UPPER ELKHORN NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
November 28, 2011 -- 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 Chairman Tim Knuth.
DIRECTORS PRESENT:
Scott Beckman Jerry Childers Chris Dierks James Dvorak Gregg Felker
Reg Green Jerry Heithoff Ted Hughes Jim Keller Tim Knuth
Jeff Krebs Mike Russman Roy Stewart Dale Wiles
DIRECTORS ABSENT:
Curtis Gotschall
STAFF PRESENT:
Dennis Schueth, General Manager
Tom Riley, Water Resources Manager
Kelly Kloppenborg, Water Resources Technician
Beth Walsh, Information & Education Coordinator
Marsha Hart, Administrative Secretary
GUESTS PRESENT:
John Ludwig, NRCS Office O’Neill
AGENDA:
]It was moved by Jim Keller and seconded by Chris Dierks to adopt the agenda. AYE: Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Beckman & Gotschall. MOTION CARRIED.
MINUTES:
The minutes of the October Meeting were reviewed by the Directors. ]It was moved by Jim Keller and seconded by Ted Hughes to approve the minutes of the October Meeting. AYE: Dierks, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: Childers, Dvorak & Felker. ABSENT: Beckman & Gotschall. MOTION CARRIED.
TREASURERS REPORT:
]It was moved by Jeff Krebs and seconded by Roy Stewart to approve the October Treasurers Report. AYE: Beckman, Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Gotschall. MOTION CARRIED.
PUBLIC FORUM-INPUT:
Bill, Mike & Jesse Sitz-NRD Boundary Line/Certified Irrigated Acre Transfer Discussion: Dennis Schueth reported that the Sitz’s would like to transfer some of their groundwater irrigated acres but there is a conflict since the area they would like to transfer them to is in the Lower Loup NRD. The Sitz’s had requested the opportunity to explain their situation to the UENRD Board and discuss NRD boundaries and the water drainage basin in their area; however, they did not attend the meeting.
AGENCY & STAFF REPORTS:
NARD Report: Dennis Schueth reported that he attended the November meeting. Dennis highlighted some of the issues discussed at the meeting which included the Husker Harvest Days building proposal; LR314; the 40th Anniversary promotion activities; and, the NARD Risk Pool.
DNR Report: Garry Anderson sent a written report on the September 27 and November 17 meetings.
NRCS Report: Jim Mathine’s report was mailed out to the Directors. John Ludwig attended the meeting to update the board on the NRCS activities. They are in the process of ranking applications following the November 18th sign-up. It was also mentioned that the NRCS is still working under a continuous resolution waiting for their budget to be approved.
RC&D Report:
North Central RC&D: Minutes were included in the Director packets and reviewed. Jim Keller reported that he attended the meeting and noted that the RC&D owns their building in Bassett and are exploring new uses for the building. This prompted a discussion by the board as to the future of the RC&Ds since they are no longer under the federal umbrella.
Loup Basin RC&D: Minutes were included in the Director packets and reviewed.
Northeast RC&D: Minutes were included in the Director packets and reviewed.
Information & Education Report: Beth Walsh’s report was mailed out in the Director’s packets. Beth reported
the posters were judged and the First Place posters were forwarded on to the NARD State Poster Contest. Photos of the winning posters were passed around during the board meeting. We also have received notification that we had one winner at the state level.
Water Resources Report: Tom Riley’s report was mailed out in the Director’s packets. Tom highlighted his report and reviewed the new average groundwater nitrates map. Tom also reported on the meeting between citizens in northern Antelope County, DEQ and the surrounding NRDs regarding the water quality issues in the area.
East Branch Verdigris Creek: Phil Steinkamp, project coordinator, attended the meeting and reviewed the objectives and accomplishments for the East Branch Verdigris Creek Watershed Management project.
ELM Update: No Report.
EXCUSED ABSENCES:
]It was moved by Jake Dvorak and seconded by Jim Keller to excuse the absence of Curtis Gotschall. AYE: Beckman, Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Gotschall. MOTION CARRIED.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Legislative, Budget and Finance Committee: The Legislative, Finance and Planning Committee met prior to the Board meeting and reviewed the current bills.
· Action on Current Bills and Cost share Requests: ]It was moved by Jeff Krebs and seconded by Jerry Heithoff to approve the current bills. AYE: Beckman, Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Gotschall. MOTION CARRIED.
· FY 2011-12 Budget: Dennis explained that in the calculations for the budget the money that was transferred into the building fund was reported twice due to a formula error and the District needed to make the correction.
· UENRD –Operating Policy: The Committee met prior to the board meeting and continued reviewing and updating the operating policy.
Water Resources & Watershed Committee: The Water Resources & Watershed Committee met prior to the Board meeting.
· Rollie Wallinger, Marty Kerkman Irrigated Acres: Gregg Felker reported that the Committee reviewed two requests for the certification of acres. ]It was moved by Jim Keller and seconded by Dale Wiles to approve the Rollie Wallinger and Marty Kerkman acres for certification. AYE: Beckman, Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Gotschall. MOTION CARRIED.
· Northeast Antelope Water Issues Meeting Update (October 25th): This was reported on earlier.
· Lower Platte North – Voluntary Integrated Management Plan: There will be a meeting in Wahoo to discuss the voluntary integrated management plans on November 30th, Dennis Schueth will be attending.
COALITIONS UPDATE:
Nebraska Habitat Conservation Coalition (Piping Plover): No Report.
Nebraska Ground Water Management Coalition: No Report
Lower Platte Basin Coalition Meetings: No Report.
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
· GMDA Meeting – New Orleans, LA – January 11-13, 2012: ]It was moved by Dale Wiles and seconded by Jeff Krebs to approve the registration for Reg Green to attend the GMDA Meeting. AYE: Beckman, Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: Green. ABSENT: Gotschall. MOTION CARRIED.
· NARD Washington D.C. Trip, March 10-14, 2012: ]It was moved by Gregg Felker and seconded by Chris Dierks to approve the registration for Ted Hughes and up to two other director to attend the Washington D.C. Trip. AYE: Beckman, Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Green, Heithoff, Keller, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: Hughes & Knuth. ABSENT: Gotschall. MOTION CARRIED.
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. Discussion was held on the new facility being proposed by Central Valley Ag near Brunswick. CVA was not granted their permit to construct the fertilizer/grain storage facility due to verbage in the counties rules and regulations. They will be working with the county on a possible new or revised application.
DECEMBER BOARD MEETING:
The December Board Meeting will be held on the 19 at 2:30 PM with Committee Meetings beginning at 1:30 PM.
]It was moved by Gregg Felker and seconded by Jim Keller to adjourn. AYE: Beckman, Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Knuth, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Gotschall. MOTION CARRIED.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 4:40 P.M.