TWIN PLATTE NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT
Board of Directors Meeting
February 11, 1999

The Twin Platte Natural Resources District Board of Directors meeting was held at the United Nebraska Bank Center Meeting Room, Second Floor, West Wing, 111 South Dewey Street, North Platte, Nebraska on Feburary 11, 1999. The meeting was called to order by Mr. Boyer at 7:35 p.m. CST (6:35 p.m. MST). 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 Roric Paulman Mary Reece, Dist Cons
Dave Cotton Jim Rubenthaler Jeff Nicholas, Range Mgm
Robert Fear Doug Stack
Todd Kramer
James Meismer
Frank Svoboda BOARD MEMBERS OTHERS PRESENT
ABSENT Jim Goeke, UNL Cons & Sur
Jerry Weaver STAFF PRESENT
Kent O. Miller, Gen Mgr
Glen Bowers, Wtr P Cor
Ann Fisher, Wtr P Tch
Ardis Lehmkuhler, Adm Asst


PUBLIC FORUM

The Public Forum of the meeting was opened. There were no comments, and the Public Forum was closed.

REPORT OF DIRECTORS EXCUSED

Mr. Boyer reported that Mr. Paulman, Mr. Rubentahler, and Mr. Stack were excused.

DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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. Boyer reported that a booklet of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Plans Schedules of Operations Agreements for the Conservation Reserve Program was available for review, 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 Conservation Plans Schedules of Operations Agreements for the Conservation Reserve Program would be considered for approval. Mr. Boyer reported that a booklet of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Plans for Highly Erodible Lands 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 Conservation Plans for Highly Erodible Lands would be considered for approval. Mr. Boyer reported that a booklet of the Cooperative Agreements with the State of Nebraska Board of Educational Lands and Funds for Conservation Plans 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 Agreements for Conservation Plans would be considered for approval.

AGENDA MODIFICATION

None presented.

GENERAL INFORMATION

None presented

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS

Minutes for January 14, 1999 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. Meismer moved that the Minutes of the January 14, 1998 Board of Directors meeting be approved. Mr. Kramer seconded the motion, and it carried.(Motion #1)
AYE: Cotton, Fear, Kramer, Meismer, Svoboda,
NAY: None
ABSTAIN: Boyer
ABSENT: Paulman, Rubenthaler, Stack, Weaver

COOPERATING AGENCIES REPORTS

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. Mrs. Reece reported on the issues being addressed between the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the Natural Resources Conservation Service in regard to the resource assessment prepared by the Natural Resources Conservation Service for the animal waste management application for a site in Arthur County that was prepared as an example of how the Service could assist the District in the review of animal waste management applications for sites within the District.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - Programs - Highly Erodible Lands Requirements - - Mr. Boyer reported that in the Directors' packet for information were the December listings of completed Highly Erodible Lands determinations. Mr. Boyer reported that the booklet containing the Conservation Plans for Highly Erodible Lands had been reviewed by each member of the Board of Directors present.

Mr. Cotton moved to approve the Conservation Plans for Highly Erodible Lands for Ray & Anna Herbal (112.0 acres) as adequate to meet the requirements for Highly Erodible Lands under the USDA Food Security Act and to authorize the General Manager to sign each Conservation Plan as the District representative. Mr. Meismer seconded the motion and it carried.(Motion #2) AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear, Kramer, Meismer, Svoboda,
NAY: None
ABSENT: Paulman, Rubenthaler, Stack, Weaver

USDA Farm Service Agency - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information were the Lincoln & McPherson Counties Farm Service Agency newsletter dated February 3, 1999.

Nebraska Board of Educational Lands and Funds - Cooperative Agreements - Mr. Boyer reported that the booklet containing the Cooperative Agreements with the State of Nebraska Board of Educational Lands and Funds for Conservation Plans had been reviewed by each member of the Board of Directors present.

Mr. Meismer moved to approve the Cooperative Agreements between the Nebraska Board of Educational Lands and Funds and the Twin Platte Natural Resources District to assist in the development and the application of a complete resource conservation plan with the assistance provided by the District dependent upon the amount of assistance available by the District for Lease # 103996-06 (36-15-36, 640 acres) and to authorize the General Manager to sign each Cooperative Agreement as the District representative. Mr. Kramer seconded the motion and it carried. (Motion #3)
AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear, Kramer, Meismer, Svoboda,
NAY: None
ABSENT: Paulman, Rubenthaler, Stack, Weaver

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - Programs - Conservation Reserve Program - Mr. Boyer reported that the booklet containing the Conservation Plans Schedules of Operations Agreements for the Conservation Reserve Program had been reviewed by each member of the Board of Directors present.

