Mr. Cotton, Subcommittee Chairperson, presented the report.

Urban Forestry Program - Program Report - Mr. Cotton reported that the staff had reported on the Urban Forestry Program to the Subcommittee. Mr. Cotton reported that in the Directors' Board meeting notebook and available as a handout for information was a written report for the Urban Forestry Program, the District's policy for the Urban Forestry Program, the application used by the District for the Urban Forestry Program and a copy of the Urban Forestry Program guidelines.

Urban Forestry Program - Approved Programs - Mr. Cotton reported that in the Directors' Board meeting notebook and available as a handout for information was a summary report for programs in North Platte, Ogallala, Paxton, Hershey, and Sutherland. Mr. Cotton reported that in the Directors' Board meeting notebook and available as a handout for information were reports for the current programs in North Platte, Ogallala and Sutherland listing the cooperators receiving funds in each community. Mr. Cotton reported that the District's policy provides for funding for a program during a three-year period. Mr. Cotton reported that the North Platte and Ogallala Urban Forestry Programs were first approved August 11, 1994 and began during the 1995 Fiscal Year and that a new program for North Platte and Ogallala was approved August 14, 1997 and began during the 1998 Fiscal Year. Mr. Cotton reported that the District's policy provides that $2,000.00 could be allocated for the North Platte Urban Forestry Program for the 2000 Fiscal Year and $2,000.00 could be allocated for the Ogallala Urban Forestry Program for the 2000 Fiscal Year.

Urban Forestry Program - Applications for Community Programs - Mr. Cotton reported that Sutherland has requested a new program for the 2000 Fiscal Year and that $2,000.00 could be allocated for the 2000 Fiscal Year. Mr. Cotton reported that a Sutherland Urban Forestry Program was first approved February 13, 1997 and began during the 1997 Fiscal Year.

Urban Forestry Program - Communities Considering Programs - Mr. Cotton reported that the District knew of no other communities that were considering a program at this time.

Mr. Cotton moved the Wildlife Habitat and Urban Affairs Subcommittee's recommendation to the Board of Directors to authorize funding for the 2000 Fiscal Year of $2,000.00 for the approved North Platte Urban Forestry Program and $2,000.00 for the approved Ogallala Urban Forestry Program and to approve an Urban Forestry Program for Sutherland and authorize funding for the 2000 Fiscal Year of $2,000.00 for the Sutherland Urban Forestry Program. Mr. Stack seconded the motion and it carried. (Motion #6)
AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear, Meismer, Stack, Svoboda, Weaver
NAY: None
ABSENT: Baldridge, Kramer,Paulman,Rubenthaler

Wildlife Habitat Programs - Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program - Mr. Cotton reported that the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission was revising the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program and that the Wildlife Habitat & Urban Affairs Subcommittee would be reviewing the revisions when they are available and will bring to the Board of Directors information for the new program.

No report Presented.

Financial Statement - Mr. Meismer reported that the Financial Statement for July, 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 reported that an account payable to the United Nebraska Bank in the amount of $1,525.00 for the office rent needed to be added to the report.

Mr. Meismer moved that the Financial Statement for July, 1999 be received and placed on file for audit and that the Accounts Payable in the amount of $14,231.82 be paid. Mr. Stack seconded the motion, and it carried. (Motion #7)

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

Budget Status - No report presented.

Bids/Proposals - No report presented.

Bids/Proposals Scheduled To Be Presented for Consideration During the September 9, 1999 Board of Directors Meeting - Mr. Miller reported that no bids/proposals were scheduled to be presented for consideration during the September 9, 1999 Board of Directors meeting.

Mr. Boyer reported that for the regular scheduled September Board meeting that he had a conflict on September 9th and he asked if any other Directors had a conflict. Mr. Miller reported that on September 2nd, that there was the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts sponsored Platte River Cooperative Agreement meeting in North Platte for Natural Resources District Directors in the Platte River Basin that is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CDT. Mr. Miller reported that he hoped that the Directors could attend this Platte River Cooperative Agreement meeting and he suggested that the Board consider meeting on September 2nd following the Platte River Cooperative Agreement meeting.

