District 2: Bill Vasey, 76111 Road 425, Cozad, NE 69130

District 3: Steve Sheen, 2530 Dove Hill Ave, Kearney, NE 68845       Thomas Brennan, 75295 Road 448, Overton

District 4: Robert Schanou, 14682 Shelton Rd, Shelton

District 5: Jim Shiers, 3105 Imperial Ave, Kearney            John Tarrell, 41695 39th Rd, Gibbon

District 6: D. Scott Woodman, 18941 W Denman Rd, Kenesaw      Kelly Markham, 115 Lakeview #8, Grand Island     Don Mehring, 102 Ponderosa Dr, Grand Island

District 7: Ed Stoltenberg, 4980 N 90th Rd, Cairo

District 8: Alicia Haussler, 2021 W Faidley Ave, Grand Island

District 9: Ed Kyes, 1890 T Rd, Central City

District 10: Charles Maser, 1222 S Harrison St, Grand Island

At Large: Dick Mercer, 5815 4th Ave, Kearney              Kendra Kuehner, 1715 E 43rd St Place, Kearney

EMPLOYMENT:  
Retired Farmer
Wife: Alice
Children: Steve, Scott, Sandra, Brian, Debra
7 grandchildren/4 ggchildren
Hobbies: Golf

Dick Mercer

What NRD accomplishments are you most proud of?  Groundwater Management Plan, Wood River Flood Control Project for Grand Island and the NRD Cost Share Programs.

What improvements should the NRD consider? Need to continue to work to improve our communications to the public on all the NRD is doing across the District.

Do you think the NRD system works in Nebraska?  Why or why not?  Yes!  The water issues vary too much across the state.  The NRD's represent the best in local knowledge- and means to solve the problems.

Any other comments? The NRD system of Nebraska is the envy of every state.  No other state can solve their Natural Resources problems the way Nebraska can.

Brian Keiser
EMPLOYMENT:  Farmer/feeder.  
Spouse:  Torey
Children: Kelly, Amy, Katie

Brian Keiser

Why are you interested in serving on the Board? 
I want to protect our water rights and to help continue fair distribution to all water users.

What is your position on temporary suspension on drilling new wells and expansion of irrigated acres? 
I understand a temporary suspension with our present drought, but we need to meet the needs of our crop production.

Do you have a position on the Platte River Cooperative Agreement?  
This is very important and we need to work together to continue to provide water to our cropland.

EMPLOYMENT:  
Gothenburg Irrigation 
Richeson Well Service, Owner/Manager
Spouse:  Sonia
Children:  Joe, Tana

Jay Richeson


HISTORY  
Broken Bow High School, Associates Degree in Aeronautical Technology at Western Nebraska Community College at Sidney NE.

INTERESTS/ACHIEVEMENTS 
I am interested in the water issues that are facing the people in CPNRD.  
I am also concerned that the control of the CPNRD is in jeopardy of being moved to the eastern part of the state and will be taken out of the control of the local boards.  
I am concerned that the Dept.of Natural Resources is pressuring the CPNRD into making decisions without the correct technical data to base their decision on.

Employment: Self-Farmer
Semi-retired
Education: 1953 Colorado State University graduate
Family: Wife-Mary Jane
3 children, 5 grandchildren
Hobbies: following grandchildren's activities, flying, antique autos

Bill Vasey  

What NRD accomplishments are you most proud of? Central Platte has been willing to deal with many difficult situations concerning moratoriums, additional irrigated acres and nitrates in groundwater.  Another accomplishment is the NRD's Water Banking Program that is working toward changing the west end of the District from over to fully appropriated.  This is a first for Central Platte and the NRDs.

What improvements should the NRD consider? We need to be able to shift directions more easily, realizing that state laws control much of what we do.

Do you think the NRD system works in Nebraska?  Why or why not? Yes, it does work.  It provides strong local control from a diverse board membership.  Each District is unique in problems that it deals with and each District solves these problems in different ways.

Any other comments: We, as an NRD, need to continue to demand that true science is used in dealing with ESA Impacts.  This federal law has cost our country billions of dollars.