Mr. Cotton moved to approve the Conservation Plans Schedules of Operations Agreements for the USDA Conservation Reserve Program for Randy Blake (77.2 acres) and Charles Smith (0.8 acres) and to authorize the General Manager to sign each Conservation Plan as the District representative. Mr. Meismer seconded the motion and it carried. (Motion #4)
AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear, Kramer, Meismer, Svoboda,
NAY: None
ABSENT: Paulman, Rubenthaler, Stack, Weaver

Nebraska Natural Resources Commission - No report presented.

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 January, 1999 and the National Association of Conservation Districts newsletter titled "Tuesday Letter" for Winter, 1999.

Other Agencies - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information was information about Roger Patterson, the new Director for the Nebraska Department of Water Resources.

SUBCOMITTEE MEETINGS REPORT
Land Resources Subcommittee

No report presented.

SUBCOMITTEE MEETINGS REPORT
Water Resources Subcommittee

Mr. Meismer reported that the minutes for the January 22,1999 meeting of the Subcommitee were in the Director's packet for information and he presented a report.

Ground Water Program - Water Quality Study Monitoring Wells - Target Areas in Southwestern keith County - Mr. Meismer reported that Dave Gosselin and Jim Goeke, UNL Conservation & Survey Division, had presented during the December 17, 1998 meeting of the Water Resources Subcommittee, a report on their activities and recommendations for Phase II of the Twin Platte Natural Resources District's Ground Water Quality Study per the agreement between the District and the University of Nebraska and on the added component of the study to analyze southwestern Keith County in which the District has established Target Areas as provided for in the District's Ground Water Management Plan. Mr. Meismer reported that Mr. Goeke and Mr. Gosselin believe that the Nitrate contamination in the Target areas is a result of the application of nitrogen to the land. Mr. Meismer reported that Mr. Goeke and Mr. Gosselin recommend that the District establish monitoring wells within the Target areas to determine the extent and the movement of the Nitrate contamination. Mr. Meismer reported that Mr. Goeke and Mr. Gosselin could not determine with the existing data available if the Nitrate contamination was limited due to the possible upward movement of the ground water in the area or if the Nitrate contamination would continue to move down. Mr. Meismer reported that without the knowledge of the extent and the movement of the Nitrate contamination, that the District would not be able to determine if limiting the application of nitrogen would be beneficial for the area. Mr. Meismer reported that Mr. Goeke and Mr. Gosselin also recommend that the District establish monitoring wells within the Target area in eastern Lincoln County to determine the extent and the movement of the Nitrate contamination. Mr. Meismer reported that during the December 17, 1998 meeting of the Water Resources Subcommittee that the members of the Subcommittee discussed the need for the monitoring wells recommended and sources of funding for establishing the monitoring wells and that the members of the Subcommittee again discussed the recommendations during the January 22, 1999 meeting of the Subcommittee. Mr. Meismer reported that the 1999 Fiscal Year Budget provides for $20,600.00 for special programs and/or projects. Mr. Goeke and Mr. Bowers reported on the monitoring wells installed by the US Geological Survey along the South Platte River of which two are located in the Target Areas in southwestern Keith County and they reported that these wells could be monitored along with the six monitoring wells that Mr. Goeke and Mr. Gosselin are recommending to be installed in the Target Areas in southwestern Keith County. Mr. Goeke and Mr. Bowers reported that the District had received a bid from Sargent Irrigation of $3,998.00 for installing the six monitoring wells in the Target Areas in southwestern Keith County, which was below the estimated cost of $5,000.00.

