News Release from
The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District

Date: March 3, 2008
Contact: Tim Anderson, Public Relations Manager
Phone: (308) 995-8601

March 3, 2008 Board Meeting Summary

(HOLDREGE, Neb.) -- The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District's board of directors appointed Neal Hoff of Hastings to the board at Monday's monthly meeting.

Hoff's appointment as a representative of Adams County fills a vacancy created by the retirement of O.J. McDougal of Hastings in December.

Hoff, a native of central Nebraska and a graduate of Hastings High School and the University of Nebraska-Omaha, is the owner of Uncle Neal's Country Convenience Stores.

He was selected and recommended by an ad hoc committee of the board after an interview process. The board approved his appointment on a 12-0 vote with two directors absent. He will serve the remaining year of the current term.

In other activity at Monday's meeting:

• State Senator Tom Carlson of Holdrege attended the board meeting to brief the directors on current legislative issues, particularly with respect to natural resources. Sen. Carlson is a member of the Legislature's Natural Resources Committee.

Among the topics Sen. Carlson discussed were LB1094, his bill that would provide payment of approximately $9 million from the state to more than 300 irrigators in the Republican River basin who agreed to relinquish surface water last year to help the state comply with a settlement with Kansas regarding flows in the Republican River.

The Legislature had empowered Natural Resources Districts in the Republican basin to collect taxes from which the water users would be paid, but a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law has blocked collection of the taxes. The lawsuit, Sen. Carlson said, was heard in January before the Lancaster County District Court, but the court has not yet ruled on the case.

Sen. Carlson's bill would transfer funds from the state's cash reserves to a Water Contingency Cash Fund for payment to the irrigators who have not been paid for their water. The money would be repaid from collection of taxes as originally intended should the court rule in the state's favor.

Sen. Carlson also briefly explained LB609, a bill he introduced during the 2007 session that is now scheduled for final reading. The bill would assist rural communities in obtaining grants to recruit residents to rural Nebraska communities. The bill, Sen. Carlson said, is intended to encourage population growth in rural areas by attracting citizens with "portable" jobs who might wish to relocate to rural communities to enjoy a higher quality of life than they might otherwise have in some urban settings.

• The directors approved a contract for participation in a conjunctive management study of Platte River water resources. The board had approved a motion at the December board meeting to enter into an interlocal cooperation agreement with other participants contingent upon developing acceptable language in the agreement. However, a separate contract with the other participants proved to be a more practical approach.

The study is designed to develop and evaluate conjunctive management scenarios for a significant portion of the Platte River Basin. Central's objectives in joining the study are to develop modeling tools and identify and evaluate conjunctive management scenarios that could improve overall management and sustainability of water resources. The study will enable Central to evaluate opportunities that will optimize water supplies in its irrigation service area for existing customers and potential new uses.

Other study participants are the Central Platte and Twin Platte Natural Resources Districts, Nebraska Public Power District and the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. HDR Engineering, Inc., will coordinate the study and assist with development of conjunctive management scenarios.

The study is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.

• The directors rescinded an action taken at the January board meeting that awarded bids for two pickup trucks after the dealer was unable to acquire program vehicles that met specifications. The board then accepted a bid from Janssen & Sons Ford of Holdrege for two 2008 3/4-ton pickups for a total of $44,580.

• The board formally closed a contract with Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution by approving payment of $58,869 for an oil circuit breaker at the Johnson No. 2 Hydroplant. The new circuit breaker replaces a unit that failed last August.

• The board approved payment of $81,931 to Lincoln County as Central's share of the cost to replace a bridge over the Supply Canal southeast of Brady. Central and Lincoln County are partnering with the federal government to provide funds for the bridge replacement.

• After considerable discussion of a motion that would give the general manager authority to approve lot consolidations at Johnson Lake, the directors voted to delay action on the measure to allow the board's power and recreation committee and staff to further review the issue.

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