Achievements: Served 18 years on ESU#10 Board, recognized as "Century Farm" by Ak-Sar-Ben, received "Water Stewardship Award" from Nebraska Water Users, President of Cozad Chamber of Commerce.

Employment: Self-Farmer
Education: HS + 
53 years of farming
Family: Wife-Sally
4 children,  4 step children, 
8 grandchildren, 6 step g.c.
Hobbies: flying-50 years

Dwayne Margritz 

What NRD accomplishments are you most proud of?  I'm proud that the District has protected our farmer's acres by having these acres certified as irrigated.

Do you think the NRD system works in Nebraska?  Why or why not? CPNRD operates under laws from national and state government, along with individual and environmental concerns, cooperative hydrology study, local problems and CPNRD goals.  Along with the very proficient staff at CPNRD, the board deals with these and many other issues and seeks the best answer for all that are involved in our district.

Achievements: 59 year member First Presbyterian Church, 15 year District 17 School Board,  Commercial Pilot, ASEL, IFR Gideons International, CPNRD Board, Lexington Airport Authority, Treasurer of Heartland Flying Farmers & Ranchers

EMPLOYMENT: 
Farmer since 1974
Spouse: Janet
Children: Hubble, Hilary, Haylee

Marvion Reichert Jr. 
                                           
HISTORY    
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.  
Raises 1,500 acres corn, soybeans, wheat & alfalfa; 25 acres sweet corn production.  
Licensed pump installer.

INTERESTS/ACHIEVEMENTS 
Family, ag production, new technology, community.
President of school board, member of Tom Osborn Ag Advisory Committee

Employment: Farmer
Self-employed
Education: BS in Industrial Education- UNK
Family: Wife-Joan
3 children, 9 grandchildren
Hobbies: working in my shop and golf

What NRD accomplishments are you most proud of?  Working with people in my District and helping them with their problems.

What improvements should the NRD consider? I believe the NRD is doing a good job and just need to keep doing what the NRD was designed to do.

Do you think the NRD system works in Nebraska?  Why or why not? Yes- we need to keep water control in local hands and encourage tree plantings.

Achievements: Still Farming

Employment: Dobesh Farms Inc
Education: Graduated from Wood River High School
Family: Wife-Patty; daughter Jennifer, stepsons Jacob and Joshua Van Pelt 

Mike Dobesh

What NRD accomplishments are you most proud of?  Cost share for pivots.  Anything we can do to undo the "fully appropriated" designation.

What improvements should the NRD consider? More information given to the public with full ramifications of what will occur several times, so as much of public can be notified.

Do you think the NRD system works in Nebraska?  Why or why not? It would work better if NRDs had more power with less political red tape to go through.

Any other comments: More education of state Legislators and public need to be done.  I’d like the public to be more aware of issues like LB 962 and the Platte River Program.  We need to have local control not have the Fish & Wildlife Service in charge.  Local government needs to be stewards of taxpayers money and have control of local issues.

Hobbies: trapping & hunting

Achievements: Did well in yield contents with National Corn Growers while in FFA.

EMPLOYMENT:  
Farmer & Pioneer Sales Rep
Spouse: Sharon
Children: Nate, Barb

Bob Schanou 

Why are you interested in serving on the Board?  I served three years on the NRD Board when I replaced Carl Gangwish.  
I have always been very interested in water issues, since it has a big impact on all of us.

What is your position on temporary suspension on drilling new wells and expansion of irrigated acres?  The easy position would be to be against the suspension.  The right position is to be for the suspension.  The big question is if it should have been done sooner.

What are your suggestions for the Integrated Management Plan?  I have not seen the Plan.  There needs to be a massive cleanup of the Platte River.  The NRD has done a lot of good projects, but the Platte River is in bad shape.  A mature Salt Cedar uses 200 to 300 gallons of water a day, compound this with all the Cottonwood trees and other phreatophytes and it is easy to see that we could have a significant increase in water flowing down the Platte River.

EMPLOYMENT  
Farmer since 1974
Spouse: Carolyn
Children: Heather, Jamie, Shane
Grandsons: Ethan, Harrison
Hobbies: Travel

Jim Bendfeldt 


What NRD accomplishments are you most proud of? CPNRD Water Bank and participating in the development of the COHYST model.

