June 2025 League of Nebraska Municipalities
Drought based water restrictions
By Lash Chaffin, Utilities Section Director
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor published by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Nebraska is currently in drought conditions. It is imperative that Nebraska municipal water systems stay ahead of this issue. Nebraska water law is not really designed to make quick changes in water use. For the most part, the system is court based and could take weeks or months for a municipal water system to get judicial relief. So, if your municipality does not have a drought plan, they need to develop one immediately.
Know the staff at the local Natural Resources District and communicate on a regular basis. The State of Nebraska is divided into 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRDs). These districts have some authority over groundwater use. Some of their legal tools might be helpful to a municipality in a drought and some of their legal tools might not be helpful in a drought. But, in any event, now is the time to begin communication with the Natural Resources District and let them know exactly how your system works, why you prefer to use certain wells, unusual customer and system needs, and what type of monitoring you are conducting and intend to conduct. If you do not know which NRD you are in, please refer to the following
206 S 13th Street, Suite 800
Lincoln, NE 68508
(402) 476-2829
Fax (402) 476-7052
website – http://nrdnet.org/find-yournrd.php. Also, remember that your wells might be in a different NRD than your distribution system. Or, your wells might even be in multiple NRDs.
Have in Place an Emergency Water Restriction Plan. Nebraska law clearly allows municipalities to have reasonable rules and regulations with respect to the municipal water system. For Cities of the First Class (generally population 5,001 to 100,000 population) Neb. Rev. Stat. 16-679 provides:
The mayor and council shall have power to require every individual or private corporation operating such works or plants, subject to reasonable rules and regulations, to furnish any person applying therefor, along the line of its pipes, mains, wires or other conduits, with gas, water, power, light or heat, and to supply said city with water for fire protection, and with gas, water, power, light or heat, for other necessary public or private purposes; to regulate and fix the rents or rates of water, power, gas, electric light or heat; and to regulate and fix the charges for water meters, power meters, gas meters, electric light or heat meters, or other device or means necessary for determining the consumption of water, power, gas, electric light or heat. These powers shall not be
abridged by ordinance, resolution or contract.
For cities of the second class (generally population 801 to 5,000) and villages (generally population 800 or less) Neb. Rev. Stat. 17-537 provides:
The council or board of trustees of such cities and villages shall have power to make and enforce all needful rules and regulations in the construction, use, and management of such waterworks, mains, portion or extension of any system of waterworks or water supply and for the use of the water therefrom. Lincoln and the Metropolitan Utilities District have similar powers.
A municipality needs to be able to quickly utilize these powers if the drought continues and the municipal water supply is threatened. It is advisable to enact an ordinance now so that contingency plans can be put in place quickly if needed. Sample ordinance language is provided later in this article.
Develop Legal Contracts with Nearby Irrigators. Rather than let the court system attempt to sort out your legal rights to water, it might be worth considering offering
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Lash Chaffin Utilities Section Director
Jackson Sash Utilities Field Representative
Utilities Section Newsletter
Drought based water
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binding legal contracts to nearby local irrigators that would allow you to curtail or suspend their use if your wells drop to a pre-specified depth. These contracts would need to be negotiated by your municipal attorney or an attorney with expertise in water law and crop loss valuation, but this would probably be money very well spent if the drought continues.
Ordinance Language. Below is the type of language to use if your municipality wants to adopt an ordinance.
The City/Village reserves the right to suspend the use of water for fountains, or for sprinkling yards,
lawns and gardens or for any other purpose whenever in the opinion of the Mayor/Village Chair the public exigency may require it. The Mayor/Village Chair is authorized and empowered to declare the existence of any emergency relating to the available water supply of the municipal water system, and to impose restrictions on the use of water during such emergency. Whenever the Mayor/Village Chair shall determine that the remaining available water supply is critically low, from whatever cause, the Mayor/Village Chair may declare the existence of an emergency and impose reasonable
restrictions on the use of such water. It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to observe any such restriction so imposed by the Mayor/Village Chair, provided public announcement of such restriction has been made. The municipality may turn off the water supplied to the premises of any person who, after having been notified of the imposition of such emergency restrictions on the use of water, disregards such restrictions, and such supply of water shall not again be turned on until the cost for turning the water off and turning the water on has been paid to the municipality.
