The Twin Platte Natural Resources District Board of Directors meeting was held at the Ramada Limited, I-80 Interchange, Ogallala, Nebraska on December 15, 1998. The meeting was called to order by Mr. Boyer at 5:30 p.m. MST (6:30 p.m. CST). A legal notice of the meeting was published in the NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH. A news release containing the agenda for the meeting and including the time and place was sent to the news media in the District.

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT	BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT & EXCUSED	NRCS PERS PRESENT
Kent Boyer	Todd Kramer	Mary Reece, Dist Cons
Dave Cotton	Roric Paulman	Jeff Nicholas
Robert Fear	Douglas Stack	Jim Lott
Jim meismer	Jerry Weaver	Lee Morse
Jim Rubenthaler		Kristin Miller
Frank Svoboda	BOARD MEMBERS	OTHERS PRESENT
Tim Thompson	ABSENT
		STAFF PRESENT
		Kent O. Miller, Gen Mgr
		Bill Carhart, Rng P Coor
		Dave Slattery, Con P Coor
		Glen Bowers, Wtr P Coor
		Ann Fisher, Wtr P Tech
		Ardis Lehmkuhler, Adm Asst

Directors Notebooks Containing Information Items Available for Handout - Mr. Boyer reported that each Director has a notebook containing information items that are available for handouts for others attending the meeting. Mr. Boyer reported that the handouts are on a table at the back of the room.

Documents for Review Prior to Action Scheduled Later on the Agenda - Mr. Miller reported that a booklet of the Cooperative Agreements with the State of Nebraska Board of Education Lands and Funds was available for information, that the booklet would be passed around the Board table for review by each member of the Board of Directors present, and that later in the meeting the Cooperative Conservation Plans would be considered for approval.

None presented.

No report presented.

Minutes for November 12, 1998 Meeting - Mr. Boyer reported that the Minutes were in the Directors' packet, and he asked if there were corrections or additions to the Minutes.

Mr. Rubenthaler moved that the Minutes of the November 12, 1998 Board of Directors meeting be approved. Mr. Svoboda seconded the motion, and it carried.(Motion #1)
AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear,Meismer, Rubenthaler, Svoboda, Thompson
NAY: None
ABSENT: Kramer, Paulman, Stack, Weaver

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service -

Monthly Report - Mrs. Reece reported that in the Directors' Packet for information was a narrative report prepared by her and she reviewed her report.

Programs -

Environmental Quality Incentive Program -

Reports - Mrs. Reece reported that the Local Work Group would need to meet in January to establish the ranking for funding applications in the District that are outside of a priority area.

Applications - No report presented.

Conservation Reserve Program - No report presented.

Highly Erodible Lands Requirements -

Reports - Mr. Miller reported in the Directors' Packetfor informationwere the November listings of completed Highly Erodible Lands determinations.

Conservation Plans - No report presented.

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program - No report presented.

USDA Farm Service Agency - No report presented.

Nebraska Board of Educational Lands and Funds - No report presented.

Cooperative Agreement- Mr. Boyer reported that each memeber of the board of directors present had reviewed the booklet containing the Cooperative Agreements with the State of Nebraska Board of Educational Lands and Funds for Conservation Plans.

Mr. Cotton moved ot approve the following Agreements between the Nebraska Board of Educaitonal Lands and Funds and the Twin Platte Natural Resources District to assist in the development and the application ofa completer resource conservation plan iwth the assistance provided by the District dependent upon the amount of assistance available by the district:

Lease Number	County	Legal Description	Acres
104102-06	Arthur	16-19-40	640.0
104103-06	Arthur	36-17-36	640.0

and to authorize the General Manager to sign each Cooperative Agreement as the District representative. Mr. Fear seconded the motion and it Carried. (Motion #2)
AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear, Meismer, Rubenthaler, Svoboda, Thompson
NAY: None
ABSENT: Kramer, Paulman, Stack, Weaver

