples taken with yield results recorded.   After harvest some deeper soil samples will be taken on both fields to examine nitrate movement.  The one field is a gravity field in which soil moisture sensors were installed with a data logger on both ends of the field to track moisture through a 4 foot profile. 
The other field is a pivot with equipment at the present time from Crop Metrics, Metos Company and Phytech.  Servi-Tech is assisting in this project along with Aaron Nygren - UNL extension.  Staff will be discussing the equipment with each firm on a weekly basis.  
The 2019 NET grant had $5,000 in its budget to assist in funding these projects along with an additional $9,600 for soil probes.  Staff is looking at taking some soil samples to analysis the soil particles and possibility a trench to see the depth of the corn roots.

Pictures are attached.  Attached is a quad map showing the geological interpretation, which might explain the possibility for different management even within the area.  Also attached is an quote for $4,300 from EA Engineering which conducted the initial coring in this area.  Staff would like the Committee to accept the contract so the NRD can collect the information from the fertilizer test strips. 

Rationale:  Projects for the Grant:
Cover Crops - $160,000 (40 producer, maximin 80 acres, $50/acre)
Tissue Sampling - $2,000 (200 samples at $10/sample) 
Flow Meters - $350,000 (350 meters at $1000/meter)
Monitoring wells - $100,000 (2 nested sites with 4 inch casing for sampling) 
Field Mapping - $10,000 (10 producers at $1000/field)
High End Soil Moisture Sensors - $20,000 (20 producers at $1000/field)
Committee Suggestions?

The total amount of a NET grant would be $642,000, which would be over 2 years and normally be about 25 percent for the LPNNRD.   The LPNNRD requirement would be $160,500 over a 2 year period.  If the LPNNRD proceeds the Committee will need to set policy for how the cost-share will be distributed.  

Rationale:  Here is an updated version on the obligation for LPN.  At last month's meeting staff inform the Committee that it would be around $43,000.  Shown below is another breakdown which shows LPN portion at $49,000 to do this project.  The difference is DNR could not come up with as much money as anticipated.  This amount will be done over 2 fiscal years and next year's budget is showing $30,000. The Board agreed at last months meeting to participate in a WSF grant with the other 3 NRDs. 

Papio has retained JEO to write the grant with this comment from Paul Woodward:  Marlin Petermann is OK with us going ahead and retaining JEO to prepare the WSF grant for the $9,000.  If we are successful, he suggests splitting this per the Interlocal Agreement and if we are not Papio will eat the cost.
 

Alternative - FULL WSF SMALL GRANT - With Hydrogeo Assessment
NRD	TOTAL	WSF Cost-share	NRD Match	NDNR Funding
Papio	$  180,000.00	$    93,000	$    74,000	$    13,000.00
LPS	$  177,000.00	$    92,000	$    72,000	$    13,000.00
LPN	$  126,000.00	$    64,000	$    49,000	$    13,000.00
Total	$  483,000.00	$  249,000	$  195,000	$    39,000.00
		52%	40%	8%

Rationale:  Staff is going to start the process of collecting information from interested firms to conduct the meter maintenance for the District.  Staff will be looking at a 3 year contract.  Might even consider 2 firms if distance becomes a factor.

Rationale: 

For 2020 we have 686 renewals and 32 new permit applications for a current total of 718.  Inspections for 189 renewal permits have been completed.
 

Rationale:  Recommended Groundwater Budget for 20-21 is attached.

Rationale:  Week of June 22nd, 2020

This week's beach Bacteria and Harmful Algal Bloom results are now posted on the NDEE web page (https://deq-iis.ne.gov/zs/bw/).  
 

Rationale: 

# new wells has been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.

Rationale: 

# wells have been plugged, reviewed, and ready for cost share payment approval this month.

Well Owner	Type of Well	Cost Share Estimate	County
Marvin Kasik	Irrigation	$679.94	Colfax
David L. Grotelueschen	Irrigation	$1,000	Platte
Reznicek Farms GP	Irrigation (2)	$1,204.06	Dodge
Tommy E. King	Domestic	$343.35

 

Rationale:  An agreement is attached from the Flatwater group to start the process of updating the information from 2012 to current.  This data will be used for INSIGHT (An Integrated Network of Scientific Information & GeoHydrologic Tools) to help in determining water use in the basin.  The Committee and Board already approved $10,000 for LPN portion to be put into next year's budget to start this process.  NeDNR was at the Committee meeting but no presentation on INSIGHT.   

