July 23, 2007 --
8:00 P.M.
O’Neill,
Nebraska
CALL
TO ORDER, STATEMENT OF ADVERTISEMENT AND OPEN MEETING LAW NOTIFICATION:
The
regular meeting of the Board of Directors was called to order at 8:11 P.M. by
Chairman Jerry Heithoff.
DIRECTORS
PRESENT:
Jerry
Childers James
Dvorak
Curtis Gotschall
Reg Green
Jerry Heithoff
Ted
Hughes Tim
Knuth
Janet Koinzan
Mike Russman
Roy Stewart
Dale
Wiles
DIRECTORS
ABSENT:
Chris
Dierks Gregg
Felker
Jim Keller
Jeff Krebs
STAFF
PRESENT:
Dennis
Schueth, General Manager
Beth
Walsh, Information & Education Coordinator
Tylr
Naprstek, Water Resources Manager
Don
Caouette, Assistant Manager
Marsha
Hart, Administrative Secretary
GUESTS
PRESENT:
Jim
Mathine ~ NRCS ~ Butte, NE
MINUTES:
The
minutes of the June Meeting were reviewed by the Directors.
]It
was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by Ted Hughes to approve the minutes of
the June Meeting. AYE:
Childers, Dvorak, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Stewart
& Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN: Koinzan & Russman. ABSENT:
Dierks, Felker, Keller & Krebs.
MOTION CARRIED.
TREASURERS
REPORT:
The
June treasurers report was reviewed by the Directors. ]It was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by Roy
Stewart to approve the June Treasurers Report.
AYE: Childers,
Dvorak, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Russman, Stewart
& Wiles. NAY: None.
ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT:
Dierks, Felker, Keller & Krebs.
MOTION CARRIED.
AGENCY & STAFF REPORTS:
NARD
Report: Ted Hughes reported that they will be having a benefits
meeting August 2. Dennis Schueth
reported that the Water Policy Task Force will be meeting July 30 to review
interim studies; and, the Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing July
31 regarding LR 198 flowmeter data collection, LR 174 the coordination between
agencies and LR 177 Republican River Compact.
DNR
Report: Dennis Schueth reported that there is some
concern regarding Resource Development funds from DNR, which do not get spent
during the fiscal year they are allocated.
An example would be the Lower Elkhorn NRD Leigh Dam project.
The LENRD has been allocated funding from the Department of Natural
Resources but cannot move forward with their project because they are waiting on
a 404 permit from the Corps of Engineers.
NRCS
Report: Jim Mathine from the Butte office attended the meeting in
Jerry Kovarik’s absence. Jim
reviewed Jerry’s report with the Directors, which included:
Whitney finishing up his training in Nebraska; EQIP deadlines; quality
assurance reviews; and, the NRCS office closings. Jim also reported that word has been received regarding the
office closings proposal. The phase
I proposal to close four offices in Nebraska was approved by the national office
and will probably take effect by October 1.
These offices include Benkleman, Chappell, Harrisburg and Loup City.
Depending on the Farm Bill and federal budget, phase II of the proposal
may be needed, which would close additional field offices in Nebraska.
RC&D
Report:
North
Central RC&D: No
Report.
Loup
Basin RC&D: Minutes passed around.
Northeast
RC&D:
Minutes passed around. Dennis
Schueth reported that he has been contacted by Steve Rasmussen, Extension
Forester in Norfolk, who is working with the RC&D on an Environmental Trust
Grant for windbreak renovations. They
are looking for contributions and sponsors for the grant and would like the
UENRD to consider participating. Financial
contributions would be for the 08-09 fiscal year.
Information
& Education Report: Beth
Walsh’s report was mailed out in the Directors packets.
Beth reminded the Directors about the upcoming county fairs, which the
NRD will be attending and testing water.
Water
Resources Report:
Tylr Naprstek’s report was mailed out in the Directors packets.
Tylr highlighted his report, which included the ELM training meeting at
the LLNRD; the number of new well requests, the districts water sampling program
and a review of his flowmeter report.
East
Branch Verdigris Creek Update: Dennis
Schueth reported that Marsha Hart and Phil Steinkamp are working on the
quarterly report.
EXCUSED
ABSENCES:
]It
was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by Ted Hughes to excuse the absence of
Chris Dierks, Gregg Felker, Jim Keller and Jeff Krebs.
