February 10, 2025 at 1:30 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 the agenda?

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

Rationale:  Attached find Director absences from the following:
Olson - Sick
Yosten - Pre Tax Appointment
Birkel - Traveling 

Rationale:  Dave Ruder with Live Well Go Fish will give his yearly update to the Board. 

Rationale:  The Monthly construction update meeting was held January 29th.  Several change orders were discussed regarding power/HDMI box locations, 1/2 wall on north basement stairs fix and electrical conduit on outside entryway.  Decision on boxes was made and Scheele/Kayton will get a price to us ASAP.

The Executive Committee discussed options for selling our current office building and felt we should hire an Auction /Realator company.

Rationale:  Interested applicants are to submit their qualifications to the NRD Office by 12 noon, January 31st.  

Rationale:  LB264 is a bill with some slight affects on our JEDI funding as it relates to our Wahoo Creek projects.  

Rationale:  Resumes are due January 30th. We are in the process of interviewing potential candidates.

Rationale:  Attached find the December financial statements.

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

Rationale:  Dodge County has informed the NRD of a tax roll correction for Fremont Mall LLC % Hy-Vee - 2021 Tax Roll Correction #5716, 2022 Tax Roll Correction #5517, 2023 Tax Roll Correction #5718 and 2024 Tax Roll Correction #5719.  Totaling $1,336.69 which will be withheld from our monthly disbursement. (see attachment) 
 

Rationale:  There is nothing to consider for unfinished business.

Rationale:  Jerry Johnson was nominated as Chair and Ryan Engel as Vice-Chair. A unanimous vote took place and recommendation.

Rationale:  Nothing to report.

Rationale:  The O & M crew continues to take out trees on dams and other project sites. Seeded & mulched the Bellwood Ditch 4 repair. 

Rationale:  HRD is coordinating with the NRCS on costs and how to correctly do the cost share. They received a spreadsheet template from NRCS on January 6 which they have completed and will send the Preliminary Draft Plan to NRCS. After this submittal, HDR will schedule a meeting within a 3-week timeframe. At that point, or shortly thereafter, they will have one last round of comments from the NRCS. They now hope to have the 90% meeting the end of February. 

Rationale:  Houston Engineering has sent out an invitation to bid on de-watering the stilling basin below the Wanahoo Dam. Bids will be due on Wednesday, February 5th and will be presented at our monthly board meeting with an anticipated motion of approval for one bid.
Three bids were received and are attached from General Excavating $306,663.00, M.E. Collins $134,327.60 and Valley Corp $424,099.55.

Rationale:  Barcel Enterprises was on the Wanahoo area the week of January 20 - 24th and grounded all tree piles. We now have large piles of wood chips (and other material) mulch. They worked on it for 2 1/2 days, The final invoice was $16,600.

Rationale:  We received revenue reports from our grass drill cooperators for the second half of 2024. Rezec Seed sent a check for $1,795.75, with 15 people using the drill. Rosendahl Farms Seed & Feed sent a check for $727.00, with 11 users.
We have a 2008 Great Plain Model grass drill from the Schuyler Co-op. Benes Service has estimated its value between $15,000 - $20,000. The drill will need repairs that could range from $4,000 - $7,500. What shall we do with it? There may be an interested party that would purchase it. The District would have to advertise it and ask for bids.
Or other options.

Rationale:  Dave Heller owns 80 acres of farmground on the east of Rawhide Ditch 8. The north 1/3 of the property is cut off by Rawhide Ditch 8 (Aerial Attached). He is requesting to build an access bridge for UTV/foot access. It would be something similar to his neighbor's irrigation pipe bridge (pictures attached). The District has an O & M easement on the property. If the board approves, staff will work with legal counsel for the proper documentation regarding ingress/egress, risk and release of liability.

Rationale:  Our ten-year-old power saw (Turbo Saw) used on our Bobcat to cut trees is beyond repair. Staff are contacting dealers for replacement options.  If we decide to replace it will be included in next year's budget.

