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 7:36 p.m. CST (6:36 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Baldridge | Robert Fear | Mary Reece, Dist Cons | |
| Kent Boyer | |||
| Dave Cotton | |||
| Todd Kramer | OTHERS PRESENT | ||
| Jim Meismer | BOARD MEMBERS | ||
| Roric Paulman | ABSENT | STAFF PRESENT | |
| Jim Rubenthaler | Kent O. Miller, Gen Mgr | ||
| Doug Stack | Glen Bowers, Wtr P Cor | ||
| Frank Svoboda | Ardis Lehmkuhler, Adm Asst | ||
| Jerry Weaver |
The Public Forum of the meeting was opened. There were no comments, and the Public
Forum was closed.
Mr. Boyer reported that Mr. Fear, was excused.
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.
None presented.
None presented
Minutes for March 11, 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. Rubenthaler moved that the Minutes of the Feburary 11, 1999 Board of Directors meeting
be approved. Mr.Kramer seconded the motion, and it carried.(Motion #1)
AYE: Baldridge, Boyer, Kramer, Meismer, Rubenthaler, Stack, Svoboda, Weaver
NAY: None
ABSTAIN: Cotton
ABSENT: Fear, Paulman
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.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - Programs - Environmental Quality Incentive Program -- Mrs. Reece reported on the status of applications received within the District's priority area located in Keith County north of the South Platte River and all of Arthur County and on the status of applications received outside of the priority area from the remainder of the District.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - Programs - Highly Erodible Lands Requirements - - Mr. Boyer reported that in the Directors' packet for information were the listings of completed Highly Erodible Lands determinations.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - Programs - Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program - No report presented.
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. Cotton 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 # 104113-06 (16-12-41, 640 acres) and to authorize the General Manager to sign each Cooperative Agreement as the District representative. Mr. Stack seconded the motion and it carried. (Motion #2)
AYE: Baldridge, Boyer, Cotton, Kramer, Meismer, Rubenthaler, Stack, Svoboda, Weaver
NAY: None
ABSENT: Fear, Paulman
Nebraska Natural Resources Commission Service -Programs- Conservation Reserve Program - Mr. Boyer reported that each member of the Board of Directors present had reviewed the booklet containing the Conservation Plans Schedules of Operations Agreements for the Conservation Reserve Program.
Mr. Rubenthaler moved to approve the Conservation Plans Schedules of Operations Agreements for the USDA Conservation Reserve Program for Ernest Fosbinder (78.2 acres) and Gary Gene Rallens (154.4 acres) and to authorize the General Manager to sign each Conservation Plan as the District representative. Mr. Weaver seconded the motion and it carried. (Motion #3)
AYE: Baldridge, Boyer, Cotton, Kramer, Meismer, Rubenthaler, Stack, Svoboda, Weaver
NAY: None
ABSENT: Fear, Paulman
Nebraska Natural Resources Commission - No report presented.
Nebraska Natural Resources Commission - Miscellaneous Information - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information were the minutes for the Nebraska Natural Resources Commissions' January 27, 1999 meeting.
Other Agencies - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information was the National Association of Conservation District's newsletter "The District Leader" for March, 1999, the Nebraska Department of Water Resources newsletter "Channels" for Winter, 1999, the University of Nebraska - Lincoln Conservation & Survey Division's newsletter "Resources Notes" for Winter, 1999, and the USDA Farm Services Agency's newsletter for Arthur & Keith Counties for March, 1999.
No report presented.
No report presented.
No report Presented.
Executive Subcommittee
No report presented.
Financial Statement - Mr. Miller reported that the Financial Statement for March,
1999 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. Stack moved that the Financial Statement for March, 1999 be received and
placed on file for audit and that the Accounts Payable in the amount of $26,003.03 be
paid. Mr. Kramer seconded the motion, and it carried. (Motion #4)
AYE: Baldridge, Boyer, Cotton, Kramer, Meismer, Rubenthaler, Stack, Svoboda, Weaver
NAY: None
ABSENT: Fear, Paulman
Budget Status - No report presented.
