During the Papio NRD board meeting on December 12, 2019, independent auditor, berganKDV, gave the District a clean financial bill of health in its FY 2019 audit report.
The full report, along with Papio NRD financial statements and supplemental information, can be found here.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at the University of Nebraska-Omaha to gather input on the draft feasibility report for the Papillion Creek General Re-evaluation study. The purpose of the study is to develop alternatives to reduce flood risks and improve public safety within the Papillion Creek Basin in Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties.
The public meeting will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with a brief opening presentation beginning at 6:00 p.m. followed by an open house. The open house and presentation will be held in Room 113 in Mammel Hall on the UNO Campus, 6708 Pine Street. Lot 5 will have open parking during the meeting time.
The draft feasibility report provides information on the need for the project, current conditions of the project area, identification of opportunities to reduce flood risk, development of various alternatives to reduce flood impacts to life safety and property within the Papillion Creek Basin, and selection of the proposed plan.
The draft feasibility report, along with study updates, may be downloaded at https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Planning/Planning-Projects/Papillion-GRR/. Comments on the report can be sent via email to cenwo-planning@usace.army.mil or mailed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, CENWO-PMA-C, ATTN: Tiffany Vanosdall, 1616 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, NE 68102-4901. Comments must be received on or before January 3, 2020.
A public open house meeting will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2019 at the Hubbard Community Center from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.
The Dakota County Rural Water System wants to see you! Rural water service has been available in parts of Dakota County since 1980. Expansion plans include adding services lines near Fiddler Creek Road, Kramper Lake at the Danish Alps SRA, and Hubbard.
Dakota County Rural Water staff will be present to discuss proposed water system expansion details and opportunities for service connections. Here is a document that outlines the potential expansion phasing options.
If you are unable to attend the open house but would still like to know more about the water system expansion or opportunities for service connections, please contact Zach Nelson at 402.444.6222 or znelson@papionrd.org.
Papio-Missouri NRD – Dakota County Field Office – 1505 Broadway Street Dakota City, NE 68731
The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, Nebraska Congressional Delegation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Offutt Air Force Base, and other dignitaries today celebrated the start of repairs and upgrades to two levees at Offutt Air Force Base following the historic flood of 2019.
The March flood severely damaged the Missouri River Levee System that protects Offutt Air Force Base, resulting in nearly $1 billion in damage to the base. The nearby Papillion Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and levee system sustained more than $45 million in damage. The flooding occurred just weeks before the Papio NRD was to begin federally mandated upgrades to the levees.
“While timing of the flooding was certainly unfortunate, today we have great reason to celebrate,” said John Winkler, general manager of the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District. “Like anything worthwhile, it wasn’t easy and the weather didn’t help. However, the historic floods of 2011 and 2019 only slowed us down. They never deterred us from the mission,” said Winkler.
During the week of September 9th, the Papio NRD, in cooperation and coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, started the levee construction – raising and widening levees R-613 and R-616 – to provide increased flood risk protection to the area of tremendous infrastructure.
“That’s what this project represents, that spirit of Nebraska,” said Governor Pete Ricketts. “Not allowing ourselves to be defeated by Mother Nature, but willing to work together to build bigger and better than before. To rebuild this levee. To protect Offutt Air Force Base so they can continue their mission of protecting us,” said Ricketts.
Congressman Don Bacon said the levee project is an important milestone because without the levee system upgrades, the Unites States Air Force was not willing to replace the flooded Offutt Air Force Base runway.
“This levee is important for that runway, which costs $170 million to totally redo,” said Congressman Bacon. “Without the commitment to raise this levee, we would not get the replacement of $300 million to replace the buildings that were destroyed,” said Bacon.
“We are in the process of finishing the first contract, which was to restore levee R-616 and R-613 to its pre-flood condition,” said Colonel John Hudson of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.” That contractor’s efforts will be wrapping up here in the next week. That sets the condition for the Papio NRD’s contract to start work to raise the levee that additional two to three feet,” said Colonel Hudson.
The $35 million Missouri River Levee System project is estimated to be completed by 2021.
Additional speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony included District Representative Rita Sanders on behalf of Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, Bellevue Mayor Rusty Hike, Offutt Air Force Base Mission Support Group Commander Colonel Alan Dayton, and Papio NRD Chairperson Jim Thompson.
It’s the beginning of fiscal year 2020 for the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District and the District has a double-dose of good news for local taxpayers.