Electric Rubber Gloving, Underground, Apparatus School held
By Jackson Sash, Utilities Field Rep./Training Coordinator
The Eastern Nebraska Lineman School was held June 3-5 at the Utility Line Facility on the Northeast Community College campus in Norfolk. In past years, Rubber Gloving School and Underground School were held separately on different weeks. This year, the decision was made to combine these two schools and add a third school, Apparatus School, into a single three-day workshop. Attendees had the option to pick
one of the three tracks to follow. There were eight municipal systems and 17 rural systems in attendance. Municipal systems included Broken Bow, Central City, Fremont, Grand Island, Hastings, Holdrege, Pender, and West Point. Rural systems included Butler PPD, Cornhusker PPD, Dawson PPD, Elkhorn RPPD, Howard Greeley RPPD, KBR RPPD, Norris PPD, North Central PPD, Northeast Power, Perennial PPD, Polk County RPPD, PREMA, Roosevelt PPD, Southern PPD, Stanton County PPD, Twin Valleys PPD, and Wheatbelt PPD.
The Rubber Gloving Track was split into three sections based on experience level, either beginner, intermediate, or advanced. The beginner group focused on the basics of rubber gloving. Some topics were equipment inspections, proper set-up of trucks, rubber gloving techniques, and some basic line work. The intermediate groups rotated through three unique stations over the three days. Those stations were crossarm changeout on a tangent structure, bell changeout on an angle structure, and replacement
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Utilities Section Newsletter
Electric Rubber Gloving, Underground, Apparatus School held
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of a broken crossarm. The advanced group had two stations, each taking up half the time of the school. These two stations were reconductoring 3 phase and double dead-end 3 phase.
The Underground Track was broken up into two groups, these groups were not based on experience and simply reduced the size of the classes. The topics covered were 600 AMP terminations, splicing, fault locating, locating primary and secondary, tunneling and boring, sectionalizing, 200 and 600 AMP bolt-in connections, pad mount transformers and secondary pedestals.
The Apparatus Track was a single group which had stations each lasting around a half day of class. The stations for the apparatus school were learning about transformers, a presentation by ABB Electrical Installation Products Division, another presentation by
ABB Electrification Distribution Solutions Division, regulators, and finally CT/VTs and capacitors.
We would like to give special thanks to all the power systems and their employees who volunteered their time and equipment to help instruct at the school. Municipal and rural system instructors were Matt Lovejoy of Southern, Brandon Evans of KBR, Charlie Clark of Polk County, Ryan Hoover of Hastings Utilities, Willy Anderson of Cuming County, Troy Norman and Mike Jacobi of Cornhusker, Josh Strope of Perennial, Mike Larson of Stanton County, Brad Hacker and Tanner Ostermeyer of Dawson, Ethan McGowan of Grand Island Utilities, and Brian Small of Butler. Additionally, we would like to thank the vendors who attended to instruct and supply equipment and machinery for the school. Vendors in attendance were Nate Abels of American Power; Jim Meyer,
Rubber gloving students performing a bell changeout on an angled structure
Brady Harrington, Mike Palmer, and Mike Rhodes of WESCO; Jay Witt and Adam Nelson of ESI; Mark Pojar of Sonetics; Garry Poutre and Collin Breyfogle of Moehn Sales; Jeff Tezak of TIIGÃ – Nature Forged; Jim Stephens of 3M; Blair Nutzman of Altec; John Maguire of Vermeer; Aaron Samuelson of Primus Marketing; Corey Stoffers of Border States; Greg Reinertsen of Megger, and Cathey Hartigan of Hartigan Power Equipment. The next Lineman School is scheduled for Aug. 26-28, 2025, in Sidney at the Don Winkelman Training Field, the Wheatbelt Public Power District’s training field located on the north edge of Sidney. Participants may be limited so be sure to register in advance so meals, materials, and workstations can be scheduled. This event will have Rubber Gloving School and Apparatus School; no underground will be taught.
