September 3, 2026 at 8:30 AM - Operations Committee Meeting
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1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Rationale:
There is nothing to address for unfinished business.
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2. WILD NE AND OTHER PROGRAMS
Rationale:
We are working with Chase Heck a prescribed burn specialist, and the Rain Water Basin Joint Venture to burn the Snitily/Phesants Forever tract this Fall. The group is making it a priority and will have more of an opportunity to burn this Fall versus the very unpredictable Spring. A firebreak will be hayed and some trees/shrubs will be mulched to provide a better break.
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3. OPERATION & MAINTENANCE & OTHER ITEMS
Rationale:
The O & M crew has been spraying noxious weeds & trees. We started our mowing circuit and have been to Cottonwood 21-A, Czechland & Homestead Lakes, North Bend Cut-off Ditch, Cottrell and Ames Levee and the Rawhide Ditch system.
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3.A. Rehabilitation of Cottonwood 21-A, NRCS, HDR
Rationale:
A public meeting for the Cottonwood Creek Watershed Flood Reduction Structure 21-A project is scheduled for Thursday, September 17, from 3:30-6:00 p.m. at the Malmo Fire Hall. The meeting is being advertised by HDR, NRCS, and LPNNRD. Staff will also mail the public notice to approximately 30 landowners and associated tenants within the watershed. The draft Supplemental Watershed Plan-EA and associated project materials are available on the District's website for public review. Attached is an RFP for professional engineering services to complete the final rehabilitation design of Cottonwood 21-A. The scope includes geotechnical investigation, surveying, environmental and permitting services, and 60%, 90%, and final design. Proposals are scheduled to be due October 16, with consultant selection anticipated for Board approval on November 9.
Recommended Motion(s):
To approve the Cottonwood Creek Watershed Flood Reduction Structure 21-A Professional Engineering Services RFP for design and authorize staff to advertise and solicit proposals. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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3.B. Wanahoo Basin Damage & Repair, FEMA, & Houston Engineering
Rationale:
Houston contacted NEMA for an update on the FEMA process and learned that the request is currently under legal review. Procedures implemented in 2022 require a request to be submitted to the Emergency Watershed Program immediately following an event. This requirement changed the way funding was obligated from the past 2019 disaster funding and is delaying some Nebraska funding requests, as NEMA may not have been fully aware of it at the time, resulting in additional legal review.
Houston prepared an updated cost breakout memo and sent it to FEMA via Rachel Hines at NEMA. They will want to get the funding request updated for mitigation dollars and repair estimates before they complete legal review. |
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3.C. Sand/Duck Creek Dam 16
Rationale:
The landowner for Sand/Duck Creek site #16 (~3 miles north of Prague) has requested that the NRD’s Ingress/Egress Easement be changed to what was used during construction. JEO has done a survey and there are two options for the new Ingress/Egress easement (See aerial attached.) This will require us to rewrite the ingress/egress legal description and have Jovan draw up an agreement to be signed and filed with the county. The District has obtained one cost estimate at approx. $10,000 to put in a new drive that would be a straight shot off of Hwy 79. It will require dirt and an 18" culvert. We also have the expenses for the survey, the writing of the new easement and legal fees.
Recommended Motion(s):
To approve a new Ingress/Egress access driveway off of Hwy 79 to Sand/Duck Dam 16, to solicit 3-4 bids and to have staff accept the most reasonable bid Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
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3.D. Haying on Wanahoo
Rationale:
Dan Kadavy has hayed his portion of the Wanahoo property. He has a total of 294 bales, of which he obtains half.
Meduna Family Farms will be starting soon. Plans need to be made for hauling bales to western Nebraska. |
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3.E. FEVR (Fremont Elkhorn Valley Railroad) Trail Project — Fremont
Rationale:
This FEVR (Fremont Elkhorn Valley Railroad) Trail request was talked about in the past. It's on the old FEVR bed. They have completed a segment from Hooper to Hwy 275 and now will obtain bids for a segment just north of Hwy 275 at Luther Road going north to Nickerson. See the attached aerial for the segment within our District boundary. They hope to have bids by next month and then will ask for cost-share assistance.