Rationale:  We have not received any requests for payment or applications.

Rationale:  For the month of December, the District received $2,130.50 in annual park permit revenue.

Rationale:  For the month of December, the District received $3,915.93 in camping revenue.

Rationale:  The Clint Johannes Education Building at Lake Wanahoo was rented 10 times in January. Revenue for the month was $1,925. There were 3 NRD rentals. The building was blocked off two weeks (one full weekend) to update the floor. Attached is a picture of the upgrade.

Rationale:  Dustin Dam will be present to discuss updates with Set Your Sites at Lake Wanahoo

Rationale:  When Wanahoo first opened, our nightly camping rates were $19, and we have had one increase to $20 a couple of years ago.  With the improvements brought to Wanahoo by our work through Set Your Sites (ease of reservations, Wi-Fi coverage within the entire campgrounds), we are planning to increase our electrical RV nightly rates to $25 beginning April 1, 2025.  We will honor all current reservations made for this coming season, but all new site reservations will be at the new rate. We will also increase the electrical RV rate from $18 to $20 at Czechland Lake.

Rationale:  I have been working with Live Well Go Fish for the past few months to develop a building plan for Lake Wanahoo.  As discussed at prior meetings the plan will be to share space in the building with Live Well Go Fish to store our trailered boat and possibly other equipment.  Live Well Go fish has gotten bids for a 36'x60' building to be located directly west of the Wahoo Fire Department's existing building.
The total estimate for just the building to be erected is $ 48,170.  Site prep and electrical service would be an additional cost and we should have those any day.

Rationale:  The KTIC radio ads and Wahoo newspaper e-ad for January featured the upcoming nitrogen certification classes and will continue through February. 

The Wahoo newspaper print ad for January featured tree sales and this will run again in February. 
The ads are attached.

Rationale:  The LPNNRD Facebook and X pages, along with the website are some of the fastest ways to get information out to the public. Facebook and X posts range from 12 -18 posts per month. If you are on Facebook or X, please like, follow, share, or retweet the Lower Platte North NRD posts!
If you ever notice on issues on the LPNNRD please let us know so we can get it corrected.

Total reach/impressions show how many people saw the post/tweet. Engagements include likes, comments, shares/retweets and link clicks.

Top Posts included:
• Upcoming Groundwater Management plan open houses
• January Coffee Lakeside
• Nitrogen Certification Water Management class list
• Water Resources job opportunity
• Abandoned well cost-share availability
 

Rationale:  January 9th: Coffee Lakeside - Recycling (12)
January 15th: Survival Club - (16) - everyday carry kits.
January 16th: Presentation at Wahoo Senior Center (10)
January 20th: St. Wenceslaus Pre-K visit (29)
January 29th: Bergan Early Childhood Center (30)

 

Rationale:  February 5th: Wahoo 1st grade
February 6th: Coffee Lakeside
February 7th: North Bend 5th grade
February 11th: Presentation at NACD Conference
February 18th: Presentation at Let's play yoga studio 
February 24th-25th: Bishop Neumann Middle School
February 26-27th: NACEE conference and presentation

Rationale:  On 1/30 the RWD will be training with the new meter reader and software.  Both Colon and Bruno had routine months with sampling and bills will be mailed 1/31.

Rationale:  Election of a chairperson, who will be on the executive committee and a vice chairperson.  

Rationale:  The meeting has been held on Wednesday night at 6 pm.  Do the Committee want to keep the same night and time?  One staff member prefers a different night. As there were only 2 Committee members present, no date was decided.  

The GMDA conference will be held February 25–27, which is the same week as the Committee meetings. Three staff members and two Committee members will be attending.  It was decided to hold the February Water Committee Meeting on Wednesday, March 5 at 6 pm.

Rationale:  Greg Kobza has applied for a supplemental well in S9-16N-3E, Butler County, Octavia Aquifer Area.   If the new well pumps enough, then he will call this a replacement well, but he wants the option to hook 2 wells together. 