Bids/Proposals - None were presented.
Bids/Proposals Scheduled To Be Presented for Consideration During the May 13,
1999 Board of Directors Meeting - Mr. Miller reported that no bids/proposals were
scheduled to be presented for consideration during the May 13, 1999 Board of
Directors meeting.
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 meetings held on March 16, 1999 and he reported on the meetings.
Miscellaneous Information - Mr. Meismer reported that in the Directors' packet for information was a Nebraska Association of Resources District's activities report. Mr. Miller reported on a meeting that he and several other General Managers of Districts and Dean Edson, Nebraska Association of Resources Districts Executive Director, had with Senator Wickersham, Chairperson of the Legislature's Revenue Committee.
Mr. Meismer reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information were the minutes for Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District Water Conservation Task Force meeting held on March 24, 1999 and he reported on the meeting.
No requests were presented.
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 $12,659.31 was available.
Mr. Stack moved to approve the April, 1999 report as presented and to approve the 4 new contracts:
Mr. Rubenthaler seconded the motion, and it carried. (Motion #5)
AYE: Baldridge, Boyer, Cotton, Kramer, Meismer, Rubenthaler, Stack, Svoboda, Weaver
NAY: None
ABSENT: Fear, Paulman
Cost-Share Programs - District Conservation Program - Sealing Abandoned Wells - Np report presented.
Cost-Share Programs - District Conservation Program - Soil Sampling - - Mr. Miller reported that the District's policy provides $10,000.00 for the 1999 Fiscal Year for soil sampling and that a signed Cost-Share application from the producer must be submitted and approved by the District Staff prior to the practice being performed and that the staff will prepare a summary report that will be submitted to the Board of Directors. Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout was a report for the applications approved for soil sampling.
Cost-Share Programs - District Conservation Program - Soybean Drip Oil - - Mr. Miller reported that the District's policy provides $4,000.00 for the 1999 Fiscal Year for soybean drip oil and that a signed Cost-Share application from the producer must be submitted and approved by the District Staff prior to the practice being performed and that the staff will prepare a summary report that will be submitted to the Board of Directors. Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout was a report for the applications approved for soybean drip oil.
Cost-Share Programs - District Conservation Program - Irrigation Well Head Buffer Demonstration -Mr. Miller reported that the District's policy provides $1,000.00 for the 1999 Fiscal Year for five demonstration sites for a buffer area at irrigation wells and that a signed Cost-Share application from the producer must be submitted and approved by the District Staff prior to the practice being performed and that the staff will prepare a summary report that will be submitted to the Board of Directors. Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout was a report for the applications approved for buffer areas at irrigation wells.
Cost-Share Programs - Nebraska Buffer Strip Program - Mr Miller reported that in the Directors' packet was information about the Nebraska Buffer Strip Program.
Tree Programs - Mr. Miller reported that the District personnel began tree planting in the District on April 6, 1999. Mr. Miller reported that 41,450 trees were purchased from Colorado and 9,500 trees were purchased from Halsey. Mr. Miller reported that the District's machine crew was scheduled to plant 22,671 trees at 41 sites, that John Nelson was scheduled to hand plant 5,755 trees at 25 sites, that 193 orders were processed for purchase of 20,832 trees to be planted by individuals and that Mike Ekdahl was scheduled to place 52,435 feet of water conservation mulch material at 16 sites. Mr. Miller reported that the District's staff learned today that there were problems with the cedar stock received from Halsey and the trees would probably not be planted.
Range Programs - No report presented.
Soil Conservation Programs - No report presented.
Wildlife Habitat Programs - No report presented.
Water Programs - Ground Water Program - District Programs - Mr. Miller reported that the District's 319 Project began in September, 1997 to assist the District with the implementation of the Ground Water Management Plan and that the 319 Project will provide $150,000.00 for three years. Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout for information was the financial quarterly report for April 1, 1999 and the quarterly report compiled through the second quarter 1999. Mr. Miller reported that the monitoring wells at the 4 sites in southwestern Keith County had been installed and Mr. Bowers reported on the installation of the monitoring wells.