Rationale:  As the Drought Plan has been completed and approved, the group is onto the next stage which is doing a desktop scenario with participating staff members.  A complete breakdown of the cost is shown below,  which LPN share would be $2,849.   This amount is included in next year's budget.  A copy of original agreement (attached) states the cost for each NRD could be up to $40,000.  At this time the LPN has spend $26,000 to assist in the contributing match on the initial grant.  This agreement ends in September, with the group looking at a extension to complete and evaluate the desktop exercise.    

The Committee asked what the desktop exercise will accomplish?  This will allow the group to go through a drought scenario for the first time and an opportunity to evaluate each project identified in the plan for this type of situation. 

Notes from Jennifer Schellpeper on the project: 
The cost of the drought workshop scope of work is $39,723. Those costs will be partially paid from remaining grant and consortium funds as well as new contributions from each party, according to the table below. This workshop is called for on page 81 of the Lower Platte River Drought Contingency Plan. Two focused tasks will be carried out at the workshop. The first task will focus on communication among the parties and with the public during a drought scenario, the second task will focus on actual responses of each party member to both a flash drought and extended duration drought scenario.

Remaining WSF funds	$10,768
Remaining Consortium Funds	$3,104
NeDNR Contribution	$11,606
LPNNRD	$2,849
PMRNRD	$2,849
LPSNRD	$2,849
LWS	$2,849
MUD	$2,849
Total	$39,723

 

Rationale:  Staff read the comments from Jovan Lausterer and Dave Miesbach - Groundwater Section Supervisor/Water Well Standards.  Committee then heard comments from the public in attendance:  

• Tile drains are being collected in a holding container and then being pumped at higher flow than a normal tiled field.  The higher volume of water is creating higher flows in Rawhide creek than previously.  As these holding containers are being pumped should they be classified as a dewatering well and required to have a flow meter? 
• The drainage attachment was discussed for liability. 
• It was reported that the extra water ends up in the North Bend Drainage Ditch and is raising the groundwater levels in the area.
• Discussion on cleaning out the ditch and if a BOR permit would be required.  The extra water is putting more silt in the ditch.
• A producer commented that the extra water would limit his ability to harvest his wheat crop.
• Responsibility in keeping the ditch clean was discussed as some of the creek goes through private property.
• A take away from the discussion is that the group would like to keep the ditch cleaned out for better flow.  This is normally the County's responsibility.
• Another take away is they would like a flow meter installed to monitor the flow out of the holding container.  The NRD requires flow meters on all high capacity wells pumping over 50 GPM.  Dave Miesbach commented this would not be classified as a well.  
• It was stated that the NRD is responsible for groundwater and should consider all water sources when looking at managing water.  
• A couple of letters from landowners are attached.  

Attached is some information on drainage laws along with some comments from Jovan Laustwerer on tile drains:

Jovan Comments:
I believe this does fall under the Natural Resource Districts authority as the term "ground water" is defined under the Nebraska Ground Water Management and Protection Act as "water which occurs in or moves, seeps, filters, or percolates through ground under the surface of the land."  See Neb. Rev. Stat. 46-706(2). 

That being said, NRCS also regulates tiling from the perspective of soil classifications and wetlands.  The county also has authority under Neb. Rev. Stat. 31-101 et. seq.  to regulate this as that statutory section allows the county board to require any "ditch" to be straightened, widened, altered or deepened if it will be conducive to the public health convenience or welfare.   The term ditch is defined under Neb. Rev. Stat. 31-102 to include any "drain or watercourse."   The county would also have permitting requirements if the pool is in the floodway/plain.  The Department of Natural Resources might also be involved in this project if the project is designed as flood plain management under Neb. Rev. Stat. 31-1001.  If the property is in the extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction of a city the property owner could also be required to obtain approval for its effort from the city. 

