Return to Board Meeting Updates
| Nemaha NRD Sept.
2009 Board Meeting Report Tecumseh – Nemaha Natural Resources District directors voted to approve an $8.4 million budget at their regular meeting Thursday, September 10, that will result in more flood protection, improvement of a public recreation lake, and continued erosion control in southeast Nebraska. This year’s budget more than doubles last year’s total of $3.7 million, largely because of two major projects. Sixty percent of the expenditures will apply to the Iron Horse Trail Lake renovation project and the Buck and Duck Creek Watershed project. Of the $3.2 million renovation project at Iron Horse Trail Lake, only $100,000 will be paid with local tax dollars. The remainder will come from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and federal EPA Section 319 funds. Construction will begin yet this fall on the improvements, which include removal of sediment and construction of various in-lake improvements for fish habitat and angler access at this 80-acre public recreation lake near DuBois. The park has been closed since August 24 to allow for the work, which will continue through the end of 2010. About $2 million is earmarked in the budget for the Buck and Duck Creek Watershed projects near Peru. Half that amount will come from the federal PL566 watershed fund to build the flood control dam on Buck Creek. The additional monies are needed to acquire land rights mainly for the Duck Creek site, which will be developed with a public recreation component included. Because grant funds may not yet be available this year to cover these land rights, the District might have to borrow the money for these expenditures in order to keep the project moving forward. Board members debated at a special meeting last month whether to increase the tax requirement to help reduce the amount of borrowed money required. Their conclusion was to increase the levy from last year’s rate of 4.31 cents to its statutory limit of 4.5 cents per $100 valuation; however, they also directed staff to cut as much as $50,000 in other expenditures out of the budget. Increasing the levy and cutting the budget together generated an additional $160,000 to be allocated toward the Iron Horse and Buck and Duck projects. This is only the fourth time over the past 15 years that the District’s levy has reached at least 4.4 cents. More details about the NRD’s budget will be posted on the District’s website, www.nemahanrd.org, in the upcoming edition of the NRD newsletter (Insight) next month, or are available by contacting the office (402) 335-3325. In other action, the board moved forward on the Iron Horse Trail Lake renovation project by approving a bid for tree clearing in preparation for the sediment removal at the site. Fourteen contractors were eager for the work, which includes about 12 acres of clearing, grubbing, and piling trees. Sunneberg Construction from Beatrice was the successful bidder approved by the board with a total price of $7,800. Work must be completed within 21 calendar days. A special rifle deer hunting season takes place this year from October 9-11, which impacts the Steamboat Trace trail that stretches from near Nebraska City to south of Brownville. Therefore, the board voted to close the trail during this three-day season. The trail is already closed during the other two rifle deer hunting seasons each year in November and January, and the board felt this season would pose a similar safety issue. An easement will be granted to Jim Minardi to establish a crossing on the Steamboat Trace about one mile south of Brownville. Mr. Minardi is developing some land he owns adjacent to the trail that cannot be accessed without the crossing. The board did ask that he provide specifications for the crossing to ensure it does not adversely impact the trail. At the recommendation of the Executive Committee, the board appointed Orval Gigstad, Syracuse, and Don Siske, Table Rock, to serve as the District’s voting delegate and alternate at the upcoming annual conference of the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts. The board also reviewed the resolutions to be presented at the conference and provided guidance to the delegates. Board action was taken to move an overdue account to the Bad Debts account as directed by the District’s auditor. They further directed staff to pursue this collection through small claims court. A new cooperative agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service will continue an arrangement that provides technical assistance within the Buck and Duck Creek Watersheds. In addition to the proposed flood control projects, the District is working to install land management practices within the watershed. The technicians hired through this agreement provide design and layout assistance to landowners participating in the program. Board approval was granted for one well permit received during the previous month from Darrell TeSelle for an irrigation well north of Adams. The board approved the permit for a well estimated to pump 400 gallons per minute. Brian Mellage representing the Auburn Lake Company gave a presentation on the Legacy Lake Project, which is proposed for a location south of Pawnee City. He provided handouts and general information regarding their project proposal. Meeting times for the next few months were reviewed by the board, with the October meeting scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. and committees meeting at 5:00 p.m. The November-March meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m. with committees meeting at 6:00 p.m. |