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Papio NRD Names New Reservoirs & Recreation Areas

The Papio NRD Board of Directors has named four of its upcoming flood reduction reservoirs and recreation areas that will be located in the Omaha metro.

Mad Bear flood reduction reservoir under construction near 168th & Giles Road in Gretna.

The projects will feature no-wake lakes (reservoirs) and recreation amenities, including trails, kayak/canoe launches, fishing access, and picnic areas.

The names include:

  • Marlin Petermann Recreation Area – under construction near 180th and Fort Street in Omaha. Estimated to be complete spring of 2027.
  • Mad Bear Recreation Area – under construction near 168th and Giles Road in Gretna. Estimated to be complete fall of 2025.
  • Forest City Recreation Area – under construction near 204th and Schram Road in Gretna. Estimated to be complete late summer of 2025.
  • Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Recreation Area – to be located near 192nd and Giles Road in Gretna. Construction estimated to begin in five years.

“As a veteran of the United States Army, I felt strongly that one of the new flood reduction reservoirs and recreation areas be named after the first Native American to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor: Sergeant Mad Bear,” said Papio NRD Board vice chairman, Dr. Larry Bradley. “Sgt. Mad Bear performed some of his meritorious duties in Nebraska. As I was raised by Oglala Lakota and am part Native American myself, naming these sites to honor notable, local Indigenous peoples is an important and meaningful tribute. In addition, recognizing the late Marlin Petermann is richly deserved, as his work at the Papio NRD directly enabled the construction of these (and many other) reservoirs and the naming of them possible,” said Dr. Bradley.

“I am honored to participate in the naming of two flood mitigation reservoirs and recreation sites after historic Native Americans that made a significant difference in Nebraska,” said Papio NRD Board Director, Jim Thompson. “These truly deserving individuals will be recognized by current and future generations who utilize these sites. Naming another reservoir and recreation area after the late Marlin Petermann is a most appropriate recognition due to his lifelong dedication and service to Nebraska’s natural resources,” said Thompson.

In response to public input for name recommendations, the board named the fourth Papio NRD reservoir and recreation area Forest City Recreation Area due to its historical significance to the City of Gretna. The name recognizes the area’s history, as the town was originally known as Forest City before the railroad’s arrival shifted development to present-day Gretna.

 

 

New Papio NRD Board Members Sworn In

The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Board of Directors welcomed three new members and three returning incumbents at last night’s board meeting.

Left to right: Rodney Storm, Brian Adams, Larry Bradley, Anne Hubbard, Phil Davidson, and Rich Tesar

New Directors include:

Subdistrict 1: Rodney Storm, former City Manager of Blair
Subdistrict 7: Brian Adams, senior leader at OPPD
Subdistrict 9: Anne Hubbard, Omaha physician

Re-elected Directors include:

Subdistrict 3: Larry Bradley, Vice-Chairperson
Subdistrict 5: Rich Tesar, Secretary & NARD Director
Subdistrict 11: Phil Davidson

Additional members of the Papio NRD Board of Directors include, Fred Conley (Subdistrict 2), Tim McCormick (Subdistrict 4), Jim Thompson (Subdistrict 6), Tim Fowler (Subdistrict 8), and Zachary Irvine (Subdistrict 10).

Board members are elected from a subdistrict to serve a four-year term. The 11-member board sets policy for Papio NRD programs and projects and oversees a $118 million annual operating budget.

 

 

Three New Members Elected to Papio NRD Board

The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Board of Directors will see three new faces following the 2024 General Election.

Rodney Storm, former City Manager of Blair, will represent Subdistrict 1, replacing Ted Japp, who chose not to run for reelection.

Omaha physician, Anne Hubbard, defeated incumbent Patrick Bonnet, securing the Subdistrict 9 seat. Brian Adams, a senior leader at OPPD, will represent Subdistrict 7, replacing Josh Henningsen, who chose not to seek another term.

Incumbent Larry Bradley retains his seat in Subdistrict 3 after defeating challenger Grant Melotz. Incumbents Phil Davidson (Subdistrict 11) and Rich Tesar (Subdistrict 5) ran unopposed.

Additional members of the Papio NRD Board of Directors include Fred Conley (Subdistrict 2), Tim McCormick (Subdistrict 4), Jim Thompson (Subdistrict 6), Tim Fowler (Subdistrict 8), and Zachary Irvine (Subdistrict 10).

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 $118 million annual operating budget.

 

 

New Director Fills Vacancy on Papio NRD Board

Zachary Irvine takes the oath of office.

The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Board of Directors has selected a new Director to fill the board’s Subdistrict 10 vacancy.

The Board appointed Zachary Irvine, a Lead Systems Engineer at the MITRE Corporation. Irvine is also a retired lieutenant colonel with more than 22 years of military leadership.