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3.F. Platte River Reserve Habitat Restoration Request - Colfax
Rationale:
The Platte River Reserve, Inc. contacted the District requesting assistance with a proposed habitat restoration project on approximately 900 acres of privately owned property along the Platte River in Colfax County, formerly known as Tomek Island. The property is located approximately two miles southwest of Schuyler.
The proposal includes extensive Eastern red cedar removal followed by planting native hardwoods and other woody vegetation to improve wildlife and riparian habitat. The landowners are requesting that LPNNRD provide technical direction, administer available grant or cost-share funding, manage contractors, and handle project reporting and administration. Staff has concerns about the level of involvement requested and the precedent it could establish for similar private landowner projects along the Platte River. Staff intends to advise Platte River Reserve that the District will not participate in the proposed project and recommend contacting other groups such as Whitetails Unlimited, Wild Turkey Federation, NE G & P, NRCS, and others. |
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4. ROCK AND JETTY
Rationale:
We have not received any applications or request for payment.
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5. LAKE WANAHOO
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5.A. Lake Wanahoo Permit Sales
Rationale:
For the month of July, the District received $5,962.00 in park permit revenue.
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5.B. Lake Wanahoo Camping Revenue
Rationale:
For the month of July, the District received $18,901.51 in camping revenue.
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5.C. Clint Johannes Education Building
Rationale:
The Clint Johannes Education Building at Lake Wanahoo was rented 16 times in August, with 1 NRD event. Revenue for the month was $1,375.
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6. INFORMATION AND EDUCATION
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6.A. Information
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6.A.1. Radio Ads
Rationale:
KTIC Radio Ads air on KTIC AM 840/98.3/98.7 and 107.9 The Bull. These 30-second messages air 12 times weekly along with a website display ad and Marketplace listing on KTICRadio.com.
KTIC radio ads schedule: August featured the Summer Viaduct September features no-till drills available to rent with pricing
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6.A.2. Digital Ads
Rationale:
Targeted digital display ad schedule:
September-October: Environmental education opportunities Targeted digital display ads are banner ads delivered across multiple sites and apps. Below are just some of the sites these ads are shown on: • News sites (Fox News, USA Today, NY Post) • Local TV sites (KETV, WOWT) • Apps (Newsbreak, Crossword) **Only if you match the targeted area: 36 zip codes covering LPN district. A map of this area is also attached.
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6.A.3. Analytics
Rationale:
Top Posts for Facebook and X during August included:
• Weather Station article from newsletter • Green Thumb Gathering event in September • Wanahoo prescribed burn notice • Phragmites awareness and treatment options • Coffee, Lakeside (August) Celestial Events Total posts for the month: 15 Total reach for the month: 5,235 Facebook followers: 1,910 (up 8) X followers: 429 (no change) On the LPNNRD website, top pages (besides the home page) • Lake Wanahoo • Czechland Lake • Downloads • Outdoor Recreation • Monitoring Programs Traffic from other sites directed to LPNNRD.org • Facebook (74) • NARD (21) • Visit Nebraska (6) • X (4) |
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6.B. Education
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6.B.1. Past events
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6.B.2. Upcoming events
Rationale:
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6.B.3. Education Flyer
Rationale:
See attachment for the Education Flyer we sent out to all the area schools via mail and email.
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6.B.4. East Central Land Judging Contest
Rationale:
If you are interested in assisting with this contest on October 7th, please let me know and I will get you more information.
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7. RURAL WATER SYSTEMS
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7.A. Colon System
Rationale:
Routine monthly sampling completed, meters read, bills mailed 8/31.
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7.B. Bruno System
Rationale:
Routine monthly sampling completed, meters read, bills mailed 8/31.
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7.C. Abie Rural Water System
Rationale:
Tyler Keenan, of JEO, will be present to discuss the results of the study they conducted for connecting the Village of Abie to our Bruno RWD.
Steve McNulty, DWEE Environmental Supervisor for State Revolving Fund, will be present to discuss funding pathways for Abie RWD with potential to include Prague and Malmo. On 9/16 Elliott will attend the Village of Prague's Supervisors meeting to discuss potential of including Prague within LPNNRD's Rural Water system. |
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7.D. Potential New RW District (Prague/Malmo)
Rationale:
Steve McNulty, DWEE Environmental Supervisor for State Revolving Fund, will be present to discuss funding pathways for potentially new RWD to include Prague and/or Malmo.
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