Water Programs - Ground Water Program - Industrial & Agricultural Facilities -Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet for information was an Omaha World Herald news article dated March 23, 1999 in regard to the Enterprise Partners facility in Arthur County.
Water Programs -Watershed Program - No report presented.
Water Programs - Platte River Activities - Cooperative Agreement Relating to Endangered Species - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet was information for meetings of the Governance Committee and for meetings of 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. Mr. Miller reported that he is participating in meetings in Nebraska about the issues within Nebraska. Mr. Miller reported that a Basin Meeting had been held March 17, 1999 in North Platte for Directors for the North Platte, South Platte, Twin Platte, Central Platte and Tri-Basin Natural Resources Districts to discuss the Cooperative Agreement. Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet and in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout was information presented during the Basin Meeting. The Directors who participated, Mr. Boyer, Mr. Meismer, Mr. Svoboda and Mr. Weaver, and Mr. Miller reported on the Basin Meeting and extensive discussion occurred. Mr. Miller reported that another Basin Meeting for Directors for the North Platte, South Platte, Twin Platte, Central Platte and Tri-Basin Natural Resources Districts has been scheduled for September 2, 1999 and that the Basin Meeting would be held in North Platte.
Water Programs - Platte River Activities - Cooperative Hydrology Study - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet was information for meetings of the sponsors for the Cooperative Hydrology Study.
Regulatory Programs - Chemigation - No report presented.
Information & Education Programs- Scholarship -Mr. Miller reported that the District's policy provides for seven scholarships annually for the Nebraska Range Youth Camp and for three scholarships annually for the Natural Resources Leadership Camp for youth. Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet for information were copies of District news releases mailed March 22, 1999 in regard to each scholarship.
Information & Education Programs - 1999 Nebraska State Envirothon - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet for information were the results for the 1999 Regional Envirothon in which two teams from within the District qualified to participate in the 1999 Nebraska State Envirothon. Mr. Miller reported that the teams from within the District that qualified were the North Platte High School Team #1 as a regional winner and the Brady High School team as a wildcard team. Mr. Miller reported that the last time a team from within the District qualified to participate in the Nebraska State Envirothon in 1996, the District paid the team's registration fee for the Nebraska State Envirothon. Mr. Miller reported that the 1999 Nebraska State Envirothon is May 8, 1999 at the Platte River State Park and that the registration fee for the 1999 Nebraska State Envirothon is $75.00 per team. Mr. Miller reported that the Nebraska Envirothon is coordinated and sponsored by the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts and he recommended that the District provide financial support for the teams from North Platte and Brady.
Mr. Meismer moved that the Twin Platte Natural Resources District pay the $75.00 registration fee for the 1999 Nebraska State Envirothon for the North Platte High School Team #1 and for the Brady High School team. Mr. Paulman seconded the motion and it carried. (Motion #6)
AYE: Baldridge, Boyer, Cotton, Kramer, Meismer, Paulman, Rubenthaler, Stack, Svoboda, Weaver
NAY: None
ABSENT: Fear
Information & Education Programs - Miscellaneous Information - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors packet for information was a North Platte Telegraph news article dated March 14, 1999 in regard to the Twin Platte Natural Resources District. Mr. Miller reported that on the Board table and available as a handout was the District's Newsletter, Volume 6, which was mailed on March 31, 1999. Mr. Miller reported that the newsletter is funded by the District's 319 project.
Legislation - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet and in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout was information the District has received from the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission and from the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts in regard to current Legislation. Mr. Miller reported that Legislative information could be accessed on the Internet at the District's Web site. (http://dbdec.nrc.state.ne.us/tpnrd)
Insurance - - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet and in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout was information the District has received from the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission and from the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts in regard to current Legislation. Mr. Miller reported that Legislative information could be accessed on the Internet at the District's Web site. (http://dbdec.nrc.state.ne.us/tpnrd)
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.
The meeting adjourned at 9:14 p.m. MST (8:14 p.m. MST).
KOM:MSOMIN1:Bmin0399
TWIN PLATTE NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - March 11, 1999