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| Nemaha NRD Oct.
2006 Board Meeting Report Tecumseh – Water topics occupied a significant share of the agenda at the Nemaha Natural Resources District regular monthly board meeting Thursday, October 12, in Tecumseh. In particular the board handled three requests for variances to rules prohibiting the issuance of well permits to construct new wells within the District. Back in May the board approved a two-year moratorium on the issuance of permits for wells pumping over 50 gallons per minute. The restriction was aimed at allowing time for the District to update its Groundwater Management Plan to address growing concerns surrounding water quantity issues in certain areas of the District. However, they left the door open to allowing variances to the restrictions if the proposed well meets certain requirements and would not adversely affect nearby water supplies. A variance submitted by the City of Auburn to construct a new public water supply well near the village of Nemaha was withdrawn just prior to the meeting. Apparently original plans to develop a well field along the Missouri River were deemed infeasible; therefore, they are now looking at other alternatives. Another request was from Charles Willnerd to construct a new well ½ mile northwest of Firth to provide irrigation for a nut tree farm. Estimated pumping capacity is 80-90 gallons per minute. The third request was from the Norris School District 160 for a well at their school complex located four miles south of Hickman. The 90-100 gallon-per-minute well will provide irrigation for school grounds. NRD directors approved the requests from both Willnerd and the Norris School. In a different water issue, Randy Kempkes, Bennet, was requesting an irrigation agreement to withdraw water from Upper Little Nemaha dam 23. The site is just south of Bennet in Lancaster County, and he was asking for ½ acre-foot of water to irrigate two acres on his property. Board approval was granted for this request. A request for $40,000 in funds from a new Inter-related Water Management Program was recently granted to the Nemaha NRD. Therefore, the board approved an agreement with the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, which is required prior to receiving the funds. Nemaha NRD’s match is $10,000, and the funds will be used for groundwater data collection activities such as monitoring wells, geologic data collection, and drilling test holes. The funds will become available no later than January 1, 2007, and must be used within one year. Board approval was given for an agreement with the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District to perform ground water monitoring within the Nemaha NRD. The Lower Platte South NRD is working on a project to determine the source of nitrates in the ground water supply for the community of Hickman, and the area surrounding the city’s wellhead expands into the Nemaha NRD. Therefore, they asked Nemaha NRD approval to allow Lower Platte South’s staff to conduct soil and groundwater investigations within the Nemaha NRD area if necessary. Three bids were received for construction of two dam structures within the Iron Horse Trail Lake watershed. Gyhra Construction, Pawnee City, had the low combined bid of $49,840.50 which was approved for the two projects located about six miles southeast of Pawnee City. The projects are part of the Iron Horse Watershed Management Project, which is receiving federal EQIP and EPA Section 319 monies along with a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust; landowners and the NRD also contribute to the costs. Another grant application for EPA Section 319 funds was presented to the board for their review and approval. This application asks for $250,000 to supplement other potential funds for land treatment and structural projects in the upper Muddy Creek Watershed located just south of the village of Johnson. Another request has already been made to the Nebraska Environmental Trust for $566,000, but a decision on that grant won’t be known until at least February, 2007. Including funds from landowners, NRD, and Nemaha County, the project would total about $1.25 million. Board approval was given for the EPA Section 319 application. A tribute to Roland Sherman is planned along the Steamboat Trace trail just south of Peru this fall. Sherman, who passed away earlier this year, spent many hours along the trail carving intricate drawings on the sandstone, identifying plants, and was instrumental in getting the trailhead project completed in Peru. Mark Spangler, a senior at Auburn High School and member of Peru Boy Scout Troop #325, chose construction of a tribute to Sherman for his Eagle Scout project. A wooden deck, park benches, and plaque in Sherman’s honor are part of his plans. The NRD board approved the plans for the project. In administrative issues, the board’s executive committee recommended entering into an inter-local agreement with the Nebraska Association of Resources District to participate in the statewide Flexible Benefits Plan. NRD Manager, Bob Hilske, explained that the plan allows employees to have their health insurance premiums as well as other out-of-pocket expenses for such things as daycare, prescription drugs, and co-pays or deductible payments withheld from their salary pre-tax. The plan would begin January 1, and the board approved entering into the agreement. Discussion was also held on requesting the District’s current property and liability insurance carrier to consider extending coverage for up to an additional three years at the same rate or less. The current policy expires June 30, 2007; so the board voted to make the request to the current carrier to determine if they would be agreeable. However, further action would be required by the board before proceeding with the extension. The board approved a financial policy prepared for the District’s operations at the suggestion of the NRD’s accountant. Essentially the policy outlines such things as budgeting procedures, investment policies, bill payment, etc. The next regular meeting of the Nemaha Natural Resources District board of directors will be Thursday, November 9, 2006, at 8:00 p.m. at the NRD office east of Tecumseh. Agenda item requests must be submitted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting, and a draft agenda will be posted at the NRD office and on the NRD’s website, nemahanrd.org, approximately 5-7 days prior to the meeting. |