January 29, 2026 at 8:30 AM - Operations Committee Meeting
| Agenda |
|---|
|
1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Rationale:
We do not have unfinished business to consider.
|
|
2. WILD NE AND OTHER PROGRAMS
Rationale:
We met with our partners, NE Game & Parks, NRCS, Pheasants Forever and Monarch Joint Venture on January 15th to discuss a new 5-year O & M Plan for the Wanahoo Wildlife Areas. The plan will run from 2027 to 2031.
The spreadsheet with maintenance items will be redeveloped as a guide for future maintenance. |
|
3. OPERATION & MAINTENANCE & OTHER ITEMS
Rationale:
The O & M crew continues to remove invasive trees with the disc mulch at Czechland. Staff are also removing trees on a 2-mile stretch of Rawhide Ditch 8. Regular vehicle & equipment maintenance.
|
|
3.A. Rehabilitation of Cottonwood 21-A, NRCS & HDR
Rationale:
NRCS Watershed Programs Branch sent back their programmatic review of the Cottonwood 21-A rehab plan. They identified a few minor edits and one major issue. The major issue is that the watershed manual requires the inclusion of decommissioning or another non-structural alternative in the final array of alternatives. We will be discussing this with HDR and the NRCS in a Teams Meeting on Wednesday, February 11th.
HDR will work to get their design estimate under $500,000. They will provide a summary by the board meeting. If the new estimate is satisfactory, the committee recommends working with the engineering firms that have started this study. |
|
3.B. Wanahoo Basin Damage & Repair, FEMA, & Houston Engineering
Rationale:
We received an email containing the minutes of a Zoom meeting between FEMA and Houston Engineering that occurred around January 22nd. Houston has a few tasks to complete as requested by FEMA. We'll wait for an update from Houston.
|
|
3.C. No-till Grass Drills
Rationale:
Our NET Grant for a new No-Till Grass drill was approved but, due to the recently introduced legislation (LB 1072), NET is temporarily pausing the issuance of grant contracts for newly awarded projects. NET is awaiting further legislative action before moving forward. Requesting updated grass drill bids is on hold.
We sold the used grass drill for the asking price of $18,000. We received year-end (2025) revenue from Clay Hills Ag at $208 and Rezac Seed at $852.30. The seed dealers who rent our drills are recommending that we increase our minimum charge rate from $75 to $100 and the acre rate from $10 to $12/acre. One agreement is attached for your review.
Recommended Motion(s):
To approve new grass drill rental agreements with Clay Hills Ag and Rezac Seed with price increases for minimum charge at $100 and a $12/acre rate Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Recommended Motion(s) #2:
To approve the sale of the No-Till Grass to Elliott Gee for $18,000 Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
|
|
3.D. Haying Wanahoo
Rationale:
We will be asking for bids to hay approximately 186 acres on the Wanahoo property. We are skipping a year on Czechland and Homestead Lakes.
|
|
3.E. Vehicles
Rationale:
The District picked up the new 2026 Ford Explorer.
We sold the 2017 Ford Fusion for $9,100 to Ryan Chapman.
Recommended Motion(s):
To approve the sale of the 2017 Ford Fusion to Ryan Chapman for $9,100 Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
|
|
4. ROCK AND JETTY
Rationale:
We have not received any applications or requests for payment.
|
|
5. LAKE WANAHOO
|
|
5.A. Lake Wanahoo Permit Sales
Rationale:
For the month of December, the District received $1,381.50 in park permit revenue.
|
|
5.B. Lake Wanahoo Camping Revenue
Rationale:
For the month of December, the District received $3,593.09 in camping revenue.
|
|
5.C. Clint Johannes Education Building
Rationale:
The Clint Johannes Education Building at Lake Wanahoo was rented 15 times in January, with 1 NRD event. Revenue for the month was $1,625.
|
|
5.D. Wanahoo Amphitheater Update
Rationale:
Mr. Hansen has been made aware of the Board's decision last month to proceed and he has been in contact with his contractor and attorney.
|
|
6. INFORMATION AND EDUCATION
|
|
6.A. Information
|
|
6.A.1. Radio & eAds
Rationale:
KTIC schedule:
January: Water Management/Nitrogen Certification February: Trees & Shrubs March: Environment Education Digital display ad schedule: Tree orders continue through February 28, 2026
Attachments:
()
|
|
6.A.2. Analytics
Rationale:
Top Posts for Facebook and X during January included:
The main page, Lake Wanahoo page, forestry and wildlife, and the education page had the most views. Mobile and tablet usage went up, and desktop viewing went down. 2,700 people visited our website. |
|
6.B. Education
|
|
6.B.1. Past Events
Rationale:
|
|
6.B.2. Upcoming events
Rationale:
TBD: St. Wenc Pre-K; class room visits |
|
7. RURAL WATER SYSTEMS
|
|
7.A. Rural Water Operations
Rationale:
It was a routine month of sampling and billing for both Colon and Bruno RWDs
|
|
7.B. Colon System
|
|
7.C. Bruno System
|
|
7.D. Other
|
