May 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM - Executive Committee Meeting

Rationale:  The GMDA Summer Conference will be held in Idaho Falls, Idaho July 21-23, 2025.  Attached find the agenda and registration details.

Dr. Tom McKnight is interested in attending. 

Rationale:  Attached find Director Olson's absence request from the April Board Meeting (Family vacation). 

Rationale:  Our Punch-List walk-through was rescheduled for Tuesday, June 3rd at 8:00 am.  Scheele/Kayton and their subs are working hard to get as many things as possible finished and ready for next week's walk-through.  Things to be completed are: final lighting fixtures, elevator installation, countertop and solid surface installs, exterior lighting and light poles, heating/air test runs and final deep cleaning.

Our movers dates are set for June 19th & 20th and our current plans are to be closed on those dates and re-open on Monday the 23rd in the new office.  I will keep the board updated if these dates change.

Attached are proposals from Diode for office phone system/software, new phones, boardroom video equipment, and removing camera and door equipment from the old building.

Rationale:  We are currently planning on closing on the old office the week of June 23rd.  I have been in communication with the new owner and they are flexible if we need to push the date back.

Rationale:  Over the years we have discussed the idea of setting up a tax exempt foundations for anyone interested in making donations to Lower Platte North NRD.  I have spoken with the Wahoo Community Foundation and they allow organizations like us set up accounts within their 501(c)(3) allowing potential donors to assist in funding specific projects or "General" LPNNRD programs/projects.  If this is something the board would like me to pursue, I will begin discussions with the Wahoo Community Foundation and begin the process.

Rationale:  I spoke with Jesse Bradley last week and he said our JEDI funding will remain in the biannual State Budget just as it has in the past.  There was some early discussion on limiting our spending to $5 million per year but it appears that was dropped and everything was left as is.

Rationale:  The unicameral funded the project through the Biennial Budget passed on May 15th.  The budget states 'Appropriate $2.5 million from JEDI Fund for additional flood control project'.

Rationale:  Staff will discuss status of this proposed project.

Rationale:  We are currently looking into cleaning equipment for the new office.  Plans are to purchase a floor cleaner and commercial vacuum and we hope to have some prices by board meeting.

Rationale:  For the third year in a row, our NARD Self-Insured Health coverage is recommending no rate increase. Due to good exposure and overall good health of our 401-covered employees, our plan was able to continue to show a small profit for the year 2025.  With our reserve amount approaching $10 million, the NARD Benefits Committee and NARD Board of Directors are recommending the zero premium increase. The NARD Risk Pool Board will consider the recommendation at their June 9^th meeting. Attached find a detailed memo from NARD.
 

Rationale:  Since the departure of our Saunders County NRCS Office Assistant in February, we have not yet filled the position.  During this time Jessica Marty (Dodge County NRCS Programs Assistant) has agreed to and been working every other day in each of the two offices and this appears to be working out very well.  In an attempt to continue effective office management while reducing our total full-time employees, I am recommending we proceed without rehiring the open position and expand Jessica's responsibilities to include both the Dodge County and Saunders County NRCS offices to her job description with a 3,000 base salary increase.

Rationale:  The federal cost of living increase for 2025 was 2.5%  In past years we have offered a cost of living and a merit salary increase to our staff.  Last year the combined totaled 5%.  The cost of living is applied to all full-time staff members and the merit portion is awarded as follows:  Far Exceeds Expectations - 100% of merit %, Exceeds Expectations = 75% of merit %, Meets Expectations = 25% of merit and Below Expectations = No merit increase.
Discussion and motion is requested to make any changes effective 7-1-25.
Since assuming the role of General Manager, my philosophy of "Cost of Living" has remained the same...Take the total approved percentage rate increase divided our total number of full-time employees and provide the exact same salary increase for ALL staff rather than calculating a percentage of current salary.  I believe this is a much more equitable form of compensation as the cost of a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread or gallon of gas is the same to all employees.  By doing this over the past 8 years, the salary gap between highest and lowest paid employees has greatly deminished.

Rationale:  Since I began as General Manager in 2017, my goal for LPNNRD staff salaries is to ensure all our positions are being compensated appropriately.  LPN is the 7th largest district in the state (based on property valuation) and my procedure is to review and recommend all our staff to be compensated within the top 7 of their similar positions across all 23 NRDs.  Each year I review all NRD positions across the state to make sure this is being accomplished.  This year we have three positions who's salary currently fall outside these parameters.  My recommendation is to increase our Assistant Manager, Ryan Chapman's salary an additional $10,000 and our Recreation Department Head, Jon Speichinger's salary and additional $3,000 to achieve this outcome.  In 2017, over half our staff's compensation fell below this level and since 2019 we have been able to keep all compensation within our targeted goal without needing to increase our tax asking.

Rationale:  Lillian Harris and Cash Parsons have been hired to fill Wanahoo Recreation Summer Technician positions.

Rationale:  Current Nebraska minimum wage is $13.50/hour. Our new hires for the Summer season were hired at that rate and our existing grounds staff is also currently at that rate.  My recommendation is to offer a $1.00/hour increase to all our returning park staff as their experience and abilities are a huge benefit to our recreation area.

Rationale:  Grant will be available to review the April Financial Statement with the Committee. 

Rationale:  Attached find Gottschalk's time and expense sheets.