What improvements should the NRD consider? Co-sponsored (funded) conservation programs.

Do you think the NRD system works in Nebraska?  Why or why not? Most definitely.  Simply because of the local control necessitated by the wide disparity of needs, available resources, uses and/or applications of district to district.

Education: BS in Business Administration, Nebraskan Wesleyan University

Achievements:  My family 

Employment:
Self-employed farmer
Education: HS Diploma
Family: Sons- John & James
Hobbies: snowmobiling

Jim Shiers

What NRD accomplishments are you most proud of? Getting in compliance with regulations.

What improvements should the NRD consider? Trying to maintain budgets.

Do you think the NRD system works in Nebraska?  Why or why not? Our district works well with cities, ethanol plants & individuals.  
It promotes public relations and educational projects.

Any other comments? Serving on the NRD board is quite a learning experience.

Employment: Self-Employed- Farming
Family: Wife-Debra 
Angela, Alice, Andrew
Hobbies: hunting, fishing, woodworking, Tae Kwon Do

Mick Reynolds (will start in January)

What NRD accomplishments are you most proud of? Hopefully all of the projects are beneficial.  I believe the flood control projects help protect constituent's property and property values.  The NRD's Groundwater Management Program helps protect and preserve the District's groundwater resource.

What improvements should the NRD consider? I don't know of any at this time.  There seems to be an open line of communication between the public and the NRD.  The constituents concerns are being heard and considered.

Do you think the NRD system works in Nebraska?  Why or why not? Yes, local control of the groundwater and natural resources in each NRD has provided better and timelier management than what would be provided by the state.  Local issues are heard and addressed more efficiently and fairly by a local board of directors.

Other comments: I believe my 12 years of experience with the University of Nebraska, in water quality and quantity issues, as well as my 27 years of farming provides a strong background to help the NRD board of directors make sound decisions.  My past experience serving on the CPNRD board of directors has allowed me to have an understanding of the issues and challenges facing the NRD.

Education: BS in Economics & Business Administration, University of Nebraska at Kearney

Achievements: My most important achievement has been that my wife & I have raised our children to be responsible and successful young adults.

EMPLOYMENT: 
Woodman Farms
Spouse: Dena Woodman
Children: Courtney, Devin

Scott Woodman

HISTORY   
Graduated from Shelton High School and Hastings Tech.  
My wife, Dena, and I own and operate a mid-size farm and we run a cow/calf operation with the help Dan Raasch.  Dan has been with us for ten years.

INTERESTS/ACHIEVEMENTS 
Courtney and Devin (my kids).  They seem to be involved in everything at school.  
Another of my interests include the farm and cattle operation.  I have been on the board for a number of years.  
I feel that I am now in a position to help guide the board with all of the programs and activities.  
I hope that I can give good input to the Cooperative Agreement and that we can come out of this or influence the Governor in the right direction.

EMPLOYMENT: 
Self-employed as farmer.
Spouse: Tina 
Children:  Evan, Ryan

Jerry Wiese   

HISTORY  
I farm land 3 miles northwest of Grand Island, on the same farm I was raised on.  
I've served on the Aurora Coop Board of Directors and the Northwest Educational Foundation.

INTERESTS/ACHIEVEMENTS 
My interests include rights of irrigators, high groundwater levels and water levels in the Platte River.

Stoltenberg Irrigation
Spouse: Deb
Children: Brian, Todd, Sarah

Ed Stoltenberg

Why are you interested in serving on the Board?  
I grew up on a farm in Hall County and have been involved in an irrigation business in Hall County for 30 years.  
I've worked with our natural resources all of my life and feel I could be a good person for the position.

What is your position on temporary suspension on drilling new wells and expansion of irrigated acres?  
Dry years come and go, so I don't have a problem with a temporary suspension of well drilling.  
I would like to see some leniency on expansion of irrigated acres.

What are your suggestions for the Integrated Management Plan?  
I'm not real familiar with the IMP, but it does appear to be more of a problem with the western areas of CPNRD.