Nebraska Natural Resources Commission -

South Platte Basin Representative Election Caucus - Mr. Miller reported that Nebraska Natural Resources Commission members are selected by River Basins by the seated Natural Resources District Directors within the River Basin. Mr. Miller reported that the Twin Platte Natural Resources District is within the South Platte, North Platte and Middle Platte basins. Mr. Miller reported that the representative's term for the South Platte Basin expires in January, 1999. Mr. Miller reported that the representative's terms for the North Platte and the Middle Platte basins expire in January, 2001. Mr. Miller reported that the current representative for the South Platte Basin is Clifford Welsh and that Mr. Welsh is not seeking re-election. Mr. Miller reported that Mr. Welsh resides in the Twin Platte Natural Resources District and is a former member of the Twin Platte Natural Resources District Board of Directors. Mr. Miller reported that Bob Hahn is a candidate for election as the representative for the South Platte Basin. Mr. Miller reported that Mr. Hahn is a resident of Sidney, Nebraska, that he resides in the South Platte Natural Resources District and that he is a former member of the South Platte Natural Resources District Board of Directors. Mr. Miller reported that candidates eligible are any resident in the South Platte Basin of majority age of 19. Mr. Miller asked if there were any other known candidates and there were none indicated.

The members of the Board of Directors residing in the South Platte Basin agreed to direct the General Manager to send a letter to Dayle Williamson, Director of the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission, indicating their support of the candidacy of Bob Hahn to represent the South Platte Basin on the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission and reporting to Mr. Williamson that they would not be attending and participating in the South Platte Basin Caucus.

Meetings - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information were the minutes for the Nebraska Natural Resources Commissions' October 29, 1998 meeting. Mr Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information was the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission newsletter for the fall of 1998.

National Association of Conservation Districts - Mr Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information was the National Association of Conservation Districts newsletter titled"The district Leader" for November, 1998.

Miscellaneous Information - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information was the National Association of Conservation Districts newsletter titled "Tuesday Letter" Fall 1998 edition and information for the National Association of Conservation Districts 53rd Annual Meeting January 31 - February 4, 1999.

Other Agencies -No report presented.

Land Resources Subcommittee - No report presented.

Water Resources Subcommittee - No report presented.

Wildlife Habitat & Urban Affairs Subcommittee - No Report Represented.

Executive Subcommittee - No report presented.

Financial Statement - Mr. Thompson reported that the Financial Statement for November, 1998 was in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information.

Accounts Payable - Mr. Miller reported that the Accounts Payable report was in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout, and that he had reviewed the Accounts Payable and found the report to be in order.

Mr. Thompson moved that the Financial Statement for November, 1998 be received and placed on file for audit and that the Accounts Payable in the amount of $37,828.21 be paid. Mr. Stack seconded the motion, and it carried. (Motion #3)
AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear, Meismer, Rubenthaler, Svoboda, Thompson
NAY: None
ABSENT: Kramer, Paulman, Stack, Weaver

Budget Status - Mr. Thompson reported that the Budget status was in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout. Mr. Thompson reported that there were no new or additional overruns.

Bids/Proposals - None were presented.

Bids/Proposals Scheduled To Be Presented for Consideration During the December 15, 1998 Board of Directors Meeting - Mr. Miller reported that no bids/proposals were scheduled to be presented for consideration during the January 14, 1998 Board of Directors meeting.

Sale of Surplus Equipment - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information was a written report of the items sold along with the name of the purchaser and the purchase price as required by the District's Operating Policy 37. Mr. Miller reported that the items were advertised in the North Platte Telegraph and sealed bids were accepted till December 10, 1999 at 4:00 p.m. CST, that all of the District's staff and one visitor who had submitted a bid witnessed the bid opening at 4:00 p.m. CST, that items not sold were given away as shown on the written report and that the total sales was $714.00.

Nebraska Association of Resources Districts -

Board of Directors Meetings - Mr. Meismer reported that in the Directors’ packet for information were the minutes for the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts Board of Directors meeting held on September 29, 1998.

Legislative Conference, January 26-27, 1999 -
Program - Mr. Miller reported that on the first day of the Legislative Conference on Tuesday, January 26, 1999, the program would include discussion of current Legislation, action to take a position on Legislation and Legislative issues and a Legislative reception for the Senators.

Registration & Travel - Mr. Miller reported that in previous years, a plane has been chartered for Directors to attend the first day of the Legislative Conference. Mr. Miller asked if the Directors would like to charter a plane for travel to Lincoln for Directors to attend the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts Legislative Conference on Tuesday, January 26, 1999. Mr. Boyer directed the General Manager to tentatively charter a plane for travel to Lincoln for Directors to attend the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts Legislative Conference on Tuesday, January 26, 1999 and that the Board could determine during the January 14, 1999 Board meeting whether there is enough interest of Directors traveling on the plane to justify the expense.

