June 9, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Regular Board of Directors Meeting

Rationale: 

NOTE: The agenda is on file at the LPNNRD office and may be changed up to 24 hours prior to the meeting as scheduled.

 

Rationale:  Are there any additions or corrections to the agenda?

Rationale:  Are there any additions or corrections to the Minutes? If not they will be approved on the consent agenda.

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.

Rationale:  There is nothing to consider for unfinished business.

Rationale:  There's nothing to report.

Rationale:  The O & M crew checked a dozen dams after a 3–4" rain event in the Cottonwood and Sand/Duck Creek watersheds. All dams were functioning well. In preparation for moving the office, we are packing, discarding and removing items from our shop and sheds.

Rationale:  The 90 percent study report is supposed to be in the hands of the NRCS in Little Rock.

Rationale:  Staff met with Mike Sotak to discuss FEMA items and to look at areas that have the potential for mitigation repairs.
Staff met with a FEMA representative to discuss whether we could separate out the joint repair (whether mitigated or repaired) from the basin, breakwater and wetland acces work. They were also asked if they could do a BCA (Benefit Cost Analysis) separate on the joint repair. If they can, we could bid the joint repair out separately from the other repairs. We are waiting for an answer from FEMA, then we will move forward accordingly.

Rationale:  The District, along with Lower Platte South and Papio are members of the Lower Platte Weed Management Group. For many years, the Districts have budgeted and contributed $30,000 each, every year to assist the group in controlling noxious and invasive plants on the Platte River and its tributaries. The group has relied heavily on grants through the Dept. of Ag and other agencies. With budget cuts to many agencies, the grants are not available to date. To keep the group proactive, they are asking for $60,000 from each District so they can continue to effectively control the targeted plants.

Rationale:  Seth McGinn has submitted an invoice for $6,000.00 for jetty maintenance on the Platte River in Dodge County. Cost-share is 50% or $3,000.00.

Rationale:  For the month of April, the District received $7,796.00 in annual park permit revenue.

Rationale:  For the month of April, the District received $4,348.34 in camping revenue.

Rationale:  We purchased 20 pedestals that we were going to use to upgrade camp sites to 50 amps in the main campground.  The infracture will not handle 50 amps, so we are looking to add these 20 pedestals to the primitive camping area to create 20 new 50 camp electric sites. We are currently seeking bids for this upgrade. See attached map. 

Rationale:  Chairman Jerry Johnson will give an update.

Rationale:  The Clint Johannes Education Building at Lake Wanahoo was rented 21 times in May, with 5 NRD rentals. Revenue for the month was $1,550. 

Rationale:  The KTIC radio ads for May featured LPNNRD recreation areas. June will feature the recently upgraded abandoned well commercial featuring Jacob Stover from the Water Resources Department.

The Wahoo newspaper e-ad and print ad for May featured all three recreation areas. In June the ads will change to a reminder for well owners to annually test their wells. 

The ads are attached.

I have been visiting with Kaela Steffensmeier with KTIC about a new opportunity for marketing. We have the option to target ads based on zip codes for display ads. We could even go into more details based on demographics such as age, gender, education, homeownership, and other details. The display ads are served based on user interests and their internet browsing - not specifically by websites they visit. As users engage with certain types of content, they develop interest categories such as agriculture, outdoor activities, local news, weather, etc. This may cover many different websites rather than one specific website like the current Wahoo Newspaper e-ad we have been running that is only displayed on Wahoo-Ashland-Waverly.com. 

There is also an opportunity to use our current ads produced with KTIC to be added to streaming audio commercials through sites and apps that users listen to live radio, podcasts, or other audio content online. KTIC has worked with other NRDs and have had success with these advertising opportunities. These ads are a subtle but effective way to build awareness and visibility around the NRD’s projects and programs. We will work on narrowing down the demographics and get a better idea of cost to prepare for next fiscal year’s budget.
 

Rationale:  Top Posts for Facebook and X included:
• Summer events at Wanahoo flyer
• Spring Conservation Sensation pictures and press release
• Abandoned well cost-share reminder
• Bees and Brews event flyer
• Natural Resources Camp flyer

On the LPNNRD website, we received traffic from NARD (43), Facebook (14), Nebraska tourism (7), Nebraska Game and Parks (3), Wahoo newspaper e-ad (2), X (0).

The full reports are attached. 

Rationale:  On May 20, 2025 we sent out the first "Healthy Water, Healthy Future" email blast to all producer emails we had on file, plus directors. The email included a welcome as to what information will be in the quarterly newsletter; an explanation of chemigation and reminder for the June 1 deadline for chemigation permits; an update of the Groundwater Management Plan; and an update for the spring groundwater levels. 

