• Since the last posting much effort has continued to make contact with all property owners abutting Thompson Creek from 72nd to Edgewood Boulevard.
• A contract was awarded to Anderson Excavating Company to perform the Site Clearing. This work began on December 8 and is to be completed by mid-February 2015. This work is primarily tree removal needed to create a path for OPPD to relocate power lines and for the channel reconstruction.
• Plans and specifications for the channel reconstruction package are currently being finalized. An Open House for residents and property owners abutting the channel area is scheduled for January 20, 2015 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at City Hall prior to the City Council meeting. Any interested citizens are welcome to attend. Bids for the channel reconstruction are scheduled for February and channel reconstruction would start in April as weather permits.
• A bio-retention basin project in the southwest corner of the City Hall parking lot is substantially complete. Some finish work remains and will need a few warm days to allow completion.
• A quarterly grant report to the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) is currently being prepared. The NET is the primary grant partner for the project.
• The Rain Barrel program will be offered again in 2015. The program is intended for the Thompson Creek watershed due to grant requirements; however, a small fund is being set aside for rain barrels outside the Thompson Creek watershed in other parts of the City. This is due to citizens in those areas expressing interest last year. Look for more information in the near future in the weekly newsletter or on the City’s web site.
• A contractor has completed repairs to the large culvert under 72nd Street. This was damaged by a large rain event in early September.
• The2015 La Vista Bio Blitz is tentatively scheduled for October 16 and 17, 2015. We hope to be able to tour the completed channel rehabilitation project by that time.
• More information on the Thompson Creek Watershed Restoration project can be found at
www.cityoflavista.org/thompsoncreek.