UPPER
ELKHORN NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS MEETING
November
26, 2007 -- 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 2:40 P.M. by
Vice Chairman Dale Wiles.
DIRECTORS
PRESENT:
Jerry Childers
Chris Dierks
Gregg Felker
Curtis Gotschall
Reg
Green
Ted Hughes
Jim Keller
Tim Knuth
Janet Koinzan
Mike Russman
Roy Stewart
Dale Wiles
DIRECTORS
ABSENT:
James
Dvorak
Jerry Heithoff
Jeff Krebs
STAFF
PRESENT:
Dennis
Schueth, General Manager
Tylr
Naprstek, Water Resources Manager
Beth
Walsh, Information & Education Coordinator
Marsha
Hart, Administrative Secretary
GUESTS
PRESENT:
Jerry
Kovarik, NRCS
John
Ludwig, NRCS
Donita
Pokorny, Dana F. Cole & Associates
AGENDA:
]It
was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by Mike Russman to approve the agenda.
AYE: Childers,
Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Koinzan, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.
NAY: None.
ABSTAIN: Felker. ABSENT:
Dierks, Dvorak, Heithoff & Krebs.
MOTION CARRIED.
MINUTES:
The
minutes of the October Meeting were reviewed by the Directors. ]It
was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by Ted Hughes to approve the minutes of
the October Meeting with corrections. AYE:
Childers, Green, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Russman & Wiles.
NAY: None.
ABSTAIN: Felker,
Gotschall, Koinzan & Stewart. ABSENT:
Dierks, Dvorak, Heithoff & Krebs.
MOTION CARRIED.
TREASURERS
REPORT:
]It
was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by Roy Stewart to approve the October
Treasurers Report. AYE:
Childers, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Koinzan,
Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None.
ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT:
Dierks, Dvorak, Heithoff & Krebs.
MOTION CARRIED.
PUBLIC FORUM-INPUT:
None
UPPER
ELKHORN NRD 2006-2007 AUDIT – DANA F COLE (Donita Pokorny):
Donita
Pokorny, Dana F Cole, attended the board meeting to review the audit with the
Directors and answer any questions. Donita
reviewed the audit report explaining the different aspects of the audit.
]It
was moved by Jim Keller and seconded by Ted Hughes to approve the 2006-2007
Audit. AYE:
Childers, Dierks, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Knuth,
Koinzan, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT:
Dvorak, Heithoff & Krebs. MOTION
CARRIED.
AGENCY
& STAFF REPORTS:
NARD
Report: Ted
Hughes reported that he attended the NARD Board Meeting on November 5.
They discussed a request from the NACD.
They are soliciting funds from NACD member to repair their building.
The Mohler case was also discussed and a lawyer has been hired to
represent the Association in Nebraska. A
risk pool meeting was held on November 1. Ted
reported that they have resolved the billing discrepancy with Joan Cannon the
lawyer who helped develop the plan summary for the risk pool.
They also discussed the wellness program and wellness benefit, which
doesn’t seem to cover basic expenses in all cases.
DNR
Report: No
meeting held during the past month.
NRCS
Report:
Jerry Kovarik reported on funding for the EQIP program and the upcoming
deadline December 14. Jerry also
reported that NRCS is currently under a hiring freeze so the position in Neligh
would not be filled at this time. John
Ludwig, NRCS Water Quality Specialist, addressed the Board and explained that
they are planning to hold a no-till workshop in February. He asked if the NRD would be interested in participating and
or sponsoring the event. They are
tentatively hoping for 60 attendees and would like to include a meal with the
program.
RC&D
Report:
North Central RC&D:
No Report.
Loup Basin RC&D:
Minutes were passed around.
Northeast RC&D:
No Report.
Information
& Education Report: Beth
Walsh’s report was mailed out in the Director’s packets.
Beth reported that the UENRD has received information for the upcoming
NARD Legislative Conference; the information was also included in the Directors
folders. 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. The UENRD is also in charge of
Dinner with the Senators this year. This
dinner is usually held with the Middle Niobrara NRD, Lower Niobrara NRD, Upper
Loup NRD, Lower Loup NRD and ourselves. There
was discussion held as to whether the group should have a meal, desert bar,
horsdvours or coffee bar. There was
discussion as to which option would be the best.
Since there is so much food at the NARD reception some felt a meal might
be too much while some felt that a meal would be a stronger drawing point for
the Senators to attend. A room has
been reserved and the new catering menu will be sent as soon as it is finished.
UENRD staff will review the options for the meeting with the Senators and
report to the board in December.
Water
Resources Report:
Tylr Naprstek’s report was mailed out in the Director’s packets.
Tylr highlighted the number of well permits, which are now just over 100.
He reported on the static water levels and reviewed the transducer
information and graphs with the Directors.
Tylr also passed around a preliminary report from Steve Peterson on the
ELM study.
East Branch Verdigris Creek:
No Report.