The email was sent to 1,485 users, with an 82% delivery rate. Here are some of the reasons for emails not going through: connection issue with the internet service provider, email user’s mailbox is full or inactive, the domain or IP has been blocked, and other unknown reasons. 42% of users opened the email, with 19 users clicking on links that were provided in the newsletter to different portions of the LPNNRD website. Unfortunately, we did have 6 users unsubscribe from the newsletter. Attached is a copy of the newsletter.
 

Rationale:  The Saunders County Agricultural Society is looking for sponsorships for the 2025 fair to be held July 27 - August 3. 

Last year we donated $500. This year, the same recognition would be available at the $500 level - which includes: 3x5 banner displayed at events, logo on the fair website, social media recognition, business name on large pavilion thank you banner, 1 mention during a motorsports event, plus tickets to some of the events. Attached is the list of the sponsorship levels.
 

Rationale:  The Butler County Fair is looking for sponsorships for the 2025 fair to be held July 15 - 20. Last year we were one of 10 vendors that had a booth ($130). Foot traffic was much slower than in the last few years. As for sponsorships, at the $500 level we would: have business name listed on the back of the schedule flyer, business name listed on the website, business name on large banner in the arena, business name on advertisement poster, plus various tickets to the larger fair events. Attached is a full list of the sponsorship options. 
 

Rationale: 

• May 7th: Spring conservation Sensation - 222 kids attended from Wahoo, North Bend, Logan View, David City Public, and David City Aquinas.
• May 12: St. Wenc Pre-K field trip - (28)
• May 14th: Ashland Greenwood water day (96)
• May 15th: Wahoo 1st grade field trip (74)
• May 17th: Bob Bruner Fishing Derby (waiting on numbers)
• May 19th: Yoga at the lake
• May 20th: Wahoo 4th grade field trip (80)
• May 21st: Bees and Brews (30)
• May 22nd: Job Shadow in office 

Rationale:  June 12th: Coffee Lakeside: Bird Feathers
June 12th Nocturnal Night
June 14th: Lions Club Youth Fishing Derby
June 17th: Yoga at the lake 
June 20th: North Bend Library 
Education opportunities at the Lake TBD

Rationale:  Becca Podolak: Senior at Aquinas Catholic HS, currently serving as the president of the Always Busy Clovers 4-H club. Asking for $1,500 to cover the cost of raised beds, grow bag, trellis, season extenders, mulch, seeds, drip irrigation, composting system, and canopy. The produce is donated to the Butler County hospital, Genesis House, and the nursing home located behind the garden. Residents at the nursing home help tend the garden as well.  

William Podolak: Junior at Aquinas Catholic HS. The agriculture program was recently added to the school, and the FFA chapter has asked to add a plant science class to the courses offered. Asking for $1,500 to cover the cost of the planting tables, rockwool plugs, germinator, and seedling bundles. The FFA chapter plans to incorporate this new class into their interactions with elementary students, as well as providing lettuce and herbs to the cafeteria. It will also be used for future Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE). 

Bishop Neumann FFA Chapter: The goal of this project is to add a summer garden to grow additional foods for Saunders County Catholic Schools. Asking for $1283.93 to cover the cost of soil, compost, mulch, raised beds, 5-tier strawberry planter, chicken wire, drip irrigation system, gardening tools, seedling plants, netting, cages, and insect control. Additional expansion of a small hoop house would push the grand total to $1,583.93. The produce will be used for school lunches, the local food pantry, senior center, families in need and religious sisters. The current location of the garden is unused and is not maintained.

Rationale:  Routine monthly sampling completed.  Bills to be mailed 6/2.

Rationale:  Routine monthly sampling completed.  Bills to be mailed 6/2.  
 

Rationale:  Roma Hutton is requesting to decertify irrigated acres in the NW NW S13-15N-6E, Saunders County.  It was certified for irrigated acres in 2014 for 26.38 acres.  She said the well has been dry for a few years and is planning on decommissioning the existing irrigation well G-045421.  This tract of land is located in the Restricted Development Area.  

Rationale:  Tim Foltz contacted NRD staff on 5/12/2025.  He was irrigating to activate the chemicals and overnight a pipe burst in the irrigation system.  He reported a new reading the next day, which changed his water use from 4.73 to 5.29 inches in 2024.  

Rationale: 

For 2025, we have 427 renewals and 10 new permit applications for a current total of 437. No inspections for renewal permits have been completed.

Rationale: 

One new well has been reviewed and approved for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.

 

Rationale: 

One well has been plugged, reviewed, and ready for cost share payment approval this month.