Miscellaneous Information - Mr. Meismer reported that in the Directors' packet for information were reports received from the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts Executive Director, Dean Edson.

Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District Water Conservation Task Force - No report presented.

Requests for Authorization to Travel - No requests were presented.

Board of Directors Vacancy, Sub-District 1 - Mr. Boyer reported that in the November election, there was no candidate to represent Sub-District 1. Mr. Boyer reported that Nebraska Statutes governs vacancies in the office of a Director and authorizes the Board to fill such vacancies and that the District's Operating Policy Number 5 provides that "notice of the vacancy shall be given to the Board of Directors at the first regular meeting following the vacancy" and "the Executive Subcommittee will seek persons interested in filling the vacated Director position and recommend one or more persons to the Board of Directors to fill the vacancy no later than the second regular meeting of the Board of Directors following the occurrence of the vacancy". Mr. Boyer reported that the vacancy would occur on January 6, 1999. Mr. Boyer reported that in the Directors' packet and in the Directors notebook and available as a handout were maps for Sub-District 1. Mr. Boyer encouraged the members of the Board of Directors to seek persons interested in being appointed to fill the vacancy and that a Director should notify the General Manager of any individual they have contacted who is interested in being appointed to fill the vacancy and the General Manager will send the individual a questionnaire that the Executive Subcommittee developed.

Requests for Assistance - No requests were presented.

Cost-Share Programs -

Nebraska Soil & Water Conservation Program -Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout was the monthly report.

Contracts -

Requested Detailed Review - No report presented.

Proposed New Contracts -

Mr. Meismer moved to approve the report:

Mr. Fear seconded the motion, and it carried. (Motion #4)
AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear,Meismer, Rubenthaler, Svoboda, Thompson
NAY: None
ABSENT: Fear, Kramer, Paulman, Stack, Weaver

Practice NC-12: Windbreaks - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet was a Staff recommendation to the Board of Directors to revise the District's Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Program policies for NC-12, Windbreaks for the 1999 Fiscal Year. Mr. Miller reported that the recommendation to reduce the funds reserved is due to a shortage of tree stock available for planting in the Spring of 1999 and the recommendation to extend the reserve for an additional month is due to the delay in the staff being able to prepare tree plans due to the uncertainty of the availability of tree stock for planting in the Spring of 1999.

Mr. Fear moved that the District's Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Program policies for NC-12, Windbreaks, be revised for the 1999 Fiscal Year as follows: (Additions are underlined and deletions have been italicized)

For July 1, 1998 to December 31, 1998 January 31, 1999, $35,000.00 $25,000.00 will be reserved for Practice NC-12, Windbreaks and a maximum of $1,200.00 of cost-share funds will be allowed per cooperator for water conservation mulch or a drip irrigation system.

Mr. Meismer seconded the motion, and it carried. (Motion #5)
AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear, Meismer, Rubenthaler, Svoboda, Thompson
NAY: None
ABSENT: Fear, Kramer, Paulman, Stack, Weaver

Nebraska Buffer Strip Program -

Guidelines - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet for information about the Nebraska Buffer Strip Program was a Description and Guidelines for the Program, a North Platte Telegraph news article on December 6, 1998, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln NebFacts publication, the Nebraska Statutes for the Buffer Strip Act, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture Rules and Regulations, and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture application for the program.

Landowner Agreements - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet for information was a Nebraska Department of Agriculture letter dated December 2, 1998 and a Nebraska Department of Agriculture suggested agreement that Natural Resources Districts utilize with landowners.

Mr. Svoboda moved to approve the following Nebraska Buffer Strip Program policy: (Additions are underlined and deletions have been italicized)

The Twin Platte Natural Resources District will utilize the Cooperative Contract for the Buffer Strip Program provided by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture

Mr. Cotton seconded the motion, and it carried. (Motion #6)
AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear, Meismer, Rubenthaler, Svoboda, Thompson NAY: None
ABSENT: Kramer, Paulman, Stack, Weaver

Memorandum of Understanding - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet for information was a Nebraska Department of Agriculture suggested Nebraska Buffer Strip Program Memorandum of Understanding between the Twin Platte Natural Resources District and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture

Mr. Svoboda moved to approve the following Nebraska Buffer Strip Program policy: (Additions are underlined and deletions have a strikethrough line)

An agreement between the Nebraska Department of Agriculture shall be approved by the Board of Directors and shall be kept on file in the District's offices

and to approve the NE Department of Agriculture suggested NE Buffer Strip Program Memorandum of Understanding between the Twin Platte Natural Resources District and the NE Department of Agriculture and to authorize the General Manager to sign the Memorandum of Understanding as the District representative.