EMPLOYMENT: 
Central Community College

Spouse: Dan
Children:  Michele Eberl

Alicia Haussler

Why are you interested in serving on the Board?  I have no hidden agenda only want to help to make sure that our natural resources are protected for both farmers, citizens in the towns and the wildlife in our area.

What is your position on temporary suspension on drilling new wells and expansion of irrigated acres?  
I agree with what the Board did with the temporary suspension on drilling new wells.  Many times Boards are required to make decisions that are not supported by all.  The main reason they choose to make these decisions is that they feel the decision will be less harmful to the citizens in the area, 
because if they cannot make some of the hard decisions than the state will make the decision for us and local control is better.

What are your suggestions for the Integrated Management Plan?  
Currently I understand since a law was passed by the state, and that committees have been formed and meeting held in order to seek information 
from the citizens and farmers in the area, on what needs to be included and how best to comply with the law.  I feel at this time that we should 
continue to seek input and discuss the options with our stakeholders.  Since I am not aware of all that is required, I have no other suggestions at this time.

EMPLOYMENT: 
Semi-Retired Insurance Agent/ Adjuster
Spouse: Catherine
Children: Kent, Todd, Connie, Michelle

LeRoy Arends 

INTERESTS/ACHIEVEMENTS  
Very concerned with our groundwater table declining and want to keep control of our groundwater at the local level and not by the Federal government.  
Very  concerned about groundwater for farmers irrigating an for pure drinking water for our cities and towns.

Issues NRD should undertake: 
1) Keep the Federal Fish & Wildlife from getting control of the Platte River.  
2) Eliminate the Sandhill Crane folks from determining what and how much water flows down the Platte River.  
3) Help get a spring hunting season to "thin" down the goose/duck population.  
4) Encourage more "center pivot" irrigation within rather than gravity type to conserve water.  
5) Better irrigation water management practices.

EMPLOYMENT: 
Self-Employed Farmer
Spouse:  Marilyn 
Children: Paula, Lee, Steve, John

Ed Kyes

What NRD accomplishments are you most proud of? Flood Control Projects and Water Quality Programs.

Do you think the NRD system works in Nebraska?  Why or why not? The NRD system works.  It is essential to protect the quality and quantity of groundwater in Nebraska.

Education: BS in Civil Engineering- University of Nebraska at Lincoln 

EMPLOYMENT: 
Licensed real estate broker 
& appraiser

Ladd Reeves

History  
Lifetime Merrick County Resident
Lifetime involvement in farming and ranching- active in range management activities
Past Central Platte NRD board member
Current Middle Platte Basin representative on the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission

Interests
I feel that I have the background and experience to deal with the ever more complex water issues that are vital to the future well-being of agriculture and the good life in the Central Platte Natural Resources District.  

I am aware of the changing role played by the Central Platte NRD and I will take a fiscally conservative, common sense approach to all issues to assure the most "bang for the buck."

EMPLOYMENT:
Obermiller Seamless    Owner/Manager
Spouse: Angela
Children: Miranda, Michael

Barry Obermiller

Education: Graduated from Doniphan High School, Attended UNL 1989-1993, Bellevue University, Accelerated Bachelors Degree Program

What NRD accomplishments are you most proud of? Local control of our natural resources, the Cooperative Hydrology Study, expansion of the Center Pivot Program in order to help protect our local irrigators, and the development of the CAAP (Ordinance Plant.)

Hobbies: Spending time with family, hunting, fishing

Achievements: Honorable discharge USAF and Nebraska Air National Guard. Served on Central Platte NRD board since 1996, Village of Doniphan board, Central Nebraska Homebuilders Association board

EMPLOYMENT:
Schuppan's Trailer Sales

Spouse: Lori

Stephen Schuppan

Why are you interested in serving on the Board? We need to have a more ag representation on the board.

What is your position on temporary suspension on drilling new wells and expansion of irrigated acres? 
I don't think that we have enough information or history that we can make a suspension as we have done.

What are your suggestions for the Integrated Management Plan? I don't really have the information now to make a suggestion.