February 26, 2026 at 8:30 AM - Operations Committee Meeting
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1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Rationale:
There is nothing to consider for unfinished business.
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2. WILD NE AND OTHER PROGRAMS
Rationale:
We are working with the NRCS, who is contracting with a burn contractor to burn the160 acre Snitily Pheasants Forever tract.
We have prepared to burn 150 acres of Wanahoo property on the east side along Hwy 109. This will be burned in cooperation with NRD staff, G & P, and Pheasants Forever when the weather allows. |
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3. OPERATION & MAINTENANCE & OTHER ITEMS
Rationale:
The O & M crew continues to remove invasive trees along the Clear Creek Levee, Rawhide Ditch 8, at Czechland and Wanahoo.
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3.A. Rehabilitation of Cottonwood 21-A, NRCS, HDR
Rationale:
HDR is working on the questions/comments the NRCS Watershed Programs Branch made in their Programmatic review.
Staff has started an RFP draft for the rehabilitation design for Cottonwood 21-A. It may be ready by the March Board meeting. |
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3.B. Wanahoo Basin Damage & Repair, FEMA, & Houston Engineeering
Rationale:
We have not heard from Houston Engineering, who is working with FEMA in figuring out cost/benefit ratios for replacement repairs and mitigation repairs.
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3.C. No-Till Grass Drill
Rationale:
NET notified the District that we would be awarded grant funding for a new No-Till grass drill. We will get updated quotes from three dealers and proceed.
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3.D. Tree Cooler
Rationale:
The new tree cooler is almost complete. The refrigeration company has to make some final connections and a test run. Trees will arrive in April.
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3.E. Diesel and Gas Purchases
Rationale:
Staff will develop a procedure for purchasing diesel and gas for our fuel barrels. We will call on local fuel providers, as needed, to get prices for the approximate quantity we need.
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4. ROCK AND JETTY
Rationale:
We have not received any applications or cost-share request.
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5. LAKE WANAHOO
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5.A. Lake Wanahoo Permit Sales
Rationale:
For the month of January, the District received $3,450.50 in park permit revenue.
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5.B. Lake Wanahoo Camping Revenue
Rationale:
For the month of January, the District received $2,837.39 in camping revenue.
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5.C. Clint Johannes Education Building
Rationale:
The Clint Johannes Education Building at Lake Wanahoo was rented 9 times in February. Revenue for the month was $1,225.
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6. INFORMATION AND EDUCATION
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6.A. Information
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6.A.1. Radio & eAds
Rationale:
KTIC schedule:
January: Water Management/Nitrogen Certification February: Trees & Shrubs March: Environment Education Digital display ad schedule: Tree orders continue through February 28, 2026
Attachments:
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6.A.2. Analytics
Rationale:
Top five posts:
RedThread has received the information to add the live feed from the new camera onto our website. No set deadline yet as to when it will be live on the website. |
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6.A.3. Winter Viaduct and Annual Report
Rationale:
The Winter Viaduct and Annual Report was printed on January 28 and sent to area newspapers for inserting in the second and third weeks in February. Printed copies are available in the office and a digital copy is available at lpnnrd.org/downloads.
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6.A.4. Nebraska Public Media
Rationale:
We would like to continue our successful partnership Nebraska Public Media by sharing one our videos for a 2-3 month period during the Wednesday educational programming. This placement has been a great addition to expanding awareness of the LPNNRD to families in our district and across the state.
This year we would like to share the recreation video since the March - May aligns well with seasonal outdoor activities. Attached is the proposal Nebraska Public Media (TV only option) has provided that fits within the current budget. The dates will be adjusted after board approval. As a note, these are the previous shared videos: 2025 - Operations and Maintenance video discussing projects and structures across the district. 2024 - Information and Education video discussing reaching audiences from 1 to 100.
Recommended Motion(s):
To share the recreation video with Nebraska Public Media for the months of March - May at the proposed amount of $1,065 Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
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6.A.5. Water Department/Producer Digital Newsletter
Rationale:
On February 12, LPNNRD's "Healthy Water, Healthy Future" newsletter was emailed to producers.
Topics included: • SQS #2 area informational meeting • March 9th Groundwater Management Plan hearing • cost-share programs available in Shell Creek and Wahoo Creek • domestic well water cost-share The email was delivered to 1,187 users with a 45% open rate. 90 of those users clicked on one of the links to view additional information. A copy is attached.
Attachments:
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6.B. Education
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6.B.1. Past events
Rationale:
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6.B.2. Upcoming events
Rationale:
TBD: Survival Club; St. Wenceslaus Pre-K; classroom visits |
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6.B.3. NRD Natural Resources Grant
Rationale:
Bishop Neumann's video to our board.
https://cdolinc-my.sharepoint.com/personal/kurt-heideman_cdolinc_net/_layouts/15/stream.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fkurt%2Dheideman%5Fcdolinc%5Fnet%2FDocuments%2FOther%20Folders%2FAttachments%2FGarden%20Grant%20Video%2EMOV&ga=1&referrer=StreamWebApp%2EWeb&referrerScenario=AddressBarCopied%2Eview%2E00858fbf%2Dbde5%2D4e6b%2D9355%2D40e84d3b4992 |
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6.B.4. Volunteers are always welcome
Rationale:
April and May are the busiest months of the school year. We will have field trips, Spring Conservation Sensation, and more events coming up that I can always use more help with. If you are interested in volunteering, please let me know and I will add you to the list. Once you are on the list, I'll send out the information for the upcoming event, and you can decide if it works for your schedule. Thank you in advance for your help!
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6.B.5. Native Nook
Rationale:
Our first Native Nook project is underway! The viaduct showcased this new program, and we've received a lot of great feedback and interest. More projects are in the que.
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6.B.6. Watchable Wildlife Grant
Rationale:
We received partial funding for the Watchable Wildlife Grant. Currently, the Wahoo High School shop class students are building the bird feeding structure. Once it's complete, Jon will get it into the ground on the east side of Lake Wanahoo near the picnic shelter that is north of the Ed building. Bird seed, feeders, and containers will be purchased next. Lacey is working on the bird ID signage that will be placed near the feeder. The last component will be a community communication piece, where people can write down the species they see and drop it into an iron ranger. Then I will transfer it to a board where we will keep track of species seen and their totals. We plan to have a grand opening at the end of April and close out the grant in early May.
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7. RURAL WATER SYSTEMS
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7.A. Rural Water Operations
Rationale:
The RWD is reviewing current rate schedules for the upcoming fiscal year. We have not adjusted the rates since 2022. Attached are the current rate schedules.
Attachments:
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7.B. Colon System
Rationale:
Routine sampling completed, meters read and bills to be mailed 2/27.
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7.C. Bruno System
Rationale:
Routine sampling completed, meters read and bills to be mailed 2/27.
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7.D. Other
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