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Month: September 2024

Residents in Eastern NE to See Increased Environmental & Safety Benefits

Papillion Creek Watershed Project
Improvement Plan Approved

Plan to provide environmental and safety benefits to eastern Nebraska communities

 

LINCOLN, Nebraska – In August 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Nebraska Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in partnership with the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District (Papio NRD), received official approval on the Papillion Creek Watershed Project Improvement Plan. The plan, an extension of an effort that began in 1966, promises to deliver significant environmental and safety benefits to residents across Washington, Douglas, and Sarpy counties.

From left, Papio NRD General Manager John Winkler, NRCS State Conservationist Robert Lawson, and Papio NRD Director Patrick Bonnett.

The original planning effort led to the construction of 30 grade control structures, which have been instrumental in reducing flooding and stream channel erosion within the watershed. Building on this foundation, a local group, the Papillion Creek Watershed Partnership (PCWP), was formed in 2001 to identify future projects to further protect and enhance the watershed.

In 2019, the Papio NRD utilized the NRCS Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) program, which has been critical in advancing the latest supplemental plan, which identifies 40 new watershed protection projects aimed at stabilizing degrading streams, reducing erosion and sediment, mitigating flood damage, and improving public safety.

NRCS contributed $560,000 toward the completion of the plan, enabling the Papio NRD to qualify for additional NRCS financial assistance for developing detailed project designs, anticipated to begin in 2025.

“NRCS is proud to provide both technical and financial support to the Papio-Missouri River NRD,” said Nebraska State Conservationist Rob Lawson. “Our top priority is to help local sponsors identify and complete watershed projects that enhance natural resources and ensure public safety.”

The Papillion Creek Watershed, spanning 245,800 acres in eastern Nebraska, includes a large portion of Omaha and the surrounding communities of Papillion, Elkhorn, Millard, and Ralston. The projects outlined in the Supplemental Plan are designed to address the pressing environmental challenges faced by these rapidly growing areas.

“The Papio NRD appreciates our strong working relationship and strategic partnership with the NRCS,” said Papio NRD General Manager John Winkler. “This is just one more textbook example of how partnerships maximize public safety and the wise management of our natural resources while simultaneously reducing the reliance on local property taxes and other scarce local resources. Nebraska has the very best natural resource management system in the country, and arguably the world, and this type of project makes us that much better,” said Winkler.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) program provides technical and financial assistance to states, local governments and tribes to plan and implement authorized project plans for completing numerous watershed enhancements.

Cost Share Available for Soil Erosion Mitigation

Termination of cover crop

We saw a drought snapping amount of rain this past spring and with that we saw a dramatic amount of topsoil erosion. Without implementation of soil erosion mitigation practices, you likely saw a lot of silt flow into the low elevations of your fields. If you have thought about how to reduce that soil loss, we at the Papio NRD have cost share incentives for you.

If you are in the Papillion Creek Watershed, the Papio NRD can work with you on cost share opportunities for the planting of cover crops on your field. The great thing about cover crops is that they not only help reduce the amount of topsoil loss in the event of major rain events like those we saw this past spring, but also increase the amount of organic matter in the topsoil after they are terminated in the spring.

We also work with USDA agencies to provide more cost share programs such as field borders and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grassed waterways. In the case of the CRP grassed waterways, we provide an additional $150 per acre of waterway, totaling $450 per acre per year, within the Papillion Creek Watershed.

For more information, please call the Papio NRD Blair Field Office at (402) 426-2625 or Charles Stanley at (402) 350-3695.

 

Papio NRD Board Decreases Property Tax Levy – Lowest in 25 Years

At its September 12th meeting, the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District (Papio NRD) Board of Directors voted to approve the Fiscal Year 2025 general operating budget that includes a significant decrease in the Papio NRD property tax levy.