Decrease In FY 2020 Property Tax Levy
The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Board of Directors last night voted to approve the Fiscal Year 2020 general operating budget that called for a decreased property tax levy of .037384 per $100 of assessed valuation. This means a homeowner with property valued at $100,000 would pay a total of $37.38 in property taxes next year to support NRD projects.
“We are proud to announce the District’s property tax levy will decrease again this year,” said John Winkler, general manager of the Papio NRD. “For 14 out of 15 years, the District has either decreased or kept the tax levy the same. Practicing fiscal responsibility – working strategically and creatively to save taxpayer dollars is our civic duty. We take it very seriously,” said Winkler.
The budget calls for an estimated $26 million in revenue from the NRD’s property tax levy. The total operating budget is estimated at $70.5 million.
The Papio-Missouri River NRD’s property tax levy amounts to less than two percent of the total property tax bill for residents living within the District’s six-county area. The levy is based on an estimated 6.86 percent increase in valuations across the District.
Refinancing of Bonds Saves Taxpayers $1.8 Million
Due to the refinancing of 2015 and 2017 Flood Control Protection and Water Quality Enhancement Refunding bonds, the Papio NRD is expected to save District taxpayers $1.8 million over the remaining term of the bonds.
In addition, over the past four years, the District refinanced its 2010 bonds, saving taxpayers $3.5 million, to date.
“Complementing this good news, S&P Global Ratings recently assigned an upgraded ‘AA’ rating to the Papio NRD,” says Winkler. “This will produce additional savings not only during the refinancing of bonds, but also in the future as the District continues to provide flood control and water quality to our District.”
The Papio-Missouri Natural Resources District includes all of Sarpy, Douglas, Washington and Dakota counties, plus the eastern 60% of Burt and Thurston counties.
Finally, great news for Elkhorn River rats!
The following Elkhorn River access sites are now OPEN:
– Graske Crossing
– West Maple Rd.
The Elkhorn River Crossing access site remains closed.
In addition, the Platte River Landing boat ramp and playground ARE OPEN.
Please be safe and wear those life jackets!
Due to a bank stabilization project, the West Papio Trail Giles Road underpass will be closed July 12 through the end of October.
While the underpass will not be accessible to trail users, the trail will remain open at the following areas:
– Connecting to the southwest corner of 108th Street and Giles Road
– At the trailhead parking lot continuing north over Hell Creek toward Q Street
“Construction crews have started clearing trees,” says Eric Williams, Papio NRD Natural Resources Planner. “We want trail users to know the Papio NRD will reseed and replant along the bank to maintain the natural feel of this historic corridor.”
For more information, please contact Eric Williams at 402-444-6222.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District, in cooperation with the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, will be hosting a public open house to share information about the Papillion Creek Basin flood risk management study. The study is working to develop alternatives to reduce flood risks and improve public safety within the Papillion Creek Basin in Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties. The purpose of the open house is to discuss alternatives under consideration in the study. Alternatives include: 1) reservoir construction at dam site 10 on Thomas Creek, 2) reservoir construction at dam site 19 on South Papillion Creek, 3) levee modifications on the Big Papillion Creek, Little Papillion Creek, and West Papillion Creek, 4) channel modifications on the Big Papillion Creek, Little Papillion Creek, West Papillion Creek, and South Papillion Creek, and 5) nonstructural solutions throughout the study area.
The open house will be held on Tuesday, July 23 from 5:30-7:30pm at Mammel Hall at the University of Nebraska Omaha, 6708 Pine Street, Omaha, NE. At the meeting, a formal presentation will begin at 6pm followed by an open house where the public, media and other interested stakeholders will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments on the alternatives under consideration.
UPDATE – 7/22/19: Construction is complete and the trail is now open.
Due to a bank stabilization project along the West Papio Trail in Papillion, construction will take place over a two-mile stretch of the trail from Tuesday, May 21 through Friday, July 19.
Construction sites include three locations on the trail on the south side of Giles Road to the east side of 96th street at the Walnut Creek Connector. Please see the map below for more details.
“There will be heavy equipment on and around the trail, as well as some potential trail closures,” says Eric Williams, Papio NRD Natural Resources Planner. “We strongly encourage trail users to watch for and follow posted signs throughout the construction process.”
For more information, please contact Eric Williams at 402-444-6222.