All the above said, I would imagine the NRCS will bow out once they determine that the tiled ground doesn’t run contrary to their wetland conservation compliance.  Most counties aren’t going to want to regulate a project like that when the pooling is used for irrigation purposes unless the pool of water is sizable enough to create a safety concern.  It doesn’t sound like the project is for flood plain management purposes and thus DNR wouldn’t likely care unless we are dealing with a floodway or the project is adjacent to a natural watercourse.  Most cities don’t have zoning regulations that tie up these types of projects unless they are in a floodway/plain.
 
It’s a difficult situation for the property owner though as arguably the project should be run by all the above to make sure they don’t believe its contrary to their regulatory scheme. 

Jovan W. Lausterer

Daryl,
We have looked at the pictures you sent showing the tile drain set up.  Water Well Standards considers this set up similar to tiling around a house.  The tile leads to a sump pit and is pumped to the surface.  We would not consider this a well.  Hope this helps.

David L. Miesbach, P.G.
GROUNDWATER SECTION SUPERVISOR/
WATER WELL STANDARDS
Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
P.O. Box 98922
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-8922
DIRECT (402) 471-4982 / MAIN OFFICE (402) 471-2186
FAX (402) 471-2909
david.miesbach@nebraska.gov
http://dee.ne.gov

 

Rationale:  NeDNR gave a presentation on the annual V-IMP update.  

Rationale:  No unfinished business to address. 

Rationale:  Elliott reviewed the attached FY21 SWCP spreadsheet.  We have not been OFFICIALLY allocated SWCP dollars from DNR as of July 1.  Elliott has been in contact with Jill Richters (who oversees SWCP at DNR) and she has said that it " should be fairly close to last year".

Rationale:  20-D-1 - Diers Family Farm - Dodge County, Section 32-18N-9E - Livestock well, pumping plant, and stock tank: $18,964.65

The location of this application borders our Rawhide Ditch.  In the easement that the NRD and adjoining landowners entered into there is a clause that requires the NRD to supply livestock water is we disallow livestock entering the ditch.  Due to the maintenance issues on the banks over the years caused by cattle entering/leaving the ditch our Operations Department decided to fence off the ditch and would like to provide a well for Diers.  Through the DNR SWCP program we can submit up to 75% cost-share with the remaining 25% covered by NRD local funds.

Rationale:  20-C-2 - Terry & Spring Wendt - Planned Grazing System - $7,464.60

Rationale:  None

Rationale:  None

Rationale:  Bill Bos has lined up several landowner conservation and septic system upgrade projects in the Shell Creek Watershed and now that we have all grant funding approved, we will now able to begin approving those projects.

At the May 11th LPNNRD Board Meeting, we approved the low bid from Pruss Excavating totaling $167,962.32 for completing the Shell Creek North Channel Improvement/Benching Project and work has started. Colfax County is providing the needed landowner easements, project engineering and construction oversight. This project is located just north of the U.P. Railroad Bridge near County Road 15, east of Schuyler.  The County has also started to work on lining things up for moving forward on the Shell Creek South Channel Improvement Project, just south of the U.P. Railroad Bridge.  Pruss has agreed to do this south channel work as a contract addendum at the same unit prices for the Shell Creek North Channel Project. Director Bailey reported that the U.P. Railroad is moving forward with replacing their bridge at Colfax County road 14  and the County Road bridge replacement project is also scheduled to be replaced this summer. 
 

Rationale:  Tom Sprunk has been working with Bill Bos and Jim Reedy, NRCS, on finalizing plans for completing his wetlands enhancement and bank stabilization project. LPNNRD will assist with the bidding process as the project is scheduled to be completed this summer. We have previously approved 75% cost share on this project that has a rough estimate of $25,000 at this time.  Our plan is to use approved grant funding from NDEE and NET to reimburse LPNNRD for our contribution.

Rationale:  We have received the Inter-Governmental Grant Agreement (attached) from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) for the Shell Creek Watershed. Jovan has reviewed the agreement and his comments are attached.  This EPA 319 grant will provide $365,000 to combine with our approved $104,688 from the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) for helping complete Shell Creek projects.  These projects include the Shell Creek Channel Improvement Project, Tom Sprunk Wetland Project and numerous landowner conservation and septic system upgrade projects in the watershed.  Manager Gottschalk electronically signed the attached NDEE agreement on June 22nd so that projects could immediately begin.  