The committee requested staff to reach out to Greg and invite him to the next Committee Meeting to explain his plan.   
Attached is a map.

Rationale:  The Nitrogen Reduction Act Applications are Listed in the pdf form. Staff has been revising applications. We have a list below of pre-approved applications. LPNNRD's total funding is $38,058.73. Staff will reach out to producers that are pre-approved and explain the process and check if they want to continue with the program. If the producer no longer wants to participate in the Nitrogen Reduction Act, staff will then look at the other applications.

Rationale:  Dan Stevenson applied for a RO unit cost share. His water was tested by LPNNRD staff. The results were 15.4 ppm. Our cost share application states that LPNNRD will cover 75% of equipment and installation costs for a water treatment system up to $800 as well as the registration cost of the domestic well which is $70.

Rationale:  Tri City Meters is finishing up meter maintenance. 

Rationale:  Upcoming Classes:

February 6 - ENREEC. Ithaca at 1 pm
February 13- Lindsay at 10 am
February 20-Fremont at 6 pm

Rationale:  Attached is the coalition's annual dues of $10,000, which was approved at the Coalition Board meeting in April 2024. The Coalition is 7 NRDs and NeDNR which meets annually to discuss stream depletion allotments and projects that could be beneficial for the Lower Platte River Basin Area. The dues are designated to help with the match if the group applies for a grant.      

Rationale:  An invoice is attached for December from LRE for $6,816.25 per contract for updating the plan.  
Two open houses were conducted in Wahoo and Platte Center. 
Items that were discussed or feedback received from these meetings for consideration:

• Watering of lawns in communities
• Large municipal water use
• Protect existing water users 
• Protect human health from contaminants
• Reverse Osmosis Units and replacement filters
• Water flow meters on all wells and electronic reads 
• Specific goals and objectives
• Special Quantity Area Boundaries Review
• Dedicated Monitoring Wells
• Domestic Wells and Permitting

The following is a description of the rules from LPNNRD Rules and Regulations.  Attached are 2 state statues on domestic wells. 
Rule 2.6    Domestic Wells
New or replacement water wells to be used for domestic purposes in the Special Quantity Subarea shall be constructed to such a depth that they are less likely to be affected by seasonal water level declines caused by other water wells in the same area.  Any person who installs a new or replacement water well for domestic purposes in the Special Quantity Subarea shall submit a certification from the water well contractor that the well was constructed in compliance with this section. The certification shall be submitted to the District within 90 days of completing construction.
 

Rationale:  The retreat is scheduled for Friday, February 7, from 10 am to 3 pm at NRD Boardroom in Wahoo.
Tentative Agenda:

1. NRD topics 
2. Groundwater Basics
3. Groundwater Management Plan Review
4. Recommendations Discussion
   1. Triggers, scoring sheets, observation wells, sub-areas
5. Open Groundwater Discussion
6. Karrie Webber will present on uranium contamination.

Rationale: 

No new wells have been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.

Rationale: 

No wells have been plugged, reviewed, and ready for cost share payment approval this month.

Rationale:  The Abandoned well program has a total of 15 well abandonment waiting to be completed and plugged for cost share. Should we have an expiration for the applications? We have 5 applications that were reviewed in 2023, and one that was reviewed in 2021. The table below shows the number of wells that have been pre-approved for well decommissioning by year.
The committee requested staff to reach out on the application in 2021 and review 2023 applications.  
 

2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
2 wells	7 wells	5 wells	0	1 well

Rationale:  Two (2) invoices received: 
Tom Svatora - 2 flow meter cost-share at $1,000/meter for $2,000. 

Rationale:  A new Projects Chairman and Vice Chairman need to be elected.

Rationale:  Attached is current SWCP policy that will need to be modified/approved as needed.

• Payment cap increase; currently $15,000
• Cover Crop - priority practice?

Rationale:  The next JWMAB meeting is scheduled for January 30th, agenda is attached.  Due to overlap with other committees, staff will take notes and send them to Directors in Dodge County.

