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| Nemaha NRD January
2006 Board Meeting Report Tecumseh –Whether public recreation would be viable at the proposed Pawnee County Lake was addressed at the Nemaha Natural Resources District’s regular meeting Thursday, January 12. John Royster from the Big Muddy Workshop, a private consulting firm from Omaha, presented findings from his firm’s study of the potential recreation benefits associated with this project. Using six similar recreation areas in Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska for comparisons, Royster estimated that 200,000 people could visit the Pawnee County Lake annually. Facilities considered would include 90 camping pads with electricity, picnicking, swimming beach, fishing and boating, hike/bike trails, modern restrooms with showers, and paved roads/parking. Their estimate of the cost to develop these facilities, including acquisition of 800 acres of land, was $7-8 million. Annual maintenance of the public recreation facilities was estimated at $135,000, which could be offset by camping fees. Finally, Royster explained three methods used for determining economic benefits generated as a result of this recreation area. Depending upon the method used, gross economic benefits were estimated to range anywhere from $1.336 million to $3 million. These figures did not take into consideration annual maintenance costs or the capital investment in the project. Following the presentation, the board decided to review the study and then ask Big Muddy Workshop to return to a future meeting to address their questions about the study. In a related item, the board discussed the procedures to follow for their upcoming special board meeting on January 19. Much of this meeting will be devoted to a presentation from the Louisiana Purchase Group, the developer interested in the Pawnee County Lake project. Most directors agreed that some level of input from the public in attendance would be warranted and that it should probably be in the form of written questions submitted to the board chair at the meeting. Scott Farwell, DuBois, had also asked to be on the board’s agenda to address a question about the January 19th meeting and its purpose. Bob Hilske, NRD Manager, explained that the meeting’s purpose was for the developer to provide information to the board on their master plan and for the board to ask questions regarding the plan. In addition an NRD director had asked that the Louisiana Purchase Group be available to answer questions about their organization. A motion by Chuck Starr, Bennet, to remove any previous authorization given to the manager to pursue the Pawnee County Lake project, without further board authorization, was subsequently tabled prior to any discussion on the motion. Beginning a new calendar year, the board conducted its annual election of officers. Last year’s officers agreed to run again, and though nominations were made from the floor, all were re-elected. Therefore, the 2006 officers are Chair, Jim Wirth, Nebraska City; Vice-Chair, Ted Godemann, Falls City; Secretary/Treasurer, Scott Kudrna, Auburn; and NARD Representative, Orval Gigstad, Syracuse. In other action the board voted to increase the District’s charge for custom, no-till grass seeding. Due to increases in fuel costs and in order to reduce competition with private contractors, the board authorized an increase from $19/acre to $22/acre effective immediately. A $100 minimum charge applies, and no more than 25 acres per customer will be drilled. Last month the board had authorized the staff to negotiate a contract with JEO Consulting Group to develop a watershed plan for Muddy Creek. The resulting contract was presented for board consideration, and the contract was set at a total amount not to exceed $40,502. Board approval was granted for the contract to develop a plan for the top one-quarter of the Big Muddy Creek Watershed, which spans parts of Johnson and Nemaha Counties, mainly in an area south of the town of Johnson. The plan is scheduled for completion sometime this summer. The next regular meeting of the Nemaha Natural Resources District board of directors will be on Thursday, February 9, 2006, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the NRD headquarters, 62161 Highway 136, Tecumseh. Agenda item requests must be submitted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. A special meeting of the board is also scheduled Thursday, January 19, 2006, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Activity Center, 3rd & Jackson Streets, Tecumseh. |