Well Owner	Type of Well	Cost Share Estimate	Shell Creek Cost Share	County
Beverly Benson	Irrigation	$744.09	$1,072.92	Boone

 

Rationale:  Cost share Invoices are coming in for our Schuyler-Richland Cost Share 

 

Name	Number or Meters	Total Amount
Allen Svatora	1	$           1,000.00
Kevin Koliha	5	$           5,000.00
Josh Faltys	5	$          5,000.00

We have an invoice for Cover Crop cost share from Faltys Brothers LLC for 32 acres of rye totaling at $320.

Rationale:  On May 20, 2025 we sent out the first "Healthy Water, Healthy Future" email blast to all producer emails we had on file, plus directors. The email included a welcome as to what information will be in the quarterly newsletter; an explanation of chemigation and reminder for the June 1 deadline for chemigation permits; an update of the Groundwater Management Plan; and an update for the spring groundwater levels.
The email was sent to 1,485 users, with an 82% delivery rate. Here are some of the reasons for emails not going through: connection issue with the internet service provider, email user’s mailbox is full or inactive, the domain or IP has been blocked, and other unknown reasons. 42% of users opened the email, with 19 users clicking on links that were provided in the newsletter to different portions of the LPNNRD website. Unfortunately, we did have 6 users unsubscribe from the newsletter. Attached is a copy of the newsletter.
 

Rationale:  Two years ago, the Lower Platte North along with LPS, Papio and NeDNR started the process of developing a Lower Platte Basin Groundwater Model by contracting with JEO, HDR and Longspring on a 3-year contract.   

Attached is updated information and the 2nd year invoice of $23,697.22 for this project.  This project is on schedule to be completed in late 2025 with reviews done in early 2026. 

Rationale:  Installation of a transducer into Abie municipal well has been delayed due to repairs needed on the well.

The Source Water Protection Grant finally released their deadline for September 1st, 2025. The LPNNRD is helping Mead with the grant to update their Wellhead Protection Area.

Rationale:  Jon Mohr and Dave Hume will explain the recommendations and costs that were shown at last month's committee meeting.  Attached are the recommended projects and an invoice for $1,121.50 for updating the Groundwater Management Plan. 

Jon and Dave discussed the recommendations to the committee and staff.  The Committee felt that re-examining the SQS areas with the new data after 10 years would be appropriate.  They decided to look at the variance scoring sheet along with water quantity triggers.  Staff will be budgeting $75,000 for these studies for next fiscal year.  Another option would be to use the groundwater sinking fund.  

Rationale:  This week's beach Bacteria and Harmful Algal Bloom results are now posted on the NDEE web page (Current Health Alerts and Sampling Results For This Week). 
  
There are no lakes on Health Alert this week!

However, with the thunderstorms in central and eastern Nebraska this past week we are seeing higher E. coli counts. Carter, Fremont No. 20, Holmes, Johnson, and Swan Creek (5A) Lakes all tested above 235 colonies/100 mL. Bacteria is everywhere in our environment and fallen rain water will pick it up as it runs off the landscape and finds its way into our streams, rivers, and lakes. The good news is that sunlight is a great disinfectant on E.coli. So, when the sun shines those bacteria numbers will drop very quickly.

There are 0 beaches on Health Alert this week.

Current Lakes on Health Alert
Lake	County	Microcystin (ppb)	Sample Date
None! ??

When a lake exceeds 8 ppb of microcystin it will be placed on Health Alert. If a lake is under a Health Alert, signs will be posted recommending people avoid full body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing, jet skiing, etc. 
There are 5 beaches with E.coli testing above 235 colonies/100 mL.

Lakes with High E.coli Bacteria
Lake	County	E.coli (MPN)	Sample Date
Carter Lake	Douglas	>2419	5/20/2025
Fremont Lake No. 20 (SRA)	Dodge	240	5/20/2025
Holmes Lake	Lancaster	866	5/19/2025
Johnson Lake	Gosper	1,203	5/19/2025
Swan Creek Lake (5A)	Saline	1,986	5/19/2025

When E. coli bacteria levels test above 235 colonies/100 mL a Health Alert is not issued. However, conditions are at a higher risk to human health when swimming. Considering the more rapid changes in bacteria conditions, signs are not posted with these higher levels. Although, we want people to be aware of beach conditions and use their own judgment as to whether they use a listed water body.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend!
Justin Haas
State Lakes Coordinator
Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
245 Fallbrook Blvd., Suite 100
Lincoln, NE 68509-8922
Direct: 402-471-4224 | Main Office: 402-471-2186

 

Rationale:  Attached is information about the GMDA conference to be held in Idaho Falls, Idaho, July 21-23, 2025.

