Return to Board Meeting Updates
| Nemaha NRD July
2006 Board Meeting Report Nemaha Natural Resources District directors took their first look at a preliminary budget for fiscal year 06-07 at their meeting Thursday, July 13. Staff reviewed the various budget categories and obligations for the new year; however, without official property tax figures, the budget won’t be finalized until after August 20. At their August 10 meeting, the board will review the budget in detail and could make further recommendations on expenditures, amount of property taxes to collect, and if cuts are required, where to make them. A hearing will take place prior to the September 14 board meeting to receive public comment on the budget before the board makes its final approval. Because of a change to state law, the NRD was required to amend its abandoned well cost-share program policy. Previously cost chare for closing a cased well was limited to 75 percent of the actual, approved costs up to a maximum of $300/well. With the change, however, the maximum cost-share was increased to $500. No change was needed for the cost-share maximum for a hand dug well, which remains at $700. A request for increased cost-share assistance on a small dam project was considered by the board’s Programs & Projects Committee. Current policy allows for a maximum cost-share payment of $50,000 for such projects unless otherwise approved by the board. Because of unforeseen problems with the project, the board approved paying cost-share of $51,584 to the landowner, Dennis Thomas, as the District’s 75 percent share of the project. The board also approved renewal of an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which supplies funding for the Partners for Wildlife program. In effect for five years, the agreement provides funds for projects to restore and enhance wetland, upland, riverine, and riparian habitat throughout the Nemaha NRD. The Service will provide $4,000 toward projects, which are evaluated and approved jointly by both agencies. NRD contributions include in-kind, administrative support and additional funding for projects as agreed to on a case-by-case basis. After much discussion and consideration, the board finally approved an easement for access to property adjacent to the Steamboat Trace trail near Brownville. The easement, which is with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, allows them access across the trail to inspect land enrolled in the Wetlands Reserve Program and owned by Kenneth Bridgewater. However, the easement does not include any provisions for the landowner to travel on or across the trail. The next regular meeting of the Nemaha Natural Resources District board of directors will be on Thursday, August 10, 2006, beginning at 8:00 p.m. at the NRD headquarters, 62161 Highway 136, Tecumseh. |