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 Kearney .  Dennis Schueth reported that there have been no changes to the resolutions.    

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 Colorado and will begin October 14.  They will also be filling the soil conservationist position in the Ainsworth office.  Jerry also gave a brief update on the EQIP program and national resource inventory being completed by the NRCS office. 

(Childers Arrived)

RC&D Reports:

North Central RC&D:  No Report.  

Loup Basin 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 Antelope County monitoring well data and the new irrigation development in the area. 

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 Verdigris creek to combine with the other area data.  The area may also be considered a phase 2 area; however, the Committee wants to wait until the Groundwater Management Plan Rules and Regulations are in place before making any other decisions.  Also discussed was the Water Resources booklet being developed by UNL.  The UNL Water Poster which was discussed in August was available at Husker Harvest Days but it was noted that they were not actively being distributed at the time UENRD personnel were there.  UNL had asked the Association for funding for this project, which contains NRD data; however, the NRD’s were not allowed to provide any input on the project so funding was declined. 

COALITION/TASK FORCE UPDATE:

Nebraska Habitat Conservation Coalition (Piping Plover):  No Report.

Nebraska Ground Water Management Coalition:  No Report.

Lower Platte Basin Coalition Water Policy Task Force:  Dennis Schueth reported that the Coalition/Task Force met with DNR and G&P.  Ron Bishop, CPNRD, made a presentation on water banking, G&P’s prudent alternatives were discussed and the Coalition/Task Force is moving ahead on the review of Dr. Peter’s/NGPC technical reports. 

NIOBRARA RIVER FULLY APPROPRIATED DESIGNATION – ACTION:

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 Nebraska and the UENRD.      

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.