Papio NRD Board of Directors

“Again, the District has prepared a budget that reduces the tax levy to its lowest in 25 years while funding the increasing need for additional flood mitigation, water quality, recreation opportunities, maintenance of aging infrastructure, and erosion control,” said Tim McCormick, chairman of the Papio NRD Board of Directors. “The system was tested by this past year’s record storms and worked as designed but is at its capacity. As our region develops, additional capacity is required to provide adequate flood mitigation. I commend the District’s ability to do so much while holding tax requests in check,” said McCormick.

For 19 out of 20 years, the Papio NRD has either decreased or kept the property tax levy the same. This fiscal year’s total tax request is 2.5% above last year’s budget. The District will drop its property tax mill levy by 5.61% this fiscal year.

“The Papio NRD clearly understands that high property valuation assessments and taxes are negatively impacting many of our constituents’ finances,” said John Winkler, general manager of the Papio NRD. “Through consistent, methodical and conservative financial and operational management, as well as, securing hundreds of millions of dollars in grant funding and cost shares over the last twenty years, this budget allows the Papio NRD to once again lower its property tax levy while simultaneously funding critical public safety projects and programs,” said Winkler.

Winkler says over the last five years the Papio NRD’s actual tax request increase has been below inflation and averaged five to ten percent below the average assessed valuation increase.

The Papio NRD’s FY25 property tax levy would drop to 0.029568 per $100 of assessed valuation from the District’s FY24 property tax levy of 0.031324 per $100 of assessed valuation. Under this budget, a homeowner in the District with property valued at $150,000 would pay $44.36 a year or $3.70 a month in property taxes next year to support Papio NRD projects, programs, and services. The budget calls for an estimated $31.5 million in revenue from the Papio NRD’s property tax levy. The total operating budget is estimated at $118.3 million.

The property tax levy is based on an estimated 8.6% increase in valuations across the District, which includes all of Sarpy, Douglas, Washington, and Dakota counties, plus the eastern 60% of Burt and Thurston counties.

The Papio NRD receives less than 2% of all property taxes collected within the District’s six-county area. The remaining 98% goes to schools, cities, counties, and other taxing entities.

 

Tsolmon Peters – Employee Spotlight

Today we shine the spotlight on Tsolmon Peters, our IT Support Technician, who keeps our technology and computers in tip top shape.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Mongolia.

What does your job entail (job duties and how does your work impact the public)?

IT Support Technician: Troubleshooting and Resolving Issues: Diagnose and resolve hardware, software, and network problems for users.

Installing and Configuring Systems; Set up and configure computers, printers, and other IT equipment. User Assistance: Provide technical support and guidance to users via phone, email, or in person.

How long have you worked for the District?

I have been here for two years. 

What’s the most unique thing in your office or on your desk right now?

Honestly, my desk is standard, but I do have this pretty efficient clear desk pad. It’s oil and waterproof, I use it to keep my notes organized by slipping them underneath instead of using sticky notes.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work (hobbies, volunteering, etc.)?

I enjoy trying different foods, traveling and walk.

What educational background or experience do you bring to your role (degree(s), coursework, skills learned, etc.)?

I have an Associates in Applied Science, Information Technology Cybersecurity degree /USA, also Electrical engineering master’s and bachelor’s degree. /Mongolia

Is there family, significant other, or furry friend information you’d like to share?

I have a nice family with 2 daughters, my husband and little Pomerene dog.

What project(s) are you most proud of and why?

I am currently working on a project involving a Vulnerability Management tool called CB. This tool is designed to identify, assess, and mitigate vulnerabilities in endpoints within our network. By continuously scanning for security weaknesses, CB helps us prioritize and address potential threats before they can be exploited. This proactive approach ensures that our systems remain secure and compliant with industry standards, ultimately protecting our data and maintaining the integrity of our IT infrastructure.

What is your favorite band(s)?

I enjoy listening to current trending music bands, but in the past, I was more into artists like Michael Bublé.

 

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