UPPER
ELKHORN NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS MEETING
September 16, 2008 -- 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 8:00 P.M. by
Chairman Dale Wiles.
DIRECTORS
PRESENT:
Jerry Childers
James Dvorak
Gregg Felker
Curtis Gotschall
Reg Green
Jerry
Heithoff
Ted Hughes
Jim Keller
Janet Koinzan
Jeff Krebs
Mike Russman
Roy Stewart
Dale Wiles
DIRECTORS
ABSENT:
Chris Dierks
Tim Knuth
STAFF
PRESENT:
Dennis
Schueth, General Manager
Tylr
Naprstek, Water Resources Manager
Marsha
Hart, Administrative Secretary
Beth
Walsh, Information & Education Coordinator
GUESTS
PRESENT:
Jerry
Kovarik - NRCS - O’Neill
AGENDA:
]It
was moved by Curtis Gotschall and seconded by Jim Keller to adopt the agenda.
AYE:
Felker,
Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart
& Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT:
Childers, Dierks, Dvorak & Knuth.
MOTION CARRIED.
AUGUST
BOARD MEETING MINUTES:
The
minutes of the August Meetings were reviewed by the Directors.
]It
was moved by Ted Hughes and seconded by Jim Keller to approve the minutes of the
August 25, 2008 Board Meeting. AYE:
Felker,
Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Krebs, Russman & Wiles.
NAY: None.
ABSTAIN: Koinzan &
Stewart. ABSENT:
Childers, Dierks, Dvorak & Knuth.
MOTION CARRIED.
]It
was moved by Curtis Gotschall and seconded by Mike Russman to approve the
minutes of the August 18, 2008 Budget Workshop Meeting.
AYE:
Felker,
Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.
NAY: None.
ABSTAIN: Koinzan.
ABSENT: Childers,
Dierks, Dvorak & Knuth. MOTION
CARRIED.
]It
was moved by Gregg Felker and seconded by Curtis Gotschall to approve the
minutes of the August 20, 2008 Water Resources and Watershed Meeting with the
amendment to rule 21. AYE:
Felker,
Gotschall, Green, Keller, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart & Wiles.
NAY: None.
ABSTAIN: Heithoff
& Hughes. ABSENT:
Childers, Dierks, Dvorak & Knuth.
MOTION CARRIED.
TREASURERS
REPORT:
]It
was moved by Reg Green and seconded by Roy Stewart to approve the August
Treasurers Report. AYE:
Felker,
Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Koinzan, Krebs, Russman, Stewart
& Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT:
Childers, Dierks, Dvorak & Knuth.
MOTION CARRIED.
PUBLIC
FORUM:
None
(Dvorak
Arrived)
AGENCY
& STAFF REPORTS:
NARD
Report: Ted
Hughes reported that the NARD Annual Fall Conference will be held September
28-30 at the Holiday Inn in
DNR
Report:
No Report. The Commission
will be meeting following the NARD Annual Conference.
NRCS
Report:
Jerry Kovarik handed out his report to the Directors.
Jerry reported that they have filled the Resource Conservationist
position in Neligh. Andy Keep will
be transferring from
(Childers
Arrived)
RC&D
Reports:
North
Central RC&D: No
Report.
Northeast RC&D:
Minutes included in packets.
Information
& Education Report: Beth
Walsh’s report was mailed out in the Director’s packets.
Beth reported that the District has received their Water Well
Decommissioning fund allocation. This
year we received $2029.91 which is only about half of what it was last year.
She also reported that the Wonderful World of Water program would be
taking place September 17 in Pierce.
Water
Resources Report:
Tylr Naprstek’s report was included in the Directors folders.
Tylr reported that the water sampling has been completed for this year
and 369 samples were taken. He
passed out a rough draft of the nitrate-nitrogen results and reviewed them with
the Board. Sampling result letters
have also been sent to the cooperators. The
2008 Environmental Trust Grant funds have been allocated for this year.
Tylr will continue taking flowmeter cost share applications for next
years allocation. Tylr passed around
information on the upcoming GMDA meeting for the Directors to consider and there
has been one well permit issued since last months meeting.
FY
07-08 BUDGET HEARING:
Open
FY 08-09 Budget Hearing: Reg Green,
director of the Upper Elkhorn NRD, officially opened the 2008-2009 Fiscal Year
Budget Hearing at 8:21 P.M. The
hearing was to remain open for a minimum of 20 minutes.