Mr. Meismer moved the Water Resources Subcommittees' recommendation to the Board of Directors that the District install during the spring of 1999 six monitoring wells at 4 sites in southwestern Keith County and to accept the bid/proposal received from Sargent Irrigation Company of $3,998.00. Mr. Kramer seconded the motion and it carried. (Motion #5)
AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear, Kramer, Meismer, Svoboda
NAY: None
ABSENT: Paulman, Rubenthaler, Stack, Weaver

Mr. Meismer reported that the members of the Subcommittee discussed the staff time that would be required to access and interrupt the data and they discussed the revisions in the current ground water monitoring program that would be implemented as a result of the study. Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information was a report of the annual staff time to access and interrupt the data for the new monitoring wells in southwestern Keith County and Mr. Bowers reviewed the report.

Ground Water Program - Water Quality Study - Monitoring Wells - Target Areas in Eastern Lincoln County - Mr. Meismer reported that the members of the Subcommittee agreed that the Water Resources Subcommittee would consider for the 2000 Fiscal Year installing additional monitoring wells throughout the South Platte valley and the Platte River valley within the District including the Target Area located in eastern Lincoln County.

Ground Water Program - Water Quality Study - Final Recommendation - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information was the final recommendations for the Twin Platte Natural Resources District's Ground Water Program prepared by Mr. Goeke and Mr. Gosselin as provided for in Phase II of the Twin Platte Natural Resources District's Ground Water Quality Study per the agreement between the District and the University of Nebraska.

Mr. Meismer moved that the Board of Directors accept the final recommendations for the Twin Platte Natural Resources District's Ground Water Program prepared by Mr. Goeke and Mr. Gosselin as provided for in Phase II of the Twin Platte Natural Resources District's Ground Water Quality Study per the agreement between the District and the University of Nebraska. Mr. Cotton seconded the motion and it carried. (Motion #6)
AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear, Kramer, Meismer, Svoboda
NAY: None
ABSENT: Paulman, Rubenthaler, Stack, Weaver

Ground Water Program - Natural Resources Enhancement Fund - Special Programs and/or Projects - - Mr. Meismer reported that during the December 17, 1998 meeting of the Water Resources Subcommittee that the members of the Subcommittee discussed water quality cost-share programs and that the members of the Subcommittee again discussed the recommendations during the January 22, 1999 meeting of the Subcommittee. Mr. Meismer reported that the 1999 Fiscal Year Budget provides for $20,600.00 for special programs and/or projects and that with the Board's action to approve the Subcommittee's recommendation for installing monitoring wells, that $16,602.00 could be available for water quality cost-share programs.

Mr. Meismer moved the Water Resources Subcommittees' recommendation to the Board of Directors that the District establish a soil sampling cost-share program for the 1999 Fiscal Year utilizing the following guidelines:

  • The cost-share shall be $10 per sample for each 40-acre sample submitted to the lab, with a limit of $200.00 per producer per year.
  • An initial sign-up period for 15 days in which 50% of the authorized funds will be designated for use within the Water Quality Target Areas and 50% of the authorized funds will be designated for use outside of the Water Quality Target Areas and if funds remain after the first 15-day sign-up period, applications would be accepted from anywhere in the District during a second sign-up period.
  • A two-part sample will be required. The top part of the sample will be taken from 0-8 inches and will be tested for Nitrate Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potassium, Sulfur, Zinc, pH, and Organic Matter. The second part of the sample will be taken in the range from 8-36 inches, and will only be tested for Nitrate Nitrogen. A shallower sample will be accepted where soil types will not allow a deeper sample. Sampling will be discontinued once gravel is reached.
  • Recognizing that sampling needs vary, one composite sample per 40 acres is preferred with special attention given to sampling where there is a significant soil type change or change in terrain.
  • Applications will be accepted only for irrigated fields.
  • Information required by the District is the cropping history, expected yield and next years crop choice, which will allow the lab to calculate a recommended fertilizer application rate. A copy of the lab report and a copy of the billing are required to receive reimbursement.
  • Laboratories doing the testing shall be registered with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.
  • A producer's farm unit is limited to participating in the program for no more than two years.
  • A signed Cost-Share application from the producer must be submitted and approved by the District Staff prior to the practice being performed. The staff will prepare a summary report that will be submitted to the Board of Directors. and to provide $10,000.00 for the 1999 Fiscal Year. Mr. Kramer seconded the motion and it carried. (Motion #7)

    AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear, Kramer, Meismer, Svoboda
    NAY: None
    ABSENT: Paulman, Rubenthaler, Stack, Weaver

