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| Nemaha NRD August
2008 Board Meeting Report Tecumseh – A full agenda greeted the Nemaha NRD board of directors Thursday, August 14, as was evidenced by their nearly three hour meeting. Early in the meeting the board was updated on the work completed in the Iron Horse Trail Lake watershed to help alleviate erosion and sedimentation entering the recreation lake near DuBois in Pawnee County. Shawn Kreienhop, NRD Resources Specialist, provided the board with a summary of work completed in the watershed and resulting changes in sediment and pollutants entering the lake. He also touched on plans for a sediment basin above the lake and other renovations planned at the park. The board’s Programs and Projects Committee recommended approval of applications for grant funds from the federal section 319 non-point source pollution fund as well as the Nebraska Environmental Trust for the Buck and Duck Creek Watershed project near Peru. Two flood control dams are planned for the area, with the Duck Creek site incorporating public recreation. Land treatment incentives are also planned above the sites to help with sediment reduction. In addition the Committee recommended approval of a grant application for 319 funds to help with work in the Muddy Creek Watershed, which includes road structures, weirs, and small grade control dams. The board approved all three grant applications. A request to help with streambank protection at the Camp Catron Girl Scout camp near Nebraska City was also reviewed by the Programs and Projects Committee. The committee recommended directing staff to investigate whether funds could be identified in the FY 2009 budget to help with this work. Approximately $15,000 would be required of the NRD to help with stabilizing the banks around a foot bridge in the park. The board also voted to help with 50 percent of some extra costs incurred during construction of a cost-share dam for Bob Taft near Falls City. Unpredicted and substantial springs near the toe of the embankment required additional work not originally included in the design. However, the board opted not to contribute to additional costs for cement and labor to encase the principal spillway tube. Several variance requests for well permits were reviewed by the board’s Water Resources Ad-Hoc Committee. Requests approved by the board were as follows: Ryan Patton, irrigation well southwest of Falls City; Robert Georges, well for wildlife habitat enhancement south of Rulo; Duane Sugden, irrigation well southeast of Sterling; John Kalin, irrigation well southwest of Johnson; Michael Stenzel, irrigation well on McKissock Island; Lynn Binder, five irrigation wells west of Falls City. One additional request for a well southeast of Rulo was not acted upon to allow time to investigate its impact upon Falls City’s public water supply wells. At the recommendation of the Executive Committee, the board approved resolutions to utilize online banking services at the Farmers Bank of Cook as well as to obtain a $300,000 line of credit. NRD Manager, Bob Hilske, explained that with the grant funded projects that are currently underway, some rather large reimbursements were pending. In addition several large construction projects are also now complete and awaiting payment; therefore, should the reimbursements not be received soon, the line of credit may be necessary for a short period of time in order to allow timely payment of bills. Anticipated tax collections in September will also help with cash flow issues. In order to ensure design and layout of conservation work on projects in the Buck and Duck Creek Watershed as well as the Muddy Creek Watershed, the board was asked to consider hiring temporary technical assistance staff. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) would provide 50 percent of the cost with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality funding another 25 percent. Therefore, the NRD would pick up the balance, much of which may be covered through in-kind contributions. Board approval was given for hiring the temporary staff for a three-year period. An agreement with NRCS was received for Emergency Watershed Program funds to help with flood damage repairs within the District. The funds will provide for repairs to several watershed dams damaged during the spring and summer floods. In addition the board had also voted last month to sponsor funding through this program for Nemaha Rural Water District #1 for flood damage repairs. Much discussion was held regarding the proposed budget for FY 2009. With final valuations not expected until August 20, the board considered proposed expenditures and the estimated tax collections required to balance the budget. In related action, the board approved increasing the restricted funds allowance an additional one percent for FY 2009. A public hearing will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 11, to receive testimony regarding the final budget. Following the hearing, the board will consider testimony and approve a final budget. The regular meeting of the Nemaha Natural Resources District board of directors will begin at 8:00 p.m. on September 11 at the NRD headquarters, 62161 Highway 136, Tecumseh, with committees meeting prior to the full board meeting. |