The Papio NRD Subcommittee and Board of Directors meetings will be held virtually via Zoom. To join the meetings, simply click the links below.
Subcommittee meeting – Tuesday, April 7 at 4:00 p.m.
Board of Directors meeting – Thursday, April 9 at 4:00 p.m.
PUBLIC INFORMATION OPEN HOUSE – CANCELED
Papillion Creek Watershed Supplemental Plan – Environmental Assessment
Due to the uncertainty involved with the COVID-19 virus and public health developments, the Papio NRD and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are going to cancel the scheduled open house. However, your feedback is important to us.
Beginning on March 23, the planned presentation will be available on our project website: https://trello.com/b/I2bEEIiB/papillion-creek-watershed-supplemental-plan-ea
Site locations and preliminary designs have been developed for the seven sites proposed in Douglas, Sarpy and Washington Counties and information on each site will be detailed in the presentation. The projects are intended to develop solutions for watershed issues such as erosion, floodwater and sediment damage, water quality and habitat improvements, and others.
The project team including the P-MRNRD, NRCS, FYRA Engineering, and Olsson Associates will do our best to accommodate requests for information and are willing to send information by mail, email, etc. Please reach out with any comments or questions to Amanda Grint, Project Manager. You may reach me by email at agrint@papionrd.org or phone at 402-315-1722. You may also send comments to my attention at Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, 8901 South 154th Street, Omaha, NE 68138. Please provide comments by April 6th.
To help keep residents who live near Union Dike informed of the status of the levee’s rehabilitation, the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District is providing a project timeline.
Union Dike is located on the east bank of the Platte River between Valley and Fremont, Nebraska. The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Papio NRD are working together to repair 2019 flood-damaged areas caused by overtopping of the dike and high water along both sides of the dike.
The USACE is handling the following tasks:
The Papio NRD will provide soil for the repairs and reimburse the USACE 20% of the construction costs.
The tentative Union Dike project timeline is as follows:
It should be noted, the project schedule is contingent on receiving acceptable bids and suitable construction weather.
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.
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.
Sorry folks, we know this is not the news you want to hear.
All of the Papio NRD river access sites will be closed indefinitely due to the recent flooding. These include:
The campground at Elkhorn Crossing Rec. Area will also be closed for the season. Our crews are working as quickly as possible to get the access sites back in shape.
We truly appreciate your understanding.
The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Board of Directors has filled its Subdistrict 7 vacancy.
The Board selected Omahan Danny Begley to replace Patrick Leahy, who had to resign due to moving to a residence located outside of Subdistrict 7. Nebraska state law declares a Papio NRD Director must reside in the subdistrict he/she represents.
Begley, who works for the Omaha Public Power District, took the oath of office on February 14, and will officially participate in his first board meeting Thursday night.
Subdistrict 7’s boundaries roughly comprise of the Dundee/Benson neighborhoods to west of I-680 on Dodge Street.
Two recently-elected members of the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Board of Directors were sworn in at last night’s board meeting.
Tim McCormick, owner of a bridge and heavy civil construction company, now officially represents Subdistrict 4 following the retirement of long-time board member John Conley.
Kevyn Sopinski, a financial adviser, serves Subdistrict 10. Sopinski replaces David Klug who chose not to run for re-election to focus on election to the Sarpy County Board of Commissioners.
Another new face will join the Papio NRD Board of Directors in February, as the board announced the resignation of Director Patrick Leahy of Subdistrict 7 due to Leahy’s move to a residence located outside of Subdistrict 7. Those interested in applying to fill the remainder of Leahy’s term can find more information here.
McCormick and Sopinski join current members of the Papio NRD Board of Directors: Ted Japp (Subdistrict 1), Fred Conley (Subdistrict 2), Larry Bradley (Subdistrict 3), Richard Tesar (Subdistrict 5), Jim Thompson (Subdistrict 6), Mark Gruenwald (Subdistrict 9), and John B. Wiese (Subdistrict 11).
The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Board of Directors announced a vacancy on the board at its meeting last night.
Director Patrick Leahy, who represents Subdistrict 7, provided his formal resignation from the board earlier this month, as he will be moving to a residence located outside of Subdistrict 7. Nebraska state law declares a Papio NRD Director must reside in the subdistrict he/she represents.
Subdistrict 7’s boundaries roughly comprise of the Dundee/Benson neighborhoods to west of I-680 on Dodge Street.
“I would like to thank the Directors, the constituents of Subdistrict 7, and the entire NRD staff for making serving the District fun and fulfilling,” said Leahy. “I have enjoyed the past six years and I will miss helping with the good work of the NRD’s mission.”
“Director Leahy’s commitment to the District and those he served never wavered and we cannot thank him enough for his service and leadership,” said John Winkler, General Manager of the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District. “Director Leahy’s support and tenacity will be sorely missed by the District and his constituents. We wish Director Leahy nothing but the best and no doubt he will soon return to public service in one way or another,” said Winkler.
Those interested in being appointed to fill the remainder of Leahy’s term (until January 2020) can submit a letter of application until January 31, 2019.
The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Board of Directors is an 11-member board that sets policy for Papio NRD programs and projects and oversees a $72 million annual operating budget. The Papio NRD District includes all of Sarpy, Douglas, Washington and Dakota counties, plus the eastern 60% of Burt and Thurston counties.
The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Board of Directors will see some new faces this year following the 2018 General Election.
Tim McCormick, owner of a bridge and heavy civil construction company, takes over John Conley’s seat in Subdistrict 4. Conley retired after serving 19 years on the board.
Kevyn Sopinski, a financial adviser, replaces David Klug in Subdistrict 10, who chose not to run for re-election to focus on election to the Sarpy County Board of Commissioners.
Longtime incumbent Tim Fowler, who has represented Subdistrict 8 since 2003, will hold onto his seat after defeating challenger Jim Kusek.
Incumbents Jim Thompson in Subdistrict 6 and Fred Conley in Subdistrict 2 ran unopposed.
Additional members of the Papio NRD Board of Directors include Ted Japp (Subdistrict 1), Larry Bradley (Subdistrict 3), Richard Tesar (Subdistrict 5), Patrick Leahy (Subdistrict 7), Mark Gruenwald (Subdistrict 8), and John B. Wiese (Subdistrict 11).
The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Board of Directors is an 11-member board that sets policy for Papio NRD programs and projects and oversees a $72 million annual operating budget.