Rationale:  NRCS and FYRA continue to work with NRCS in Little Rock NRCS on what additional work and expense will be needed for moving forward with completing the economic analysis for the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan. We anticipate that a contact addendum with FYRA and agreement with NRCS to cover the additional scope of work and expense will be coming soon. 

We may have another invoice from FYRA by the July 13th Board meeting for work completed under our present contract. 

 

Rationale:  We continue to prepare for upcoming Wahoo Creek Watershed Projects with landowners.  

Rationale:  Attached is a $12,706.55 Olsson invoice for Geo-tech (soil analysis) on Wahoo Creek Sites 26a, 26b and 27 from.  Mountford asked about the monthly invoices when the field work for soil sampling actually occurred last fall.  Olsson explained that the required work has been done in segments instead of all at once, since the project has not been on a fast track due to the watershed plan completion delays.  To date, 79.2% of the Geo-tech budget has been expended for the three dam sites mentioned (see attachment).  After this payment, $245,281.11 (42%) will have been expended from this project phase that totals $583,825. As has been mentioned in the past, the majority of the contract phase involving the design of the eight dams has been unspent and will remain so until the Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan is approved.  The contract phase for designing the eight remaining dams totals $1,416,153. 

Andrew Philips, Olsson, joined the Projects Committee meeting by Zoom and gave a presentation of what has been accomplished thus far at Dam Sites 26a, 26b and 27.  

Rationale:  We have been working with Dodge County and the City of Fremont on several joint projects. Tom Smith &  Bob Missel (Dodge County) and Brian Newton and Lottie Mitchell (Fremont),  joined the meeting (by Zoom) to discuss joint project efforts to include those listed below. 

Rationale:  We have been working with Dodge County, City of Fremont and the Papio-Missouri River NRD to place cameras and additional water level sensors at five locations along the Platte River (HW 15, 64, 77, 79 and near the Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge west of Schuyler) to assist with observing flooding issues developing from seasonal rainstorm and ice jams.  Attached is an Interlocal Agreement between LPNNRD, PMRNRD, Dodge County and City of Fremont to share the project costs.  Dodge County will also submit a FEMA grant application for up to 75% of the maximum project costs as attached.  The maximum equipment purchases and related expenses over a two year is estimated at $27,000.  While the project includes up to ten cameras, three water sensors and other equipment, only five cameras and two sensors are planned to be placed in 2020.  If it is determined that there will be value to place additional cameras and sensors, that would occur in 2021. The Partners are proposing to share the costs ($6,750 each), however there is an excellent chance will will receive up to $20,250 (75%) from the FEMA grant which would cover the cameras, sensors and other equipment costs.  If the grant is approved, a good portion of the local expense will be in the form of in-kind staff time provided toward the project. 

Rationale:  Dodge County, LPNNRD and Fremont have been assisting the North Bend Drainage District (NBDD), with submitting a Hazard Mitigation grant application for 75% assistance on what is estimated at $1.7 million project, to repair and improve four miles of the drainage system. Dodge County Emergency Manager Tom Smith has been working on the cost benefits for the project application. Attached is a project map and project description from Larry Ruzicka, NBDD.  Discussion at the Projects committee centered on who should be the fiscal agent for the project as NBDD would not be able to handle it. The committee felt that LPNNRD should be consistent with our past precedence to have the county or city be the fiscal agent for large projects. One major reason LPNNRD has followed this precedence is being the fiscal agent on large projects could cause budget challenges while awaiting project reimbursements from grant and local partners.  The committee offered to assist Dodge County with project management if they are the fiscal agent.
 

Rationale:  The Nebraska Department of Economic Development has awarded the Dodge County Platte River Breach Repair (Fremont Rod & Gun Club) Project up to a $485,000 CDBG grant (letter attached). LPNNRD has approved up to $50,000 toward the Repari Project, located on Fremont Rod and Gun Club property.  Mountford has drafted an interlocal agreement (attached) between Fremont, Dodge County and LPNNRD, outlining our financial contributions and future operation and maintenance of the completed project.  A very important issue was who will secure and hold public easements for the project area and Fremont has recently agreed to be that party.  Jovan has reviewed and commented on the Interlocal Agreement. 

