UPPER ELKHORN NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS MEETING
October
27, 2008 -- 8:00 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 8:07 P.M. by
Chairman Dale Wiles.
DIRECTORS
PRESENT:
Jerry
Childers
Chris Dierks
James Dvorak
Gregg Felker
Curtis Gotschall
Reg
Green
Ted Hughes
Jim Keller
Jeff Krebs
Mike Russman
Roy
Stewart
Dale Wiles
DIRECTORS
ABSENT:
Jerry
Heithoff
Tim Knuth
Janet Koinzan
STAFF
PRESENT:
Dennis
Schueth, General Manager
Tylr
Naprstek, Water Resources Manager
Beth
Walsh, Information & Education/Chemigation Coordinator
Marsha
Hart, Administrative Secretary
GUESTS
PRESENT:
Jerry
Kovarik – NRCS – O’Neill
AGENDA:
]It
was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by Jim Keller to approve the amended
agenda. AYE:
Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller,
Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT:
Heithoff, Knuth & Koinzan. MOTION
CARRIED.
MINUTES:
The
minutes of the September Meeting were reviewed by the Directors. ]It
was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by Ted Hughes to approve the minutes of
the September Meeting. AYE:
Childers, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller, Krebs,
Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
Dierks. ABSENT:
Heithoff, Knuth & Koinzan. MOTION
CARRIED.
TREASURERS
REPORT:
]It
was moved by Jim Keller and seconded by Jerry Childers to approve the September
Treasurers Report. AYE:
Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller,
Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT:
Heithoff, Knuth & Koinzan. MOTION
CARRIED.
PUBLIC
FORUM-INPUT:
None
AGENCY
& STAFF REPORTS:
NARD
Report: Ted Hughes reported that the NACD building renovations have been
completed. He also reviewed the
status of the NARD insurance program and its finances.
They have been able to build up the cash reserve and once they hit the
target amount they are planning to reimburse the District for their earlier
contributions.
·
Fall Conference Reports: Dennis Schueth reported that
the final resolutions and action taken were sent out in the Director packets.
He also reviewed some of the comments regarding upcoming legislation made
by DNR personnel.
DNR
Report: No
Report.
Dennis Schueth handed out a flow chart depicting the jobs and
responsibilities within the Department of Natural Resources.
He pointed out that DNR has made some staff assignment changes so the
UENRD will be working with some new individuals on the Groundwater Management
Plan.
NRCS
Report:
Jerry Kovarik handed out his report at the board meeting.
Jerry announced that Andy Keep, new RC in the Neligh office, started
working October 14; and, the Soil Conservationist position in Ainsworth has been
advertised. All offices have been
busy working on performance reviews and the 2009 EQIP applications.
RC&D
Report:
North
Central RC&D:
Minutes were included in the Director packets.
Northeast
RC&D:
Minutes were included in the Director packets.
Information
& Education Report: Beth
Walsh’s report was mailed out in the Director’s packets.
Beth reported that one of the Senior Scholarship recipients contacted the
office regarding their scholarship. The
recipient transferred to another college and will not begin classes until
January, which makes them ineligible for the scholarship based on the
guidelines. Scholarship guidelines
require recipients to attend college the semester following graduation so this
scholarship will be offered to the alternate.
Water
Resources Report:
Tylr Naprstek’s report was mailed out in the Director’s packets.
Tylr reported that static water measurements have not been completed due
to the inclement weather. There are
approximately 40 left and should be completed in the next week.
Transducer data will be collected during the next month with results
available at the November meeting. Tylr
also reported on the tree database to assess acres of trees removed, GIS
training and flowmeter costshare. There
are 96 well applications to date.
EBVC
Update: No
Report.
ELM:
Dennis Schueth reported that the ELM project is moving forward.
There will be a meeting with DNR on November 6 to review the funding for
the project.
EXCUSED
ABSENCES:
]It
was moved by Jerry Childers and seconded by Jim Keller to excuse the absence of
Jerry Heithoff, Tim Knuth and Janet Koinzan.
AYE:
Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller,
Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT:
Heithoff, Knuth & Koinzan. 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. ]It
was moved by Reg Green and seconded by Jeff Krebs to approve the current bills
for payment. AYE:
Childers, Dierks, Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Hughes, Keller,
Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT:
Heithoff, Knuth & Koinzan. MOTION
CARRIED.
The Committee also discussed the addition of soil sensors and data
readers to the NSWCP NC 17 practice. Several
questions were raised regarding the new cost share practices so the Committee
has requested more information and decided not to take any action at this time.
Water
Resources & Watershed Committee:
GWMP, Rules & Regulations Update:
The
Water Resources & Watershed Committee met prior to the board meeting.
Gregg Felker reported that the Groundwater Management Plan Rules and
Regulations update is on hold while we are waiting on input from DNR.
There are some areas of concern in the District regarding nitrates and
potential phase 2 areas; however, the process of designating new phase 2 areas
would run smoother with the updated GWMP Rules and Regulations.
Special Report Ground-Water Recharge Plan – 1992
FY 08-09:
The Committee reviewed the Special Report Groundwater Recharge Plan from
a 1992 study.
Natural Resources Water Quality Fund: The Committee reviewed the
budget for this fund which includes flowmeters, training, conferences, weather
stations, monitoring wells and maybe some additional transducers.
National Educational Meetings – GMDA, NACD &
NWRA: Information for the upcoming meetings was distributed.
Dennis Schueth discussed the meetings and reviewed the district funding
available for Directors to attend these National meetings.
A survey will be sent out to measure the interest by the Board in
attending these meetings.
NEBRASKA
SCHOOL-LAND SALES:
Reg
Green passed around a section of the Neligh News & Leader listing the various
parcels of school lands, which are for sale.
He questioned whether or not this land should be broken up for crop
production due to conservation practices installed on the land and whether or
not cost share dollars were used.
COALITION/TASK
FORCE UPDATE:
NIOBRARA
Dennis
Schueth reported November 17 is the final hearing on our case with DNR.
He also reported that the Upper Big Blue NRD lost their case against DNR
regarding the question of the 10/50 line.
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.
Dennis informed the Board of a public notice that he received regarding
the Atkinson Sand & Gravel Inc. They
would like permission to fill in old oxbows with sand from their gravel pit.
The
next Board Meeting will be held November 24, 2008 at 2:30 PM with Committee
meetings beginning at 1:30 PM.
There
being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at
9:50 P.M.