Mr. Stack moved that the September, 1999 Twin Platte Natural Resources District Board meeting be held on September 2, 1999 at 4:00 p.m. CDT (3:00 p.m. MDT). Mr. Meismer seconded the motion, and it carried. (Motion #9)

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

Mr. Miller reported that the regular scheduled November Board meeting was scheduled for November 11th which is the Veterans Day holiday. The Board of Directors agreed to have the November 1999 Twin Platte Natural Resources District Board meeting on November 4, 1999 at 7:30 p.m. CST (6:30 p.m. MST).

Mr. Miller reported that the Operating Policy Number 8 provides that "the regularly scheduled monthly meetings of the Board of Directors will be held in North Platte with the exception of the December meetings which will be held in the western part of the District". Mr. Miller reported that for 1992 through 1996, the District had held an awards banquet in Ogallala in conjunction with the January Board of Directors meeting, that for 1997 the District had planned an awards banquet in Ogallala in conjunction with the December Board of Directors meeting that was canceled due to weather and that for 1998 the District had held an awards banquet in Ogallala in conjunction with the December Board of Directors meeting. Mr. Miller reported that the District has the 1999 Keith/Arthur Conservation Award that would be presented. Mr. Miller reported that in previous years, the District has invited to these awards banquets members of the Board of Directors and their spouse, the District's full-time staff and their spouse, the NRCS field offices full-time staff and their spouse, the News media, the award recipients and their requested guests and other special guests. Mr. Miller reported that State Statutes provide that spouses or guests of Directors and the staff must pay for their meal. Mr. Miller reported that the Board meeting was changed to a Tuesday evening to accommodate the Keith County News coverage of the awards and that the Board meeting was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MST and the Awards Banquet was scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MST. The Board of Directors agreed that the December, 1999 Board of Directors meeting would be held on Tuesday, December 14, 1999 at 5:30 p.m. MST (6:30 p.m. CST) in Ogallala and that the District would host an awards banquet for presentation of awards on Tuesday, December 14, 1999 at 7:00 p.m. MST (8:00 p.m. CST) and that the District would invite to the awards banquet members of Board of Directors and their spouse, the District's full-time staff and their spouse, the NRCS field office full-time staff and their spouse, the News media, the award recipients and their requested guests and other special guests.

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 $85,279.07 was available.

Mr. Rubenthaler moved to approve the August, 1999 report as presented and to approve the 15 new contracts:
Mr. Svoboda seconded the motion, and it carried. (Motion #10)

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

Cost-Share Programs - District Conservation Program - Sealing Abandoned Wells - Mr. Miller reported that in the Director's notebook and available as a handout was the monthly report. Mr. miller reported that $2,700 was available.

Mr. Fear moved to approve the August, 1999 report as presented and to approve the following 2 new contract:

Mr. Meismer seconded the motion, and it carried. (Motion #11)

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

Mr. Miller reported that the District periodically receives requests for cost-share for sealing abandoned wells when a well driller is at the site of the abandoned well and that the District's policy does not allow for the staff to approve the cost share as the District's policy for the Cost-Share Program for Sealing Abandoned Wells, provides that "Procedures established by the Twin Platte Natural Resources District for the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Program will be followed" and the District's policy for the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Program procedure provides that "All new applications are to be approved by the Board of Directors". Mr. Miller reported that for the District's Cost-Share Program that was in place during the 1999 Fiscal Year for Soil Sampling, Soybean Drip Oil and Demonstration Sites for a Buffer Area at Irrigation Wells, the District's policy provided 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. asked the Board if they would like to change the District's policy to allow the staff to approve requests for cost-share for sealing abandoned wells provided funding is available.

Mr. Fear moved that the District's Cost-Share Program for Sealing Abandoned Wells be revised as follows (Additions are underlined and deletions have a strikethrough line):

Procedures established by the Twin Platte Natural Resources District for the Nebraska Soil and Water Conservation Program will be followed. For new applications, a signed Cost-Share application from the producer must be submitted and approved by the District Staff prior to the practice being performed, unless a contractor is on site in which instance verbal approval may be given by the District Staff provided that a signed application from the producer is submitted within two working days. The staff will prepare a summary report that will be submitted to the Board of Directors.