Underground students practicing using a Vermeer directional boring machine
Rubber gloving students reconducting a 3-phase line
Safe towing practices for municipal crews SAFETY/HEALTH CORNER
By Jackson Sash, Utilities Field Rep./ Training Coordinator
In the world of municipal utilities, trailers are among the most heavily relied-upon tools. Whether you're hauling a mini-excavator to a dig site, transporting pipe, or moving barricades and safety equipment for street or utility work, trailers are an everyday part of the job. But just because we use them all
the time doesn’t mean we should take them for granted. When trailers aren’t loaded, hitched, or operated properly, they become a serious hazard—to the driver, to others on the road, and to the equipment and materials being hauled.
The first – and arguably most critical – step in trailer safety is the hitch connection. Every time a trailer is hooked up, the connection should be double-checked. The
ball and coupler must be the correct size and seated properly. The latch should be locked down securely, with a pin or lock in place so it can’t bounce loose. Safety chains must be crossed underneath the tongue in an “X” pattern and hooked securely to the tow vehicle. Nebraska law (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,246) requires that trailers be equipped with safety chains strong enough to keep the trailer attached if the hitch fails. Breakaway cables, when required, should be connected to something fixed and independent of the hitch – not to the chains or ball mount. Next comes the load. Uneven or improperly distributed weight can lead to swaying, fishtailing, or loss of control. A good
rule of thumb is to place about 60% of the load toward the front half of the trailer, which helps maintain stability and ensures that the tow vehicle maintains traction and steering. Cargo should be secured with straps or chains that are rated for the weight being hauled. Under Nebraska DOT enforcement, securement practices generally follow federal FMCSA standards (49 CFR §§ 393.100–393.136), which require that materials and equipment be fastened in a way that prevents shifting under normal driving
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Safe towing practices for municipal crews
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conditions. That means tie-downs should be in good condition – not frayed, stretched, or sun-damaged –and loads must be checked regularly throughout transport.
Tires are one of the most common failure points on trailers, and they’re often the most neglected. Trailer tires frequently sit unused for long periods and are exposed to sun, temperature swings, and weight stress. Before hitting the road, check that the tires are properly inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure – not just “close enough.” Look for cracking, dry rot, or uneven tread wear. Don’t forget to inspect the spare tire as well, and make sure you have the right tools onboard in case a tire change becomes necessary on the road. Nebraska requires all trailers operated on public roads to be in good mechanical condition, and tire failure can easily lead to a citation – or worse, an accident.
Lighting and brakes are also essential components that should be tested before travel. Nebraska law, in line with federal rules, requires all trailers to have operational taillights, brake lights, and turn
signals. These must be clearly visible and properly wired to the tow vehicle. Larger trailers – those with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 6,500 pounds or more – must have functional brakes on all wheels and a breakaway system in case of detachment. That means most equipment or dump trailers in utility fleets fall under this requirement. Operators should ensure the brake controller is properly adjusted and that the trailer’s brakes engage smoothly during slow test stops.
Once on the road, towing a trailer requires heightened awareness and more conservative driving. Trailers increase your stopping distance, reduce your visibility, and change how your vehicle handles. Take turns wider to avoid curbing tires. Leave extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you. And remember that even a short-haul trip across town can turn into a major incident if the trailer isn’t being operated with care.
Backing up with a trailer is its own challenge and often the site of property damage or minor mishaps. Don’t rush. Get out and look if you’re unsure of clearance or angles.
If someone is available to help, use a spotter who understands hand signals and knows how to guide you clearly and safely. Patience and communication go a long way. Finally, take the time to conduct post-trip inspections. Look for signs of wear, loose hardware, or new damage. Addressing these issues now prevents a small problem from turning into an equipment failure down the road.
In municipal utility work, safety is everyone’s responsibility – and that extends to the trailers we depend on every day. Building good habits and taking the time to do things right may seem tedious in the moment, but it pays off by protecting your team, your equipment, and your reputation. Trailer safety isn’t about luck, it’s about preparation, awareness, and accountability.
Check out the League’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/leaguene. Be sure to “Like” us.
Engineering a world where everyone thrives.