Mr. Meismer seconded the motion, and it carried. (Motion #7)
AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear, Meismer, Rubenthaler, Svoboda, Thompson
NAY: None
ABSENT: Kramer, Paulman, Stack, Weaver

Tree Programs - No report presented.

Range Programs - No report presented.

Soil Conservation Programs - No report presented.

Wildlife Habitat Programs -

Wildlife Habitat Improvement- Mr. Miller reported that during the November 12, 1998 Board meeting, the Nebraska Recreation Liability statutes were discussed. Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors notebook and available as a handout for information was a copy of the Nebraska Recreation Liability statutes.

Corners for Wildlife Program-No report presented.

Water Programs -

Ground Water Program -

District Programs - No report presented.

319 Project - No report presented.

Miscellaneous Information -Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout was a copy of information the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts presented to the Nebraska Legislature's Natural Resources Committee in regard to Legislative Resolution 444 which deals with fertilizer and pesticides fees.

Watershed Program -

Brule Watershed - Mr. Miller reported on the status of the work to clean out the sediment under the Union Pacific Railroad bridge in the Brule Watershed outfall channel. Mr. Miller reported that Korty Land & Improvement has completed the contract with the District to clean out the outfall outfall channel south of the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge. Mr. Miller reported that the materila was wet and difficult to handle and that the shaping othe the channel banks was rough and meay need to be smoothed at a later date. Mr. Miller reported that the Union Pacific Railroad has partially cleaned the sediment out from under their bridge and the Nebraska department of Roads is continuing ot clean the sediment from their ditched and under their bridges above the outfall channel.

Ogallala Watershed - No report presented.

Platte River Activities -

Nebraska, Colorado & Wyoming Cooperative Agreement for the Platte Rivers Relating to Endangered Species - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout was information for meetings of the Governance Committee and the Water Management Committee. Mr. Miller reported that he attends meetings of the Governance Committee and the Water Management Committee as his schedule allows with a priority for attending meetings of the Water Management Committee which he is a member of and that he is participating in meetings in Nebraska about the issues within Nebraska. Mr. Miller reported that a Basin Meeting has been scheduled for March 17, 1999 in North Platte for Directors for the North Platte, South Platte, Twin Platte, Central Platte and Tri-Basin Natural Resources to discuss the Cooperative Agreement.
Cooperative Hydrology of the Platte River & Basin NE Project - No report presented.

South Platte Compact - Mr. Miller reported on the discussions that he has initiated with Jim Cook, Legal Counsel for the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission and Don Blankenau, Legal Counsel for the Nebraska Department of Water Resources in regard to the South Platte Compact. Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet was the South Platte Compact and other information in regard to the Compact. Mr. Miller reviewed the compact and reported on previous activities of the District in regard to the compact.

Regulatory Programs - No report presented.

Information & Education Programs -

1998 Awards Program -

Presentation November 2, 1998 - Mr. Miller reported that the District's 1998 Grassland Conservation Award for Lincoln/McPherson Counties was presented to the Johnson Ranch (Don Johnson) during the North Platte Chamber Farmer/Rancher Banquet on November 2, 1998.

Presentation December 15, 1998 - Mr. Miller reported that the District's 1998 Tree Award for Keith/Arthur Counties will be presented to Gregg Gade during the District’s awards banquet following the Board meeting.

Livestock Confinement Issues - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet and in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout was information in regard to Livestock confinement issues.

Legislation -No report presented.

Weather Modification Program - No report presented.

Requests for Authorization to Travel - No requests were presented.

Personnel Reports - Mr. Miller reported that the staff prepares written reports for all activities that we participate in outside of the District. Mr. Miller reported that the recent reports were in the Directors' packet for information. Mr. Miller reported that the field staff prepares weekly reports of activities, contacts and mileage. Mr. Miller reported that the recent reports were in the Directors' packet for information.

Meetings and Dates of Interest - Mr. Miller reported that various items of information were in the Directors' packet and in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout.

Miscellaneous Information - Mr. Miller reported that various items of information were in the Directors' packet and in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout.

There was no other business.

KOM:MIN1:
TWIN PLATTE NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - December 15, 1998