Rationale:  Tom Smith, Dodge County Emergency Manager will comment on a Hazard Mitigation Grant application he submitted to study potential improvement on the ditch system east of Fremont.  Besides Dodge county and Fremont, LPNNRD is a logical partner to assist financially on a potential project. 

Rationale:  As previously reported, JEO has submitted our final Hazard Mitigation Plan to EPA for review and comments. Our Board approved the plan as written on May 11, 2020, which was submitted to FEMA for review.

As discussed at previous committee meetings, there remains $22,000 that is unapproved in the contract that could be used for other project work if we desire. Of the $22,0000, up to $16,500 (75%) would be reimbursed from FEMA.  Lalit Jha and Becky Appleford, JEO, joined the meeting (by Zoom) to discuss possibilities (presentation attached).  One previous thought was completing some additional breach inundation maps on a few more of our low hazard dams, but after closer review, staff feels that we already have mapped the priority structures and do not feel the need to do more at this time.  However, there has been discussion on working with Saunders County on possibly establishing a Dam Breach Overlay District on our already mapped dams, to provide structured zoning requirements for inhabitable dwellings proposed in downstream breach areas.  Another item discussed was sponsoring Levee Failure Tabletop Workshop to prepare us and our partners for future levee disasters.  The committee was interested in having JEO present a scope of work on expanding our Dam Breach Overlay District (for 15 existing dams) in Saunders County and holding a future Levee Failure Tabletop Workshop. JEO will have a contract outlining a scope of work for Board approval consideration at the July 13th Board meeting. JEO representatives will be also be available at the Board Meeting to answer questions. 

Attached is JEO's May 29th invoice totaling $1,386.48 for work completed under our HMP contract (progress report also attached). After this payment, $5,313.88  will remain under the $228,000 portion of the contact that LPNNRD has authorized thus far.
 

Rationale:  Mike Chvatal received another bid for his approved dam project per our suggestion (both bids attached).  His current approved cost-share amount is $32,297.00.  The dam's location is above one of the high hazard structures (21-A) within the Cottonwood Creek watershed which qualifies it as a "high priority" within our local SWCP Policy.  This project also qualifies for grant reimbursement through our NDEE and NET Water Quality grant partnership. Mr. Chvatal is requesting consideration for obtaining up to 75% cost share based on the lower bid of $61,808 as attached.  This would raise our maximun cost from $32,297 up to $46,356 ($14,059 increase).
For review: the dam was approved in 2015 and due to a combination of weather, contractor availability, and crop loss worries the project has not been completed and was given a Board mandated completion for 2020.  During a pre-stake out design review it was noted that the planned dam outlet elevation was located too high and the potential for erosion to occur from the outlet to the dam embankment was realized.  A redesign was completed adding:
1200 cubic yards of additional excavation for an outlet channel
33 extra feet of 12" corrugated metal pipe to reach new, stable outlet location

 

Rationale:  We received four applications for the Nebraska Buffer Strip Program:

Mary Theresa Norton (3 applications): Sections 19 & 20-18N-2E Colfax Co
             8 acres - $219.68/acre = $1,757.44 annual payment
             13.7 acres - $219.68/acre = $3,009.62 annual payment
              11.2 acres - $214.20/acre = $2,399.04 annual payment

Sheryl Hansen: Section 32-15N-2E Butler County
             9.1 acres - $237.80/acre = $2,163.98 annual payment
                                      
 

Rationale:  No new updates.

Rationale:  Fremont representative Don Cunningham joined the Projects Committee to bring more details regarding the proposed aeration system for the City's Johnson Lake.  The systems primary purpose is to improve the lakes water quality. The total project including electrical hookup costs is estimated at around $10,000.  Mr. Cunningham has been working with the community for donations toward the project as well.

Rationale:  Staff received a quote for data loggers to be installed in existing or new locations.  Some of the data loggers that are being replaced are over 10 years old, with the new sites by poultry farms the need for extra data on the fringe areas.  Staff would like to get these installed as soon as possible.
 

Rationale: 

NOTE: The agenda is on file at the LPNNRD office and may be changed up to 24 hours prior to the meeting as scheduled.