Rationale:  The following is an estimated schedule for the remaining plan milestones:

Project Management	Ongoing (through March 2025)
Completion of NWMC comment resolutions	March 2025
NRCS Programmatic Review	May 2025
Agency Scoping / Public Meeting #2	August 2025
Plan Finalized	February 2026

It is expected that we can request (get in line for) design funds later this summer.  Even though design is 100% paid for by NRCS, it is recommended that an MOU is in place (similar to our East Fremont MOU) detailing the financials and who is doing what and when. 

Rationale:  Larry requested staff pass along a thank you.  "We really appreciated all the help!"

Rationale:  A SCWIC meeting occurred on 1/21 in Columbus, topics of discussion:

• Projects funding on pace at halfway point of current grant (expire June 2026)
• Final Bend project will commence as soon as field conditions allow; contractor is now on site.
• Outreach efforts: sign replacement and brochure results
• Shell Creek student presentation

Next meeting is tentativey scheduled for 3/17, 10:00 am, at Columbus NRCS office.  Moriah Brown plans to present her Shell Creek sampling project - the same project she shared at our January Board meeting.

Bill submitted two applications for onsite wastewater upgrades:
 

Carol Littje	Onsite Wastewater	$10,000
Steve Gehring	Onsite Wastewater	$7,000

Rationale:  Update meeting was held 1/28, agenda attached.  Highlights:

• Rock haul/placement both sites and shoreline stabilization site 27
• Tree clearing//burning at both sites nearly complete.
• Olsson reviewing gate valve alternative submitted by TCI.
• Olsson revising spillway inlet approach per Heimann's request.

Latest invoice from TCI attached

Rationale:  Site 77 re-design reached point we were able initiate landowner meetings.

Olsson, NRCS, and NRD staff will be meeting next week to plan construction timeline for next 6 sites.

Permitting application for next 6 sites progressing as expected.

Attached is the Progress Reports for the Wahoo Creek Watershed Dams and the invoice for the 2^nd seven dams (55, 66, 77, 82, 84, 85, & 86; A18-3423). Olsson won’t have an invoice for the 1^st three dams (26a, 26b, and 27). Their accounting department made some changes that didn’t get through in time, so they will send that invoice during the next cycle.

Rationale:  Cody Gerdes expects to have appraisal for site 84 to the NRD before February 10 Board meeting.

Danielle Allen will be present at Board meeting, a summary of work completed:

• Signed PAs/easements from 3 parcels on site 55, more to be delivered by Board
• Met with multiple landowners on site 77

A motion from the floor will be required at Board Meeting.  "To authorize Chair Sabatka to sign a purchase agreement with ______ for an easement on Wahoo Creek Site __."

Rationale:  Starting FY26, 7/1/25, our JEDI funding will have a $5 million/FY cap on spending until the funds are depleted.  No other changes to the allocation are expected.
Our $1.35 million RCPP/WFPO construction fund for the first 3 sites is secure as of 1/29/25.

Rationale:  NRCS is organizing the annual agency meeting.  Staff will look at resurrecting the stakeholder group as we prepare the Section 319 grant applicaiton.

Rationale:  There are signals from the legislature that funding may be appropriated through the JEDI.  Staff are investigating.

Rationale:  Round 2 of the public meetings were held in January. JEO will be reaching out to jurisdictions who have not returned their worksheets. They will be focusing on the development of the hazard mitigation plan in the next few months with a goal to have the plan out for public review in April.

For the Drought Mitigation Plan, we have met with 5 communities so far. There are 10 more scheduled with 3 more communities confirming dates to meet. The remaining 2 communities have been contacted, but have not reached back out. We will continue to reach out to these communities as we are planning to have all these meetings wrapped up by late February with the last of these meetings currently scheduled for February 20th.

Attached find the current invoice from JEO for $21,549.50.

Rationale:  The NRD was unsuccessful with the rail-on-trail ATIIP grant we sponsored on behalf of the Nebraska Trails Foundation.

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.