News Release from
The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District

Date: Jan. 9, 2008
Contact: Tim Anderson, Public Relations Manager
Phone: (308) 995-8601

January Board Meeting Summary

(HOLDREGE, Neb.) -- The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District's board of directors at Wednesday's monthly meeting approved the hiring of a safety consultant to conduct training and evaluations of Central's current safety practices, subject to agreement on a payment schedule.

Acting on the recommendation of staff, the board approved a motion to enter into a one-year agreement with Common Sense Safety of Cozad to provide services to Central for $12,000.

At a previous meeting, board members had instructed staff to research the question of whether employing an outside safety consultant could reduce insurance premiums, in addition to improving Central's existing safety program.

The answer, said Gothenburg Division Manager Kevin Boyd, who consulted with Central's insurance carrier, is that Central's safety record is already so good that the District is paying the lowest possible rate.

However, Boyd said, his recommendation was to retain the safety consultant for one year and then evaluate the program's impact on safety procedures.

Director Scott Olson of Minden, in supporting the recommendation, said, "Safety is one of the most important components of our operations. It's great that our employees have such a good safety record, but sometimes an outside look at current practices can find something that's been overlooked. If it leads to the prevention of just one accident or injury to one employee, I think it's well worth the investment."

The other directors agreed, passing the motion on a 14-0 vote.

In other action at Wednesday's meeting:

• The directors passed a resolution recognizing Owen J. McDougal's service and contributions as a member of the board. McDougal, 88, announced his retirement at the board's Dec. 28 committee meeting.

McDougal, who lives in Hastings, was appointed to the board to represent Adams County in December 1991 to fill a vacancy created by the death of Ralph Phelps. He was reelected to six-year terms in 1996 and 2002.

McDougal started his career as a research agronomist with the United Fruit Sugar Company in Cuba before serving as an extension conservationist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. After earning a degree from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin, he joined City National Bank in Hastings in 1957 as an agricultural representative.

In an interview after joining the board in 1991, McDougal said he became acquainted with Central's operations while he was on the staff at the University of Nebraska. After moving to Hastings to join the bank, he said he followed District operations closely and was well prepared to accept the appointment as a director.

During his term as a director, McDougal served seven years as the board's treasurer.

Central's policy for filling vacancies on the board provides for the formation of a three-member ad hoc committee, including two members representing the county for which the vacancy exists. The committee will advertise for candidates, accept and review resumes, select and interview candidates, and then make a recommendation of not more than three candidates to the full board. The board will then cast votes to select a new member.

• The board awarded a bid for installation of a carbon dioxide fire suppression system at the Kingsley Hydroplant to General Fire & Safety Equipment of Lincoln for $44,350. Installation of the system is schedule to begin in March.

• The board awarded a bid for delivery of weed control chemicals to Van Diest Supply Co., of McCook for $39,962.

• The board awarded bids for purchase of a program sedan and three pre-owned pickups and two new pickups to Janssen & Sons Ford of Holdrege. The board also awarded a bid to Pony Express Chevrolet of Gothenburg for a program sport utility vehicle. Total cost of the seven vehicles, after trade-ins, was $124,124.

• The board approved three-year leases for three commercial signs on District property, two for $100/year and one for $175/year. The board also approved a one-year lease for a commercial air strip at Johnson Lake for $3,000.

• The board approved seven hardship requests for a reduction in lease fees at Johnson Lake.

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