Rationale:  Adam Brockman, Conservation Technician, will be present to discuss status of SWCP projects and outlook for upcoming fiscal year.

Rationale:  Below is a completed tree planting to be approved for payment:
 

REECE KLUG

$                        488.80

Farmstead windbreak

Rationale:  Update from Director Tonnies to be given.

Rationale:  The Final Bend project is complete and we expect to see a bill from Colfax County soon.  An additional large stream bank erosion project is being investigated next to Christ Lutheran School.
NDEE conducted training for volunteer monitoring students in Newman Grove on May 22nd and Schuyler on May 28th.  Maslonka went to the Schuyler training - pictures attached.  We are working with Lakeview to set a training date soon.
The next SCWIG meeting is scheduled for June 17^th.  Moriah Brown, a PHD student at UNL, originally planned to present her work at the March meeting but is now planning to present at the June meeting.  Moriah's work is focused on antibiotic resistant bacteria in surface water samples taken from Shell Creek.

Rationale:  Monthly construction updates:

• 24" Principal Spillway pipe has been set at site 27 on 5/23.  Pressure testing to be conducted week of 5/27 (weather permitting).  Riser structure construction to begin week of 6/2.
• Foundation/sand drains completed at site 27.
• Shoreline stabilization at site 27 completed.
• Shanahan is planning on transitioning work over to site 26A as TCI begins riser/spillway work at site 27

TCI invoice #6 attached.

Rationale:  Olsson has addressed NRCS comments for site 84 and has submitted design to DNR for review.
Olsson environmental team will submit the Phase 2 404 permit to Army Corps of Engineers the week of 5/26; the Corps review is allotted 120 days.  There were no comments requiring reworking of biological assessment from any partner agency reviews.

Rationale:  Danielle will be available at Board meeting to discuss acquisition status and approval of purchase agreements.

Invoice attached

Rationale:  The appropriations bill passed by the unicameral on May 15th does not appear to reduce or limit our annual use of JEDI funds under contract.  As such, we will proceed as planned.

Rationale:  Postcards were sent to producers within the Wahoo Creek Watershed on Friday, May 23rd promoting the NWQI program. 927 postcards were sent.

Rationale:  The meeting was held on May 8th at the Lower Platte South NRD with all entities represented.  Preliminary results from the long term water quality trend analysis include: turbidity going down, nitrate decreasing, water temperature increasing, and dissolved oxygen decreasing.  The final report is planned to be published by 7/31/2026 with a preliminary draft available to the Alliance in November 2025.  Attached is the Alliance's FY26 budget.

Agency updates:
USGS = flows in the Lower Platte continue to be lower than average.  Lower flows account for turbidity at half of normal, water temperature increases of 10 degrees, higher dissolved oxygen, and lower nitrate.
NDEE & NeDNR are merged to NWEE
NDEE = will be sampling in the Lower Platte Basin in 2027.  E. coli assessment methodology changed which will make segments drop on and off the list rapidly.  As such, two segments of the Lower Platte will be delisted soon.
NG&P = Fremont SRA received upgrades
LPS = the Legislature took $2.9 million from their originally appropriated $8.3 million for the Mopac trail connector.  LPS has an airboat tour scheduled for June 6th with directors and 4 state senators.  They plan to stop at several project including the Highway 34 bridge and Lincoln Water Systems horizontal wells.
National Guard = looking to hire someone in FY26.  This person may have some capacity to support the Alliance.

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:  The Lower Platte North NRD Hazard Mitigation Plan draft is attached.  This draft includes the latest revisions following the second round of meetings.  The draft is available for public comment from Monday, May 12 to Monday June 2, 2025.  At the end of the Public Review Period, the completed plan will be submitted to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for final approval.  This is our last opportunity to review the plan.  The Board will need to adopt the Plan by resolution at our June Board meeting.  Attached is a draft resolution.

JEO has sent the Drought Mitigation Plan draft for the NRD to review. Attached is the plan as well as the invoice and progress report.

Rationale:  The Wachiska Audubon Society was awarded a 3-year Nebraska Environmental Trust Grant to support prairie habitat preservation efforts.  At the August 12, 2024 Board Meeting, the Board passed a motion to "support the Wachiska Audubon Society NET grant and pledge $1,000 for three years beginning July 1, 2025."  As such, our first $1,000 pledge is on Bills Pending for the July Board Meeting and we will budget $1,000 for FY27 and FY28.

Rationale:  The Village of Colon informed the NRD that the Village's park project is expected to be completed this June. The Board approved up to $2,000 for tree planting and trail development.

Rationale: 

NOTE: The agenda is on file at the LPNNRD office and may be changed up to 24 hours prior to the meeting as scheduled.