LINCOLN, Nebraska – The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District (LPSNRD) Board of Directors approved proposals for parking lot construction and a precast concrete vault restroom along the MoPac East Trail at Wabash, when it met Feb. 16. 

Nebraska Digging, of Alvo, was awarded a construction contract for the 7,000 square foot parking area and access drive, along 322nd Street, south of Alvo Road. Their low bid was $6,060. The contract for purchase and installation of the restroom totaled $19,353.  LPSNRD Resources Conservationist Ariana Kennedy said the NRD already has similar vault restrooms at,  “the Walton Trailhead, along the Oak Creek Trail at Loma, at Timber Point Lake and at Wildwood Lake.”  She said staff is happy with their durability. 

The new trailhead will give trail users a safe place to park and will increase their planning options as they enjoy the Mopac East Trail, which is currently developed from 98th & “A” streets, in Lincoln, to Wabash, a distance of about 22 miles. Kennedy said a concrete accessibility pad will be added after installation of the restroom. The MoPac Alliance group, which helped with improvements to the interim trail link between Wabash and the Lied Platte River Bridge, at South Bend, has been working with the NRD to develop the trailhead and will provide a portion of the funding.

In other business the LPSNRD Board:

• Awarded a contract for a spillway replacement project at Upper Salt Dam 5-7, northeast of Hallam ($122,626)
• Approved a final modification for the Upper Salt 3-A Dam Rehabilitation and SW 2nd Street Realignment Project, near Sprague ($32,735)
• Approved the re-assignment of an Oak Creek Trail repair project contract for the new owner, with no change in terms, after the original contracting firm was sold
• Approved a construction contract for Salt Creek Levee slide gate repairs near South 1st and South streets ($139,807) and for a levee bank repair project near Park Ave. and Van Dorn Street ($75,905)
• Approved the repair of an Antelope Creek drainage structure near 52nd and Van Dorn streets ($66,985)
• Approved purchase of a 2022 Dodge Ram pickup and trading-in a 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe ($32,469, including trade-in)
• Approved a recommendation from the Board’s Executive Subcommittee on the support, opposition or monitoring of about 30 bills before the Nebraska Legislature, including the opposition of LB 1135, which would weaken the ability of landowners to protect native prairies, wetlands and other natural areas with conservation easements.

The next scheduled meeting of the LPSNRD Board of Directors will be Wednesday, March 16, 2022, starting at 2 PM. Monitor LPSNRD.org for announcements about Board and subcommittee meetings.