    Mr. Meismer moved the Water Resources Subcommittees' recommendation to the Board of Directors that the District establish a Soybean Drip Oil cost-share program for the 1999 Fiscal Year utilizing the following guidelines:

  • The Cost-Share is for soybean oil only and shall not be utilized for engine alterations or installation costs
  • The cost-share shall be 50% of actual cost not to exceed $200 per cooperator
  • The cost-share is limited to one time per producer
  • A copy of the billing must be submitted to the District for reimbursement.
  • An initial sign-up period for 15 days followed by a second sign-up period if funds remain.
  • A signed Cost-Share application from the producer must be submitted and approved by the District Staff prior to the purchase of the soybean drip oil. The staff will prepare a summary report that will be submitted to the Board of Directors.
    and to provide $4,000.00 for the 1999 Fiscal Year. Mr. Cotton seconded the motion and it carried.     (Motion #8)

    AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear, Kramer, Meismer, Svoboda
    NAY: None
    ABSENT: Paulman, Rubenthaler, Stack, Weaver

    Mr. Meismer moved the Water Resources Subcommittees' recommendation to the Board of Directors that the District provide a cost-share program for five demonstration sites for a buffer area at irrigation wells for the 1999 Fiscal Year utilizing the following guidelines:

  • The cost-share shall be $10 per sample for each 40-acre sample submitted to the lab, with a limit of $200.00 per producer per year.

  • The producer shall be required to maintain the buffer area for 10 years.

  • A signed Cost-Share application from the producer must be submitted and approved by the District Staff prior to the development of a demonstration site. The staff will prepare a summary report that will be submitted to the Board of Directors, and to provide $1,000.00 for the 1999 Fiscal Year. Mr. Kramer seconded the motion and it carried.
    • (Motion #9)

    AYE: Cotton, Fear, Kramer, Meismer, Rubenthaler, Stack, Weaver
    NAY: None
    ABSENT: Boyer, Paulman, Svoboda


    Mr. Miller reported that the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information were guidelines and application forms for the new cost-share programs approved and the cover for the District's newsletter for the first quarter of 1999 that was delayed till after the February 11, 1999 Board meeting to allow the newsletter to include an article on the District's cost-share program utilizing Natural Resources Enhancement Funds if the Board chose to implement the cost-share programs.

    SUBCOMITTEE MEETINGS REPORT
    Wildlife Habitat & Urban Affairs Subcommittee


    No report Presented.

    SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS REPORT

    Executive Subcommittee


    Mr. Boyer, Executive Subcommittee Chairperson presented a report.

    Board of Directors Vacancy, Sub-District 1 - Mr. Boyer reported that in the Directors' Board meeting packet for information was Operating Policy Number 5: BOARD OF DIRECTORS VACANCIES and maps of the election sub-districts. Mr. Boyer reported that members of the Board of Directors had contacted two individuals that had indicated an interest to fill the vacancy and represent Sub-District 1 on the Board of Directors. Mr. Boyer reported that the District had received questionnaires from the two candidates Eric Hansen and Jeff Baldridge, which were in the Directors' packet for information. Mr. Boyer reported that the Subcommittee agreed that both Eric Hansen and Jeff Baldridge were excellent candidates. Mr. Boyer reported that per the Direction of the Subcommittee, Mr. Miller had called the District's legal counsel Jess Nielsen to ask if a secret ballot could be conducted by the Board of Directors to select an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors and that Mr. Nielsen advised that the Board of Directors could conduct a secret ballot to select an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors provided the Board of Directors approved a motion to conduct a secret ballot prior to conducting the secret ballot. Mr. Boyer reported that the Subcommittee agreed to recommend to the Board of Directors both candidates, Eric Hansen and Jeff Baldridge, and that the Board of Directors conduct a secret ballot to select the representative to fill the vacancy and represent Sub-District 1 on the Board of Directors.

    Mr. Meismer moved that the Board of Directors conduct a secret ballot to select the representative to fill the vacancy and represent Sub-District 1 on the Board of Directors. Mr. Kramer seconded the motion and it carried. (Motion #10)
    AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear, Kramer, Meismer, Svoboda
    NAY: None
    ABSENT: Paulman, Rubenthaler, Stack, Weaver

    Mr. Boyer reported that the members of the Executive Subcommittee present, Mr. Fear, Mr. Meismer and himself would count the ballots.

