UPPER ELKHORN NATURAL
RESOURCES DISTRICT
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS MEETING
December
22, 2008 – 2:30 P.M.
UPPER ELKHORN NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
December 21, 2009 – 2:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER, STATEMENT OF ADVERTISEMENT AND OPEN MEETING LAW NOTIFICATION:
The regular meeting of the Board of Directors was called to order at 2:45 P.M. by Chairman Dale Wiles.
DIRECTORS PRESENT:
Chris Dierks James Dvorak Gregg Felker Curtis Gotschall Reg Green
Jerry Heithoff Ted Hughes Jim Keller Tim Knuth Janet Koinzan
Mike Russman Roy Stewart Dale Wiles
DIRECTORS ABSENT:
Jerry Childers Jeff Krebs
STAFF PRESENT:
Dennis Schueth, General Manager
Tom Riley, Water Resources Manager
Beth Walsh, Information & Education Coordinator
GUESTS PRESENT:
Jerry Kovarik, NRCS – O’Neill
Jan Jorgensen, Northeast Nebraska RC&D - Plainview
ADOPTION OF AGENDA:
]It was moved by Jim Keller and seconded by Chris Dierks to adopt the agenda. AYE: Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Koinzan, Russman, Stewart, & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: Knuth. ABSENT: Childers, Heithoff & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED.
MINUTES:
The Directors reviewed the minutes of the November Meeting. ]It was moved by Ted Hughes and seconded by Jim Keller to approve the minutes of the November Meeting. AYE: Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Russman, Stewart, & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: Knuth & Koinzan. ABSENT: Childers, Heithoff & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED.
TREASURERS REPORT:
The November treasurers report was reviewed by the Directors. ]It was moved by Curtis Gotschall and seconded by Mike Russman to approve the November Treasurers Report. AYE: Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Koinzan, Russman, Stewart, & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Childers, Heithoff & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED.
PUBLIC FORUM:
None
AGENCY & STAFF REPORTS:
NARD Report: Dennis Schueth reported that the NARD Legislative Conference is scheduled for January 26 & 27, 2010 at the Embassy Suites in Lincoln. The NARD would like to have the names of the voting delegates for the conference sent in to the office.
]It was moved by James Dvorak and seconded by Chris Dierks to designate Dale Wiles voting delegate and Tim Knuth and Ted Hughes as alternates for the 2010 NARD Legislative Conference. AYE: Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Koinzan, Russman, Stewart, & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Childers, Heithoff & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED. Dennis also explained the options being considered for the dinner with the Senators. This year the dinner is being hosted by the Upper Loup NRD and they are proposing either staying at the Embassy Suites or renting a room at Old Chicago a block and a half from the motel. It was the consensus of the Board to try Old Chicago.
DNR Report: Dennis Schueth reported that the Commission will be meeting in conjunction with the NARD Legislative Conference. Dennis also reviewed the revised NSWCP Fund distribution for the 2009-2010. The UENRD will be losing approximately $4,000 after the re-distribution of funds do to state budget constraints.
NRCS Report: Jerry Kovarik’s report was passed out at the meeting. Jerry highlighted the EQIP Local Workgroup meeting; the 2009 EQIP program for the five county area and how the funds were allocated; and, the Conservation Stewardship Program.
RC&D Report:
North Central RC&D: Report included in the Directors packets.
Loup Basin RC&D: Report included in the Directors folders.
Northeast RC&D: Jan Jorgensen, Northeast Nebraska RC&D Coordinator, attended the meeting and distributed their annual report. Jan highlighted the various tours and recycling programs sponsored by the RC&D.
Information & Education Report: Beth Walsh’s report was mailed out in the Directors packets. Beth took the names of the Directors planning to attend the NARD Legislative Conference in January. Directors planning to attend included; Chris Dierks, James Dvorak, Ted Hughes, Dale Wiles, Tim Knuth, Jerry Heithoff, Reg Green and Mike Russman. A block of rooms for UENRD Directors has already been set up at the Embassy Suites so Directors will not have to make their own reservations. Beth will coordinate the reservations and room charges will be direct billed to the NRD.
Water Resources Report: Tom Riley’s report was mailed out in the Directors packets. Tom highlighted the static water level data, flowmeter data and transducer data is being reviewed and compiled. UENRD personnel have been working with Bob Atkeson, NRCS, to set up a GPS base station to record elevation levels for wells in the monitoring program. Dennis Schueth and Marsha Hart have been meeting with county officials throughout the district gearing up for the certification of acres. Tom reviewed the well registrations and noted that there is only one left to be turned in from the first LB 483 sign up.
EBVC Update: No Report.
ELM Update: Dennis Schueth reviewed the USGS and DNR letters included in the Directors packets. USGS has explained the costs incurred during the Phase I third party review and they feel they should be compensated for their time and work. There will be a meeting between the ELM members and USGS December 22 to discuss this issue further. The letter from DNR focuses on their future participation in the ELM project.
EXCUSED ABSENCES:
]It was moved by Ted Hughes and seconded by Chris Dierks to excuse the absence of Jerry Childers & Jeff Krebs. AYE: Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Koinzan, Russman, Stewart, & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Childers & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Legislative, Finance and Planning:
Action on Current bills and Cost Share Requests: The Committee met prior to the Board meeting and reviewed the bills. ]It was moved by Reg Green and seconded by Janet Koinzan to approve the current bills for payment. AYE: Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Koinzan, Russman, Stewart, & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Childers & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED.
Water Resources & Watershed Committee: The Committee met prior to the board meeting. Gregg Felker reported that they discussed the second application period for the LB 483 sign up, which will run during regular office hours during the month of January. They also discussed the letters from DNR and USGS, acre certification and the Niobrara Basin designation.
COALITIONS UPDATE:
Nebraska Habitat Conservation Coalition (Piping Plover): No Report.
Nebraska Ground Water Management Coalition: No Report.
LOWER PLATTE BASIN COALITION:
No Report.
NIOBRARA RIVER BASIN FULLY APPROPRIATED DESIGNATION – ACTION:
Dennis Schueth reported that he has received word that DNR is standing by their original determination that a portion of the Lower Niobrara Basin is fully appropriated. He distributed a handout regarding the determination.
UENRD OFFICE BOARD OF DIRECTORS - FILINGS:
The following Directors will need to file for re-election prior to the February 15, 2010 deadline if they would like to continue serving on the UENRD board; Jim Keller, James Dvorak, Dale Wiles, Jerry Childers, Tim Knuth, Jeff Krebs, Janet Koinzan and Chris Dierks. Any Director not wishing to file for re-election is asked to contact the office so the vacancy can be advertised.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT:
Dennis Schueth’s report was mailed out in the Director’s packets. A copy is included with the official copy of the minutes in the office.
The next board meeting will be held Tuesday January 19, 2010.
There being no further business to come before the Board of Directors, the meeting was adjourned at 4:15 PM.
I, the undersigned Secretary of the Upper Elkhorn Natural Resources District hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the proceedings had and done by the Board of Directors on December 21, 2009 that all of the subjects included in the foregoing proceedings were contained in the agenda for at least twenty-four hours prior to said meeting, the minutes of the Chairman and the Board were in written form and available for public inspection within ten working days and prior to the next convened meeting of said body, that all news media requesting notification of the time and place of said meeting and the subjects to be discussed at said meeting.
________________________________
Gregg Felker, Secretary/Treasurer