Irvine will officially participate in his first board meeting on November 14th. He replaces Kevyn Sopinski, who resigned in August.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Papio NRD Board of Directors Vacancy

BOARD OF DIRECTOR MEMBER SOUGHT FOR PAPIO-MISSOURI RIVER NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT SUBDISTRICT #10

Notice is hereby given by the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District that a vacancy exists on the Board of Directors for the Director elected from Subdistrict #10.  The vacancy will be filled by the Board of Directors.  The person appointed must be a registered elector and reside in Subdistrict #10.  A map of Subdistrict #10 can be found at https://bit.ly/3SDJqad.

The term of the office to be filled will expire in 2026.

Persons interested in being considered for appointment to this position should submit a letter of application to the District.  The letter must be submitted to the Board of Directors at the District’s principal office, 8901 S. 154th Street, Omaha, NE 68138, postmarked no later than August 29, 2024, or delivered to the District office by 4:00 p.m. on August 29, 2024.  Any questions regarding this matter, call John Winkler at 402-444-6222.

Papio NRD Board Elects Officers

At its July 11, 2024, meeting, the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Board of Directors elected officers to serve the District for the coming year (July 2024 – July 2025).

Tim McCormick in Subdistrict 4 was elected Papio NRD Board Chairperson. Larry Bradley in Subdistrict 3 will serve as Vice Chairperson.

Richard Tesar in Subdistrict 5 was re-elected as both Papio NRD Board Secretary and Nebraska Association of Resources District (NARD) Director. Tim Fowler in Subdistrict 8 was re-elected to serve as Papio NRD Board Treasurer and NARD Alternate Director. Patrick Bonnett in Subdistrict 9 was re-elected Assistant Treasurer.

The Papio NRD Board of Directors is an 11-member board that sets policy for Papio NRD programs and projects and oversees the District’s annual budget.

290 Collective Years of Service to Our Constituents!

What you see here is 290 COLLECTIVE YEARS OF SERVICE to constituents of the Papio NRD – working together to conserve our natural resources across the District!

Ten employees and one member of the board of directors received service awards at last night’s board meeting. Many have been with the Papio NRD for decades, which says a lot about their commitment to their craft and fulfilling our mission.

Our Papio NRD superstars:

Back row: Papio NRD Board Chairman Kevyn Sopinski; Papio NRD General Manager John Winkler; Carey Fry, Senior Accountant (15 years); Martin Cleveland, Construction Engineer (45 years); and Ryan Trapp, Assistant Operations and Maintenance Superintendent (25 years).

Front row: Jean Friends Tate, Administrative Coordinator (30 years); Papio NRD Board Director Tim Fowler (20 years – Nebraska Natural Resources Districts Director Service Award); Bill Brush, IT Manager (10 years); and Bill Warren, Operations and Maintenance/Park Superintendent (45 years).

Employees not pictured: John Zaugg, Field Representative (40 years); Marty Nissen, Engineering Aide/Drafter (35 years); Lance Olerich, Water Supply Superintendent (20 years); and Kyra Peterson, District Accountant (5 years).

Major congratulations to these amazing people!

 

Vacancy on Papio NRD Board of Directors

A vacancy exists on the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District’s Board of Directors for the Director elected from Subdistrict #7.  The vacancy will be filled by the Board of Directors.  The person appointed must be a registered elector and reside in Subdistrict #7.  A map of Subdistrict #7 can be found at  https://bit.ly/subdistrict7 . The term of the office to be filled will expire in 2024.

Persons interested in being considered for appointment to this position should submit a letter of application to the District.  The letter must be submitted to the Board of Directors at the District’s principal office, 8901 S. 154th Street, Omaha, NE 68138, postmarked no later than September 29, 2022 or delivered to the District office by 4:00 p.m. on September 29, 2022. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please call John Winkler at 402-444-6222.

 

New Papio NRD Board Members Sworn In

Two recently elected members of the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District (Papio NRD) Board of Directors were sworn in at last night’s board meeting. 

Patrick Bonnett, who previously served on the Papio NRD Board from 2012-2016, replaces Mark Gruenewald in Subdistrict 9, who joined the board in 2017. Phil Davidson, City of Bellevue Community Relations Coordinator, defeated incumbent John Wiese in Subdistrict 11, who served since 2016.

Incumbent Larry Bradley, a former board member who rejoined the Papio NRD Board in 2017, retains his seat in Subdistrict 3 after defeating challenger Christian Mirch. Incumbents Ted Japp (Subdistrict 1), Rich Tesar (Subdistrict 5), and Danny Begley (Subdistrict 7) ran unopposed.

Additional members of the Papio NRD Board of Directors include Fred Conley (Subdistrict 2), Tim McCormick (Subdistrict 4), Jim Thompson (Subdistrict 6), Tim Fowler (Subdistrict 8), Kevyn Sopinski (Subdistrict 10).

 

 

New Board Members Sworn in at Papio NRD

Left to right: Tim McCormick, Chairperson Jim Thompson, and Kevyn Sopinski

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).

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