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| Nemaha NRD June
2009 Board Meeting Report Tecumseh – Renovation of the lake at Iron Horse Trail Lake is one step closer now that the Nemaha Natural Resources District approved an engineering contract for construction management and bidding services during their regular meeting Thursday, June 11, 2009. The Flatwater Group from Lincoln will provide the services at a cost of $220,000. Funding for the project which will include sediment removal, and large sediment basin, and a variety of in-lake fish habitat enhancements, will be provided largely by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Additional funds from the EPA Section 319 fund is also anticipated. Plans are to bid the project out this fall with construction to begin soon after and taking about a year to complete. The District has been attempting to lower the lake level for the past month or so, but frequent rain events have continued to keep the lake full. Iron Horse Trail Lake will be closed to public access in 2010 to allow completion of the project. Cost-share funding was approved for three small dams cost-share projects to be built next year. The projects include a flood control dam for Ed Bruening in Johnson County, which is also within the Turkey Creek Watershed; lake improvements at Camp Cornhusker (Boy Scout Camp) in Richardson County; and a wildlife habitat project for Randy Miller in Gage County. Total cost to the NRD for the three projects is estimated at $67,500. Due to the cancellation of two projects planned for the Muddy Creek Watershed, the board discussed options for obligating excess funds. They voted to allocate the available $75,000 to three landowners who had expressed interest in having a grade control dam on their property. In related action, the board also agreed to refund a $1,000 dam construction deposit to Duane Caspers. Since his Muddy Creek dam would only be receiving EQIP funds it would, therefore, be designed by NRCS and not require the NRD to serve as contracting officer. An offer to install a civil defense siren at Kirkman’s Cove was reviewed by the board. The Richardson County Emergency Management director offered the siren at little or no cost to the District. The board directed staff to develop an agreement with Richardson County for the siren. Three quotes were reviewed for providing property, liability, and workers compensation insurance for the District in FY2010. After interviewing each agency and reviewing the coverage and quotes provided, the board voted to select The Casey Agency, Johnson, as the District’s agent of record for its insurance beginning July 1, 2009. After several months of working on a salary schedule for NRD staff, the Executive Committee presented its recommendation to the board. Total increase in all wages combined was limited to 2.5 percent, and health insurance premiums will increase 1.5 percent this year. A resolution was approved by the Board to open a bank account at the American National Bank in Tecumseh. This account will be used for excess funds that may accumulate for a period of time, particularly in the fall and spring following county tax collections. A first look at some approximate expense numbers for the FY2010 budget were reviewed at this meeting. It appears the total budget may top $8 million with the onset of both the Iron Horse Trail Lake renovation project and land rights and construction costs associated with the Buck and Duck Creek Watershed projects near Peru. More detailed numbers will be available at the July meeting with the final draft reviewed in August. A public hearing on the budget will take place in September prior to the board’s approval. The next meeting of the Nemaha Natural Resources District Board of Directors will be held Thursday, July 9, 2009, beginning at 8:00 p.m. at the NRD headquarters in Tecumseh. Committees will meet prior to the regular meeting. |