Utilities Section Newsletter
Classifieds
Line Technician. The City of Auburn of Board of Public Works is accepting applications for an Electric Line Technician. Qualifications include successful completion of an accredited Journeyman Lineman program or consideration for a documented Journeyman Lineman through verifiable experience. Lineman apprentice applications will be accepted. Experience in construction, installation, maintenance and repair of electric transmission and distribution lines. Knowledgeable of and ability to train in electrical distribution and transmission line construction, electrical apparatus such as singlephase transformers, three phase transformer banks, voltage testing, rotation and regulators, and line switching clearance procedures and grounding. Compliance with all safety policies and procedures. Valid CDL or ability to obtain an acceptable driving record. Candidates will be subject to a criminal background check. Successfully pass DOT physicals/ drug tests as required. Ability to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions. Must reside within 30 miles of Service Center at 1604 O Street, Auburn, NE. The starting pay rate for this position is $32.24-$37.78 per hour depending on experience. Job description is available upon request. Applications are available at auburnbpw.com. Return to: Board of Public Works at 1600 O Street, Auburn, NE 68305. For questions about the position, contact Kevin Kuhlmann or Ray Luhring at (402)-274-4981. Position will remain open until filled.
Utility Worker. The City of Scribner (pop. 857) has an opening
for a Utility Worker II. Position is responsible for providing skilled and semi-skilled labor support to the Utility Superintendent and Gas Superintendent. Scribner utilities provide service to over 400 customers. HS diploma or equivalent required. Some college preferred. Experience with utility systems and electrical generation is preferred. Water, wastewater, and gas system certifications are a plus. Good organizational and interpersonal skills and the ability to obtain water and wastewater certifications in 12 months are required. Position requires on call rotation, interaction with the public and other city employees. The City of Scribner offers a competitive salary and benefits commensurate with education and experience. Position open until filled. Preemployment drug test required. E.O.E. Applications are available at the City Office (530 Main Street) or online at scribner-ne.gov/forms. Completed applications may be submitted via email to clerk@ scribner-ne.gov or mailed to: City Administrator, City of Scribner, PO Box D, Scribner, NE 68057.
Electrical Lineman Apprentice/ Journeyman. The City of Scribner is accepting applications for the Electrical Department. The job is a full-time position and includes but is not limited to working with high voltage electricity, operating bucket trucks and digger derricks,
trencher, dump truck, loader and backhoe. The City will require on call rotation and the physical ability to work for extended periods in all types of weather conditions. Applicants must be willing to learn the operation of the electrical generation units and apparatus. Knowledge of electric generation would be beneficial. The City also requires the applicant to be willing to work in other departments if necessary. Wages are dependent upon qualifications and prior experience. The City has an excellent benefit package with health and life insurance, retirement, vacation, sick and personal leave with paid holidays. The successful applicant must pass a pre-employment drug test. Position open until filled. Applications are available at the City Office (530 Main Street) or online at scribner-ne.gov/forms. Completed applications may be submitted via email to clerk@scribner-ne.gov or mailed to: City Administrator, City of Scribner, PO Box D, Scribner, NE 68057.
Utilities Section members only
Do you have a position to fill or equipment to sell? Place your ad in the Classifieds section of the Utilities Section Newsletter and on our website for free. This service is a membership benefit. Email your ad to Brenda at the League office at brendah@lonm.org.
Utilities Section Newsletter
2025 Training calendar
Visit our website for a complete list of workshops and conferences.
June
June 18-20 Municipal Accounting & Finance Conference Embassy Suites, Lincoln
August
Aug. 12 Backflow Workshop Valentino's, Beatrice
Aug. 13 .......... Backflow Workshop .............................................. Fire Hall, Wayne
Aug. 14 Water Operator Training Workshop Memorial Hall, South Sioux City
Aug. 19 Backflow Workshop Mid-Plains Community College, Ogallala
Aug. 20 .......... Backflow Workshop .............................................. Full Circle Venue (downtown), Grand Island
September
Sept. 9 ........... Water Operator Training Workshop ...................... Sidney
Sept. 10 Water Operator Training Workshop Imperial
Sept. 11 Water Operator Training Workshop Community Center, Pleasanton
Sept. 24-26 .... League Annual Conference ................................... Cornhusker Marriott Hotel, Lincoln