AYE: Childers,
Dvorak, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Russman, Stewart
& Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT: Dierks, Felker, Keller & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED.
COMMITTEE
REPORTS:
Legislative, Finance and Planning Committee:
Action
on Current Bills and Cost share Requests: The
committee met prior to the board meeting and reviewed the current bills and cost
share applications. ]It was moved by Reg Green and seconded by
Curtis Gotschall to approve the current bills for payment. AYE: Childers,
Dvorak, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Russman, Stewart
& Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT: Dierks, Felker, Keller & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED. The
Committee also reviewed the current cost share applications.
]It
was moved by Reg Green and seconded by Curtis Gotschall to approve the cost
share applications. AYE:
Childers, Dvorak, Gotschall, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Russman, Stewart
& Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
Green & Heithoff. ABSENT:
Dierks, Felker, Keller & Krebs.
MOTION CARRIED.
Budget
Workshop: The budget workshop will be held August 14
at 7:00 p.m.
Water
Resources & Watershed Committee:
ELM
Model Update: The
committee met prior to the board meeting and discussed the proposed Natural
Resources Enhancement budget for 07-08, submitting an Environmental Trust Grant
for flowmeters and continued to review the UENRD Groundwater Management Plan.
There will be a Water Resources & Watershed Committee meeting August
8. Tylr Naprstek handed out a draft
groundwater reporting form to be reviewed for future use with NSWCP 17
applications.
Personnel, Equipment, Promotion and Education
Committee:
Staff
Salary Negotiations & Recommendations:
]It was moved by Jerry Childers and
seconded by Ted Hughes for the Board of Directors to go into executive session
for the purpose of discussing personnel and salary negotiations at 9:02 p.m.
AYE: Childers,
Dvorak, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Russman, Stewart
& Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT: Dierks, Felker, Keller & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED.
]It
was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by Jake Dvorak to come out of executive
session at 9:25 p.m. AYE:
Childers, Dvorak, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan,
Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT:
Dierks, Felker, Keller & Krebs.
MOTION CARRIED.
]It was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by Ted
Hughes to approve the salary recommendations FY 07-08.
AYE: Childers,
Dvorak, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Russman, Stewart
& Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT: Dierks, Felker, Keller & Krebs. MOTION CARRIED.
]It was moved by Jerry Childers and
seconded by Curtis Gotschall to have UENRD staff send out a request for bids on
a tractor and pickup. AYE:
Childers, Dvorak, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan,
Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT:
Dierks, Felker, Keller & Krebs.
MOTION CARRIED.
HOLT
CREEK DRAINAGE-UPDATE:
Dennis
Schueth showed an aerial video of Holt Creek and described the area in question.
They also showed pictures of the Daniels machine and the results of some
of the work done using it near a bridge, which had a great deal of silt build
up.
NGPC
INSTREAM FLOW-JULY 2 IN LINCOLN:
Dennis
Schueth attended this meeting and reported that NG&P are not willing to give
up any of their instream flow appropriations.
The current appropriation is for fish communities but does not
specifically address the pallid sturgeon or sturgeon chub.
It is likely that these specific species will be included when the flow
is reviewed in 2013 with G&P requesting an increase of water for these
species. However, if the basin
becomes fully appropriated there won’t be any additional flows to request.
NIOBRARA
RIVER-NPPD-UPDATE:
Dennis
Schueth reported on the situation regarding the Niobrara River irrigators and
NPPD. NPPD is requesting the full amount of their water right,
which would affect surface water irrigators upstream. The irrigators have filed a lawsuit against NPPD.
The Department of Natural Resources has said there will be no call for
water until August 1.
COALITION/TASK
FORCE UPDATE:
Nebraska
Habitat Conservation Coalition (Piping Plover):
No Report.
Pallid
Sturgeon/Sturgeon Chub Task Force:
No Report.
Nebraska
Ground Water Management Coalition:
No Report.
ADMINISTRATIVE
REPORT:
Dennis
Schueth’s report was mailed out in the Director’s packets a copy is kept on
file at the NRD office. Dennis
reported on the Holt County Board of Supervisors meeting held to consider an
animal feeding operation southeast of O’Neill.
After testimony from both sides the application was withdrawn.
Dennis also reported on the field workshop to be held at Neilson’s
regarding trees and tree care.
The
next Board Meeting is scheduled for August 27, 2007 at 8:00 PM.
There
being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at
10:00 P.M.