Mr. Stack seconded the motion, and it carried. (Motion #12)

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

Cost-Share Programs - Nebraska Buffer Strip Program - No report presented.

Tree Programs - Mr. Slattery reported that the Bessey Nursery at Halsey, NE has decided to maintain the 1999 tree stock price for 2000. Mr. Slattery reported that the District's charge to customers for trees would therefore be $ 0.52/tree for 2000 and that with the Board of Directors previous action to set the machine planting charge at $ 0.45/tree for 2000 that the total charge for machine planting and tree stock would be $ 0.97/tree for 2000.

Range Programs - No report presented.

Soil Conservation Programs - No report presented.

Wildlife Habitat Programs - No report presented.

Water Programs - Ground Water Program - - 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' packet for information was the quarterly report compiled through the third quarter 1999.

Water Programs -Watershed Program - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet for information was the District's report for the annual inspection of the Brule Watershed conducted on August 2, 1999. Mr. Miller reported that during 1998, the Union Pacific Railroad cleaned out part of the sediment under there bridge in the Brule Watershed outfall channel, the District cleaned sediment in the outfall channel below the railroad bridge and the Nebraska Department of Roads cleaned sediment in the road ditch above the railroad bridge. Mr. Miller reported that the railroad has not to date removed the remaining sediment under there bridge and that the District's staff will be contacting the railroad in regard to removing the remaining sediment. Mr. Slattery reported the vegetation on the dam is in good condition and that seeding is not recommended at this time.

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.

Water Programs - Platte River Activities - Cooperative Hydrology Study - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet was information for meetings of the sponsor for the Cooperative Hydrology Study.

Regulatory Programs - Chemigation - Mr. Miller reported that during the June 10, 1999 Board meeting, that the Board had enacted a policy that the District shall deny an application for a Chemigation permit for an irrigation system in which any portion of the equipment passes directly over flowing waters of the state. Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet for information was copy of a letter denying an application for a Chemigation renewal permit due to a portion of the irrigation systems equipment passing directly over flowing waters of the state.

Regulatory Programs - Erosion and Sediment Control - No report presented.

Regulatory Programs - Ground Water Runoff - No report presented.

Information & Education Programs- Scholarship - No report presented.

Legislation - No report presented.

Sales - Flags - Mr. Miller reported that the District periodically receives requests from producers to purchase the surveying flags the District staff uses. Mr. reported that the District's policy provides that the District will not sell surveying flags. Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' notebook and available as a handout was a draft policy revision for consideration by the Board of Directors for allowing the District to sell surveying flags to producers. The Board of Directors took no action to revise the District' policy.

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 recent reports are included 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.

Preparation Schedule - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet for information was the schedule for preparing the 2000 Fiscal Year Budget for the District. Mr. Miller reported that the schedule provides for Board review of the first draft of the Budget during the June Board meeting and that the schedule for preparing the 2000 Fiscal Year Budget provides the Board four opportunities to review and discuss the Budget prior to final approval.

Third Review - Mr. Miller reported that in the Directors' packet was the third draft of a budget for the 2000 fiscal year.

Approval for Public Hearings and Set Public Hearing Dates, Times and Location - Mr. Svoboda moved to approve for public hearing the 2000 Fiscal Year Budget as proposed in Draft #3 with a property tax requirement of $283,303.00 and a total requirement of $744,634.86 and to set the Public Hearing for the 2000 Fiscal Year Budget for September 2, 1999 at 4:00 p.m. CDT (3:00 p.m. MDT) to be held in the United NE Bank Center Meeting Room located at 111 South Dewey Street in North Platte, NE for the Board of Directors to hear and consider public comments prior to action for approval of the 2000 Fiscal Year Budget. Mr. Meismer seconded the motion and it carried. (Motion #13)
AYE: Boyer, Cotton, Fear, Meismer, Rubenthaler, Stack, Svoboda, Weaver
NAY: None
ABSENT: Baldridge, Kramer, Paulman,

There was no other business.

The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. MST (8:45 p.m. MST).

KOM:MSOMIN2:Bmin0899
TWIN PLATTE NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes - August 12, 1999