NRD Board Meeting Focus Water, Trees

(Curtis, NE) – A week after the election, it was business as usual at the Middle Republican Natural Resources District’s Board of Director’s Meeting in McCook last Tuesday, November 14.

Groundwater remains the district’s primary focus. Manager Dan Smith indicated that meter reading and servicing was ongoing. The flow meters in Hitchcock and Hayes County are being serviced this year. Smith said, “It might seem like we’re moving slowly for now, but that is due to the extra time needed repair and service. We wanted to get the servicing and repair work done while we still had relatively good weather. Lincoln, Frontier, and Red Willow counties should move quickly.” Christy Peterson reported to the board that any meter reading inconsistencies are being handled via certified letters to landowners requesting power records on meters that did not function properly during the season.

Smith reviewed a request made for funds from the Texaco Trust. A bid was presented for Leland Frakes for a pipeline. The board approved the Texaco Trust expenditure for Leland Frakes.

The district held a public hearing, the purpose of which was to receive testimony for a variance from the District’s Ground Water Management Area Rules and Regulations. Smith reviewed the variance request. Chris Miller, P.E. for Miller & Associates Consulting Engineers, P.C. presented testimony for BIC Joint Water Agency for new Municipal Wells. Previously approved well permits were designated as replacement wells. Miller requested that the well permits be changed to new well permits. This represents no change to BIC Joint Water Agency original plan; it was simply discovered that the irrigation wells could not be used as replacement wells for municipal wells according to the regulations. DNR is currently reviewing the transfer permit. The requested change is a pen and ink change from replacement to new wells. The board approved the variance request as presented.

Assistant Manager Bob Merrigan presented two bids received by the district to plant conservation trees for spring of 2007. Merrigan asked the board to consider approving contract bids on a multi-year basis. Merrigan proposed that unless significant pricing changes occurred in the vendor’s quote, that the district be able to renew their contract with the approved vendor on a multi-year basis. The board approved a bid from John Jaeger to lay mulch and plant conservation trees for the district for the next two years.

Merrigan requested to purchase a 2-year supply of mulch. There have been difficulties in getting the trucking companies, which have to come from Georgia, to deliver half a truckload of mulch. There will be fewer difficulties if we get a full truckload. The board instructed Merrigan to purchase a 2-year supply of mulch if he could get a significant discount on the mulch.

The district was approached by the City of Curtis to contribute grass seed and a drill for a community improvement project. The City of Curtis has applied for a grant from the Nebraska Game and Parks to make improvements at the Arrowhead Meadows (golf course) fishing pond. The project will improve the drainage going into the pond, create a sediment trap and enlarge the pond. The use of the drill and the cost of grass seed should be under $150.00. A motion was made by Fornoff and second by Hoyt to help the City of Curtis with the grass seed and drilling.

Smith reported that at the last Nebraska Republican River Management Districts Association. The Attorney General presented a check for $75,000.00 to the Association for Riparian Management.

Smith reviewed the Election report. All results remain unofficial until deemed official by the state. Unofficial results show new board members Josh Friesen, Marty Schurr, Benjie Loomis, Brad Randel, and Dan Nelsen. Incumbent Kevin Fornoff was re-elected. Smith discussed the upcoming board retreat on December 15, 2006 at the Rep Valley Event Center in McCook. Sponsored in cooperation with the Upper and Lower Republican NRDs, the retreat will cover a variety of water related issues with guest speakers. This retreat will provide existing and new board members the opportunity to become informed on the issues and improve their decision making background.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 1:30 p.m. at the NRD Office in Curtis, Nebraska.

Full text of the meeting minutes, kept current, is available during regular business hours at the NRD office in Curtis or on the web at www.mrnrd.org.

November 20, 2006