The purpose of the hearing is to receive support, opposition, criticism,
suggestions or observations of taxpayers relating to the proposed budget and to
consider amendments relative to the Upper Elkhorn NRD 2008-2009 proposed budget.
EBVC
Update: This
item was covered under the Water Resources and Watershed Committee report.
ELM
Update: Dennis
Schueth reported that they met last week and had a good discussion on the
project. The USGS has told the group
that they could do a more detailed study on the recharge in the project area;
however, it would cost approximately 1 million dollars.
Dennis has been contacted by Craig Gotschalk with CES, who attended the
August board meeting, and would like the opportunity to quote the District a
price for CES to conduct a recharge study for the NRD.
Craig believes his company could do the study for less money and it would
be compatible for the ELM model. This
option was discussed; however, it also raised some questions as to whether or
not DNR would accept the data.
EXCUSED
ABSENCES:
]It
was moved by James Dvorak and seconded by Jim Keller to excuse the absence of
Chris Dierks and Tim Knuth. AYE:
Childers,
Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Koinzan, Krebs,
Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT:
Dierks & Knuth. MOTION
CARRIED.
COMMITTEE
REPORTS:
Legislative,
Finance and Planning: The
Legislative, Finance and Planning Committee met prior to the Board meeting and
reviewed all the 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, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Koinzan, Krebs,
Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT:
Dierks & Knuth. MOTION
CARRIED.
There
were no cost share requests to review.
Water
Quality and Watershed: The
Committee met prior to the board meeting.
Gregg Felker reported that the Committee discussed the GWMP rules and
regulations; however, they are still waiting for comments from DNR.
They also discussed the East Branch Verdigris Creek project and the
attention created from the article on the project published in the Omaha World
Herald. Tylr Naprstek passed out
maps depicting the static water levels in the area as well as nitrate levels and
precipitation. They also reviewed
the northern
FY
08-09 BUDGET HEARING (Closing):
Closing
of FY 08-09 Budget Hearing: There
being no further testimony regarding the 2008-2009 fiscal budget for the Upper
Elkhorn NRD, the Budget Hearing was closed at 8:45 P.M. by Reg Green, director
of the Upper Elkhorn NRD.
District
Action on FY 08-09 Budget: ]It
was moved by Reg Green and seconded by Jerry Heithoff to adopt the FY 08-09
Budget. AYE:
Childers,
Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Koinzan, Krebs,
Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT:
Dierks & Knuth. MOTION
CARRIED.
FY
08-09 SPECIAL BUDGET HEARING:
Open
Special Hearing – Setting of FY 2008-2009 Tax Asking & Mill-Levy:
Reg Green,
director of the Upper Elkhorn NRD, officially opened the 2008-2009 Fiscal Year
Special Hearing at 8:48 P.M. The
hearing was to remain open for a minimum of 20 minutes.
The purpose of the hearing is to receive support, opposition, criticism,
suggestions or observations of taxpayers relating to setting the Tax Asking
& Mill-Levy different from FY 07-08.
Water
Quality and Watershed Continued: They also discussed getting
the stream flow data from the Game & Parks on the East Branch of the
COALITION/TASK
FORCE UPDATE:
Dennis
Schueth reviewed the latest correspondence from Don Blankenau.
The final hearing is now scheduled for November 17, 2008.
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 discussed the spreadsheet developed by Marsha Hart showing the
distribution of NSWCP cost share over the last several years.
They also discussed the recent meeting regarding the pipeline, which
could pass through
UENRD
FY 08-09 SPECIAL BUDGET HEARING:
Closing
of Special Hearing: There
being no further testimony regarding setting the 2008-2009 Tax Asking &
Mill-levy different than FY 2007-2008 for the Upper Elkhorn NRD, the Special
Hearing was closed at 9:13 P.M. by Reg Green, director of the Upper Elkhorn NRD.
Setting
of FY 08-09 Tax Asking & Mill Levy: ]It
was moved by Reg Green and seconded by Jerry Heithoff to adopt the resolution
motion to set the mill-levy at 0.024138 per $100 of valuation and tax asking of
$478,682.88 as read by Reg Green. AYE:
Childers,
Dvorak, Felker, Gotschall, Green, Heithoff, Hughes, Keller, Koinzan, Krebs,
Russman, Stewart & Wiles. NAY:
None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT:
Dierks & Knuth. MOTION
CARRIED.
The
next Upper Elkhorn NRD will be scheduled for October 27, 2008.
There
being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at
9:25 P.M.