ELM
Update: Dennis
Schueth reported that the perspective coordinator that Butch Koehlmoos was
negotiating with has turned down the final offer. The perspective coordinator felt the position warranted a
salary of $60,000 and NRD Managers participating in the project felt this was
above the proposed salary range for the position.
For this reason, the ELM coordinators job description may need to be
scaled back.
EXCUSED
ABSENCES:
]It
was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by Ted Hughes to excuse the absence of
James Dvorak, Jerry Heithoff & Jeff Krebs.
AYE: Childers,
Dierks, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Koinzan, Russman,
Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT: Dvorak, Heithoff & Krebs.
MOTION CARRIED.
FEMA MITIGATION:
Dennis
Schueth reported that he has been contacted by Antelope County because of the
Lower Elkhorn NRD’s development of a FEMA mitigation plan for their district,
which includes the town of Tilden. The
purpose of a mitigation plan is to be eligible for FEMA funds in the event of a
natural disaster. The split is 75%
federal and 25% for the sponsoring agency.
The Directors are still questioning who is the best sponsor for this
program since some communities already have emergency managers.
The UENRD staff will look into this situation further and report back to
the Directors.
COMMITTEE
REPORTS:
Legislative,
Budget and Finance Committee:
The
Legislative, Finance and Planning Committee met prior to the Board meeting and
reviewed the current bills. ]It
was moved by Reg Green and seconded by Roy Stewart to approve the current bills.
AYE: Childers,
Dierks, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Koinzan, Russman,
Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT:
Dvorak, Heithoff & Krebs. MOTION
CARRIED. There
were no cost share applications to review.
Water
Resources & Watershed Committee:
The
Water Resources & Watershed Committee met prior to the Board meeting. Dale Wiles reported that the committee discussed DNR’s
preliminary Niobrara Basin Review and he passed out the draft map depicting the
effected portion of the UENRD. A
public hearing regarding this issue has been tentatively scheduled for December
20. They discussed the NE Research
and Extension Center crop rotation project that some Directors and staff toured
in September. ]It
was moved by Dale Wiles and seconded by Tim Knuth to approve the crop rotation
project for the fourth and final year for $10,000. AYE: Childers,
Dierks, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Koinzan, Russman,
Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT: Dvorak, Heithoff & Krebs.
MOTION CARRIED.
The Committee is continuing their work on the update of the Groundwater
Management Plan to address water quantity issues.
Also being discussed are groundwater transfers and the certification of
acres. The Committee will be holding a meeting on December 12 at the
NRD office at 7:00 PM. The meeting
will be advertised so other Directors can attend.
Dennis Schueth reported that he has received the formal agreement for the
Lower Platte Basin Coalition, which is the same agreement that was reviewed last
month. The UENRD funding component
for the coalition will be $4,000 and the District will need to submit voting
delegates. ]It
was moved by Jim Keller and seconded by Tim Knuth to approve the Lower Platte
Basin Coalition Interlocal Agreement, the $4,000 funding and designate Dennis
Schueth voting delegate and Tylr Naprstek voting alternate.
AYE: Childers, Dierks, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes,
Keller, Knuth, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.
NAY: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: Dvorak, Heithoff, Koinzan (not present for vote – phone
call) & Krebs. MOTION
CARRIED.
NGPC
– BIOLOGICAL OPINION – PLATTE RIVER (FULLY APPROPRIATED STATUS) REQUEST TO
DNR:
Dennis Schueth reported that there will be a meeting
with NGPC representatives regarding this issue tomorrow (November 27) in
Lincoln. The Commission will
present information to the Lower Platte Basin Coalition explaining their current
position. Information was to be
sent out prior to this meeting for review but none has been received to date.
COALITIONS
UPDATE:
Nebraska
Habitat Conservation Coalition (Piping Plover):
No Report.
Pallid Sturgeon/Sturgeon Chub Taskforce:
Disbanded at the last meeting.
Nebraska
Ground Water Management Coalition: No
Report
Water
Policy Task Force Meetings: No
Report
ADMINISTRATIVE
REPORT:
Dennis
Schueth’s report was mailed out to the directors prior to the board meeting in
their packets. A copy is included
with the official copy of the minutes in the office.
DECEMBER
BOARD MEETING:
Since
the fourth Monday of December falls on Christmas Eve discussing was held as to
when to hold the December Board Meeting. ]It
was moved by Jim Keller and seconded by Ted Hughes to hold the December Board
Meeting December 17 at 2:30 pm with committee meetings being held at 1:30 pm.
AYE: Childers,
Dierks, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Koinzan, Russman,
Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT:
Dvorak, Heithoff & Krebs. MOTION
CARRIED. Discussion
was also held regarding the Christmas holiday.
]It
was moved by Chris Dierks and seconded by Curtis Gotschall to close the UENRD
office December 24 and December 26. AYE:
Dierks, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Russman, Stewart
& Wiles. NAY:
Childers. ABSTAIN: Koinzan. ABSENT:
Dvorak, Heithoff & Krebs. MOTION
CARRIED.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 4:55 P.M.