    Mr. Boyer reported that Ballot #1 resulted in a tie.

    Mr. Boyer reported that Ballot #2 selected Jeff Baldridge to fill the vacancy and represent Sub-District 1 on the Board of Directors.


    FINANCIAL REPORT

    Financial Statement - Mr. Meismer reported that the Financial Statement for January, 1999 was in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information.

    Accounts Payable - Mr. Meismer 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. Meismer moved that the Financial Statement for January, 1999 be received and placed on file for audit and that the Accounts Payable in the amount of $27,554.53 be paid. Mr. Kramer seconded the motion, and it carried. (Motion #11)
    AYE: Boyer,Cotton, Fear, Kramer, Meismer, Svoboda
    NAY: None
    ABSENT: Paulman, Rubenthaler, Stack, Weaver

    Budget Status - No report presented.

    Bids/Proposals - None were presented.

    Bids/Proposals Scheduled To Be Presented for Consideration During the March 11, 1998 Board of Directors Meeting - Mr. Miller reported that no bids/proposals were scheduled to be presented for consideration during the March 11, 1998 Board of Directors meeting.

    DIRECTORS' REPORTS

    Nebraska Association of Resources Districts - Board of Directors Meetings - Mr. Meismer reported on the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts Board of Directors meeting held on January 27, 1999.
    Nebraska Association of Resources Districts - Legislative Conference, January 26-27, 1999 - Mr. Meismer reported that Mr. Boyer, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Kramer, Mr. Fear, Mr. Miller and himself had attended the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts Legislative Conference and he reported on the program and the actions taken in regard to Legislation.

    Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District Water Conservation Task Force - Mr. Meismer reported on recent activities of the Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District Water Conservation Task Force.

    Requests for Authorization to Travel - No requests were presented.

    Livestock Waste Issues - Mr. Boyer, Mr. Fear, Mr. Kramer and Mr. Meismer reported on the meeting they had participated in on January 26, 1999 in Lincoln with representatives of the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to discuss the Hog confinement facility being built in Arthur County. Mr. Miller reported that the Directors had requested during the January 14, 1999 Board meeting that the staff provide information for the Board of Directors of the authorities District's have for ground water quality management and for the District's Ground Water Management Plan. Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet for information was the District's Ground Water Management Plan and copy of the Nebraska Statutes for the Ground Water Management and Protection Act. Mr. Miller that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout was a written report and a draft policy for consideration by the Board and he reviewed the report and the draft policy for the District for Industrial and Agricultural facilities within the District. Extensive discussion occurred.

    Mr. Kramer moved to approve the following policy for Industrial and Agricultural Facilities within the Twin Platte Natural Resources District:

  • · The District's Ground Water Program provides for monitoring of the ground water for contamination that is not from a point source and the District's Ground Water Management Plan provides for Management of Ground Water if there is reason to believe that contamination of ground water that is not from a point source is occurring or likely to occur in an area in the reasonably foreseeable future.
  • · Pursuant to the Livestock Waste Management Act that provides that the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality forward copies to Natural Resources Districts of applications for permits to construct and operate a livestock waste control facility within the District:
      • · The District staff will immediately notify the owners of the facility that the District has received a copy of the application.

      • · The District staff will immediately provide a copy of the application to the Natural Resources Conservation Service North Platte field office.

      • · The District staff will request the Natural Resources Conservation Service to prepare a resource assessment for each application.

      • The District staff will review available information the District has for the site.

      • The District staff will provide to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality information provided to the District by the Natural Resources Conservation Service field offices and any other information the District has for the site. and the information provided to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality will be provided to the Board of Directors and the owners of the facility and will be available for viewing by the public as requested.
  • · For new or expanded Industrial & Agricultural facilities within the District, the District staff will establish a monitoring program utilizing existing irrigation, livestock, industrial or domestic wells or any other existing ground water or surface water sources at or as close as possible to the locations where the waste and/or by-products are applied to the land. The data collected will be provided to the Board of Directors. The data collected will be available to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and for viewing by the public as requested.
  • · For Industrial & Agricultural facilities within the District, the District staff will offer and if requested by the owners of the facility, collect the samples and deliver the samples to the laboratory selected by the owners of the facility, from any monitoring wells that the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality require the owners of the facility to establish at the facility. The owners of the facility will not be charged for the District's costs for collecting the samples. The owners of the facility will be required to pay the costs for the laboratory analysis and for any delivery costs for the samples from the District's office in North Platte, Nebraska to the laboratory if the delivery is a special delivery not associated with normal District activities. The owners of the facility will be required to have the laboratory send a copy of the report to the District for all samples collected by the District. The District staff will provide to the Board of Directors a copy of the laboratory report. A copy of the laboratory report will be available for viewing by the public as requested. The District staff will, if requested by the owners of the facility, send a copy of the laboratory report to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.

