(NORTH PLATTE, Neb.) – The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District’s board of directors held their June board meeting and a strategic planning work session at NebraskaLand Bank in North Platte, Neb., on Thursday (June 5).
During the meeting, the board approved three new policies including a policy regarding contract delivery methods and two related policies dealing with constituent interaction.
For the purpose of entering into a design-build contract or construction manager at risk (CMAR) contracts, the board passed policy ADM-12 as the next step in the process. At the May board meeting, the board passed a resolution to utilize the CMAR delivery method for the E-65 Siphon project. Part of that state statute requires the District to adopt a policy to allow preparation of requests for proposals and to set procedures to be used to prequalify design-builders and construction managers.
The first of the constituent interaction policies (ADM-02) ensure that the District obtains feedback from various stakeholders through meetings, surveys and other methods which allow the District to evaluate and prioritize its strategic plans, investments and operations. The policy also sets the expectation to achieve high performance in customer satisfaction by ensuring personnel interactions are made with stakeholders in a positive and respectful manner and staff are focused on effective resolution of any issues.
A related policy (ADM-03) focuses on ensuring a safe and respectful environment for Central employees by addressing instances of aggressive or abusive behavior from those the District serves. The District values positive and respectful interactions between its representatives and the public and must ensure those interactions don’t compromise safety.
After the business portion of the meeting concluded, the board went into their strategic planning working session. This annual event allows the board a chance to discuss at length major topics regarding the district. The focus of Thursday’s session was planning and funding for infrastructure maintenance, improvement and expansion. A significant portion of the planning focused on potential funding strategies for the Kingsley Dam refacing project.
Also during Thursday’s board meeting:
- Directors approved the purchase of a 2010 Little Giant 6430 Mobile Dragline in the amount of $135,000 from Nardo Crawlers & Haulers in Pittston, Pa.
- Irrigation and Water Services Manager Scott Dicke told the board that nearly 1500 acre/feet of groundwater recharge occurred the past week using excess flows. Water was pumped into Elwood Reservoir and diverted into three Waterfowl Production Areas (Linder, Victor & Johnson). Central partners with the State of Nebraska and Platte River Recovery Implementation Program to provide recharge services during excess flow events.
- Civil Engineer Tyler Thulin reported that Lake McConaughy’s elevation was at 3235.4 feet on Monday (56.6% of capacity). Inflows are around 830 cubic feet per second (cfs) and outflows are about 1740 cfs, which is down from 3000 cfs thanks to recent rain events. He reminded the board that 1600 cfs of the current outflow releases are from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s environmental account for seed germination suppression along the Platte River.
