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| Nemaha NRD April
2011 Board Meeting Report Tecumseh – During the regular meeting of the Nemaha Natural Resources District Thursday, April 14, much discussion centered on effects of recent federal budget reductions. Director Scott Kudrna, who also serves as the NRD’s representative to the Five Rivers RC&D (Resource Conservation & Development) board, reported that legislation which would eliminate federal funding for the RC&D had been finalized by Congress and was expected to be signed by the President. Therefore, the future of the RC&D remains in question since much of its funding, including that for its coordinator, is provided by the federal government. Two quotes were received for the demolition and disposal of two bridges on the Steamboat Trace trail in the Brownville area. These bridges were damaged during last summer’s flooding in the area, and FEMA has provided funds for replacing them. The quote provided by Kuhl Trenching & Excavating, Tecumseh, at an estimate of $5,300, was approved, with the final cost to be based on the actual amount of material removed and hauled to a certified landfill. The board’s Operations & Education Committee discussed the possibility of hiring a consulting firm to develop a plan to address maintenance and improvement issues on the Steamboat Trace. Three firms are being asked to provide proposals on how each would deal with problems including flood and tree damage as well as identify funding sources for implementing corrective actions. Proposals are expected to be available for board review in June. Three permits for irrigation wells were reviewed by the Programs and Projects Committee. Permits were approved for Upland Farms, LLC, for a well northeast of Sterling, John Beethe southeast of Crab Orchard, and Andrew Wellensiek west of Cook. Wellensiek was also recently approved for another well in this area, but it did not provide the capacity he needed. Therefore, depending on the capacity the new well provides, it will either replace the previous well or be used in a series with that well. The board briefly reviewed a map showing options for addressing drainage and erosion concerns within the city of Syracuse. Part of the plan includes two detention dams above the town. No formal request for assistance has been received at this time, and no action was required. Norris High School’s Envirothon team once again placed highest in their regional competition, thus advancing to the State Envirothon contest scheduled May 7 near Scottsbluff. The NRD board approved supporting the Norris team by paying their $100 state contest registration fee. The board agreed to request a one-year extension from the Nebraska Environmental Trust for a grant for the District’s flowmeter/irrigation management equipment cost-share program. In 2008 $40,000 was approved by the Trust for providing flowmeters to producers in the District. Later the grant was amended to allow some of the funds to also be used for soil moisture sensors and evapotranspiration gauges. So far only about 1/3 of the funds allotted for the program have been used. If approved by the Trust, the extension would allow more time to cost-share with producers on the equipment. In the Executive Committee’s report, the recent interest in vacant positions on the board of directors prompted an effort to enact a policy for the appointment process used to select directors for the openings. No action was taken yet as staff continues to collect input from the board on various aspects of the proposed policy. The Executive Committee also suggested the possibility of assembling a subcommittee to help with preparation of the FY2012 budget. More discussion on this subcommittee and volunteers to serve will be discussed again next month. With the threat of a federal government shutdown looming earlier in the month, the question of how to handle NRD staff assigned to the NRCS offices was discussed. Clerks employed by the NRD are stationed in NRCS offices in five counties; but whenever these offices are closed, clerks are not allowed to work in those offices. No decision was made at this time, but discussions will continue on whether or not these employees should be compensated during federal office closures. The next regular meeting of the Nemaha Natural Resources District board of directors will be held Thursday, May 12, 2011, at 8:00 p.m. at the NRD headquarters in Tecumseh. Committees will meet just prior to the regular meeting. |