    Mr. Fear seconded the motion, and it carried. (Motion #12)
    AYE: Boyer,Cotton, Fear, Kramer, Meismer, Svoboda
    NAY: None
    ABSENT: Paulman, Rubenthaler, Stack, Weaver

    Subcommittee Appointments - Mr. Boyer announced the following appointments for the Subcommittees for 1999:
    Water Resources Subcommittee - James Meismer - Chairperson Kent Boyer Robert Fear Roric Paulman
    land Resources Subcommittee - Jim Rubenthaler - Chairperson Jeff Baldridge Todd Kramer Frank Svoboda
    Wildlife Habitat & Urban Affairs Subcommittee - Dave Cotton - Chairperson Doug Stack Jerry Weaver







    and Mr. Boyer announced the following members of the Executive Subcommittee for 1999 as provided by the District's policies:
    Executive Subcommittee - Kent Boyer - Chairperson Jim Rubenthaler Douglas Stack James Meismer Robert Fear




    DISTRICT REPORT


    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. Mr. Miller reported that $9,010.51 was available.

    Mr. Cotton moved to approve the February, 1999 report as presented and to approve the 14 new contracts:
    Mr. Kramer seconded the motion, and it carried. (Motion #13)
    AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear, Kramer, Meismer, Svoboda
    NAY: None
    ABSENT: Paulman, Rubenthaler, Stack, Weaver

    Cost-Share Programs - Nebraska Buffer Strip Program - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet and in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout was information about the Nebraska Buffer Strip Program.

    Tree Programs - No report presented.

    Range Programs - No report presented.

    Soil Conservation Programs - No report presented.

    Wildlife Habitat Programs - No report presented.

    Water Programs - Cooperative Agreement Relating to Endangered Species - 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.

    Water Programs - Nebraska Department of Water Resources Closing Orders for Ground Water Wells - Mr. Miller reported that the office had received today copy of letters for which the Nebraska Department of Water Resources was issuing closing orders for five ground water wells within the Twin Platte Natural Resources District and for one ground water well within the Central Platte Natural Resources District. Mr. Miller reported in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information was a copy of the one of the closing orders. Mr. Miller reported that the Nebraska Department of Water Resources had determined that the closing orders were required because of Legislation in 1993 which consider wells within 50 feet of a stream to be surface water diversions and that because these were new wells constructed after 1993 and because these wells were on an island, they fell within the statutory requirements. Mr. Miller asked the Board if they wished to provide any assistance to the owners of the wells located within the Twin Platte Natural Resources District. The Directors agreed that they did not wish to offer any legal assistance to the owners of the wells located within the Twin Platte Natural Resources District and they agreed to direct Mr. Miller to contact each owner of the wells located within the Twin Platte Natural Resources District to verify that they had received the closing order, as there may be a limited time available to the owners of the wells to seek remedies in regard to the closing order.

    Regulatory Programs - No report presented.

    Information & Education Programs - No report presented.

    Livestock Confinement Issues - No report presented.

    Legislation - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet and in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout was information in regard to current Legislation the District has received from the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission and from the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts. Mr. Miller reported on the availability of Legislative information on the Internet that can be accessed from the District's Web site. (http://dbdec.nrc.state.ne.us/tpnrd)

    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.

    OTHER BUSINESS


    There was no other business.

    ADJOURNMENT

    The meeting adjourned at 10:20 p.m. MST (9:20 p.m. MST).


    _________________________________
    Douglas Stack, Secretary

    KOM:MSOMIN1:Bmin0299
    TWIN PLATTE NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT
    Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - Feburary 11, 1999