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| Nemaha NRD June
2011 Board Meeting Report Tecumseh – A couple of months ago NRD staff contacted three engineering firms requesting proposals to develop an improvement plan for the Steamboat Trace trail. This 22-mile former railroad corridor that stretches from south of Nebraska City to Brownville suffers from flooding, drainage, and other maintenance issues. Two of the firms submitted proposals which include identifying improvement projects and preparing design plans along with pursuing grant funds for the improvements. During their regular meeting Thursday, June 9, the Nemaha Natural Resources District board of directors voted to negotiate a contract with V&K Engineering, Omaha, at an estimated fee of $6,000. Seven bids were submitted to construct a grade control structure on the Todd Mertes property near Peru as part of the Buck-Duck Creek Watershed improvement program. The low bid of $66,826 submitted by Luetchens Land Co., Murdock, was approved. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of this summer. Six bids were reviewed by the board for a contract to provide janitorial services for the NRD’s offices at Tecumseh. The board approved the low bid of $250/month submitted by Marvin Page, Jr., Cook, for the three-year, annually renewable contract, which will begin July 1, 2011. At their May meeting the board discussed the possibility of providing temporary office space to the Five Rivers RC&D in the event they were unable to continue the lease at their current location. Because of budget cuts, federal assistance to the RC&D ended this spring; and the lease for their office was held by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. However, the NRD was notified prior to their June meeting that the RC&D had successfully entered into a lease agreement to remain in their current building. NRD Manager Bob Hilske presented to the board a potential resolution suggesting changes to the state’s well decommissioning program. Unfortunately funding for this program has dwindled over the past few years dropping the Nemaha NRD’s allocation to as little as $2,881 last year; however, the state fund still requires that regardless of the amount available, the NRDs must budget at least $10,000 as matching funds. Though the Nemaha NRD would likely continue to budget the $10,000 because of the local interest in the program, other Districts may find it difficult to include the match in an already tight budget. The board discussed options that might include either eliminating the matching requirement or merging the well decommissioning fund with the water quality fund, where the monies could still be directed toward well closures. A draft resolution will be presented next month for more discussion. In preparation for a new budget year beginning on July 1, the board reviewed staff salaries and benefits. A 2.4 percent increase in salaries was approved for all staff. A minimal increase in health insurance premiums coupled with personnel changes over the past year resulted in a combined increase in salaries and benefits of 2.0 percent. A very preliminary draft budget was presented for the board’s first review. Many of the revenue figures will not be known until after July 1, and some expenditures presented were also rough estimates. However, the major projects for which the District is committed next year include the Buck Creek Watershed flood control dam construction, watershed management project in the Buck & Duck Creek Watersheds, and land rights required for the Duck Creek Watershed flood control/recreation structure. In addition rehabilitation work involved with Wilson Creek 8-H along Highway 2 west of Nebraska City is also included in next year’s budget. More budget details will be provided at the July and August board meetings with the final budget scheduled for adoption in September. The next regular meeting of the Nemaha Natural Resources District board of directors will be held Thursday, July 14, 2011, at 8:00 p.m. at the NRD headquarters in Tecumseh. Committees will meet just prior to the regular meeting. |