UPPER
ELKHORN NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
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 8:02 P.M. by Chairman Dale Wiles.
DIRECTORS PRESENT:
Jerry Childers James Dvorak Gregg Felker Curtis Gotschall Reg Green
Jerry Heithoff Ted Hughes Jim Keller Tim Knuth Janet Koinzan
Jeff Krebs Mike Russman Roy Stewart Dale Wiles
DIRECTORS ABSENT:
Chris Dierks
STAFF PRESENT:
Dennis Schueth, General Manager
Beth Walsh, Information & Education Coordinator
Marsha Hart, Administrative Secretary
GUESTS PRESENT:
Jerry Kovarik, NRCS O’Neill
Marv Fritz – O’Neill
ADOPTION OF AGENDA:
]It was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by James Dvorak to adopt the agenda. AYE: Childers, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Dierks & Keller. MOTION CARRIED.
MINUTES:
The minutes of the April Meeting were reviewed by the Directors. [It was moved by Ted Hughes and seconded by Gregg Felker to approve the minutes of the April Meeting. AYE: Childers, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Dierks & Keller. MOTION CARRIED.
MINUTES OF THE MAY 6, 2009 SPECIAL MEETING:
The minutes of the May 6, 2009 Special Meeting were reviewed by the Directors. [It was moved by Mike Russman and seconded by Reg Green to approve the minutes of the May 6 Special Meeting with corrections. AYE: Childers, Dvorak, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller. Knuth, Koinzan, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: Felker & Krebs. ABSENT: Dierks. MOTION CARRIED.
TREASURERS REPORT:
The April treasurers report was reviewed by the Directors. [It was moved by Curtis Gotschall and seconded by Jim Keller to approve the April Treasurers Report. AYE: Childers, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller. Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Dierks. MOTION CARRIED.
PUBLIC FORUM-INPUT:
Marv Fritz, 21st Century Growers in O’Neill, attended the meeting to explain their expansion plans and discuss how the stay on new irrigated acres might affect their plans. Dennis Schueth also explained a situation which occurred involving a landowner who was turned in by a neighbor for irrigating new acres. After speaking with the landowner, they have stopped irrigating the new acres.
AGENCY & STAFF REPORTS:
NARD Report: Ted Hughes reported that the NARD has hired Alyssa Smola as the new Public Relations/Communications Director. Dennis Schueth passed out LR 181 and reviewed the resolution to do an interim study on the NRDs. He also handed out the list of interim studies compiled by the NARD and reviewed that list with the board. Discussion was also held as to why the NARD/NRDs have not developed a public relations campaign to combat the negative publicity.
DNR Report: There has not been a meeting. Dennis Schueth reported that he did forward the UENRDs concerns regarding using a portion of the NSWCP fund for the DNR basic operating budget.
NRCS Report: Jerry Kovarik handed out his report at the board meeting. Jerry reported that they have finished ranking the EQIP contracts and are waiting for the funding. Jerry also reported on the area staffing changes. Darin Schneider, temporary SCT in O’Neill, has been selected to fill the Soil Conservation Technician in Neligh. Barbara Sanford will be the new WAE in O’Neill and retired NRCS employee Glen Einspahr will be working a couple days a week in the Neligh office through a Task Agreement.
RC&D Report:
North Central RC&D: Minutes were included in the Directors folders.
Loup Basin RC&D: Minutes were included in the Directors folders.
Northeast RC&D: Minutes were included in the Directors folders.
Information & Education Report: Beth Walsh’s report was mailed out in the Directors packets.
Water Resources Report: Dennis Schueth reported that we have received approximately 10 applications for the Water Resources Manager position. The closing date for applications is May 29.
EBVC Update: No Report.
ELM Update: Dennis Schueth reported that the ELM group met with USGS and DNR. It appears that USGS and DNR are still having trouble working together and sharing information on the project. One of the ELM coordinators first responsibilities will be to try and establish better working communication channels between the two agencies.
EXCUSED ABSENCES:
[It was moved by Ted Hughes and seconded by Jim Keller to excuse the absence of Chris Dierks. AYE: Childers, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller. Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Dierks. MOTION CARRIED.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Legislative, Finance and Planning Committee: The committee met prior to the board meeting to review the current bills and cost share requests. [It was moved by Mike Russman and seconded by Curtis Gotschall to pay the current bills and the bill from Bernard Voborny. AYE: Childers, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller. Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Dierks. MOTION CARRIED. The cost share applications were reviewed; however, no action was taken because further clarification was needed.
Water Resources & Watershed Committee: The committee met prior to the board meeting. Dennis Schueth handed out the updated LB 483 Rules and Regulations with the attorney comments for review. The accompanying criteria sheet was also handed out for review as well as the HEL form from NRCS. The board reviewed all the documents and made some minor changes. [It was moved by Gregg Felker and seconded by Jim Keller to approve the Rules and Regulations for LB 483 with changes for publication beginning June 4 for three weeks. AYE: Childers, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller. Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Dierks. MOTION CARRIED. [It was moved by James Dvorak and seconded by Gregg Felker to approve the Criteria Rating for Adding Irrigated Acres form with changes. AYE: Childers, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller. Knuth, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Dierks. MOTION CARRIED. Following the publication of the Rules and Regulations for LB 483, the UENRD will hold a public hearing June 25, 2009 for public comments.
Personnel, Equipment, Promotion and Education Committee: Jerry Childers reported that they met prior to the board meeting to review the current applications and discuss the procedure for interviewing and hiring a new Water Resources Manager. Dennis Schueth will send out any additional applications received by the deadline with a ranking sheet for the Directors. Directors will have about a week to rank the applicants with interviews being scheduled shortly after the rankings are compiled. Marsha Hart also made a short presentation regarding the Wellness Program which will be discussed again during the budget process.
COALITION/TASK FORCE UPDATE:
Nebraska Habitat Conservation Coalition (Piping Plover): No Report.
Nebraska Ground Water Management Protection Act Coalition: No Report.
Lower Platte Basin Coalition Water Policy Task Force: No Report.
NIOBRARA RIVER BASIN FULLY APPROPRIATED DESIGNATION – ACTION:
Dennis Schueth reported that Pam Anderson is no longer working at the Department of Natural Resources. She was part of their legal counsel. With this development, there has been some discussion about involving the Attorney General’s office at an earlier stage regarding water disputes since they may be ultimately making the decision.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Dennis Schueth’s report was mailed out in the Director’s packets and a copy is kept on file in the NRD office. Dennis Schueth reported that he had received correspondence regarding the Transcanada Keystone XL pipeline and the possibility of requesting participation in the permitting process. However, since the board did not meet before the deadline there was no action taken. It was the consensus of the board that this would be a good issue to support if the opportunity arises.
The next board meeting will be held June 29, 2009 at 8:00 PM at the NRD office in O’Neill.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:27 P.M.