(HOLDREGE, Neb.) - The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District’s board of directors approved a construction firm to begin contract negotiations with as the next step for the new E-65 Siphon Project during their monthly meeting on Monday.
The board selected Garney Construction of Kansas City, Kan., as the top choice of the four finalists that were chosen during the selection process. Due to the specialized requirements for the project, Garney will assist the engineering firm to take design from 50% to final design.
Central is using a Construction Management at Risk (CMAR) contract for the E-65 Siphon project. As part of the process, a selection committee was formed to evaluate and rank the qualified proposals that were received. The selection committee was made up of two members of the board, two Central staff members, a design firm, a person with special expertise and a resident of the political subdivision.
After narrowing the list to four candidates, the selection committee had round-table discussions and interviews with each finalist. Those meetings were held in January then the committee got back together to go through the results. Garney strengthened their position as the committee’s top-ranked firm based off evaluations. The committee then brought that recommendation to the board on Monday, and it was approved.
Irrigation and Water Services Manager Scott Dicke highlighted Garney’s credentials to the board and affirmed their top ranking. He reported they were a national firm that was ranked #1 by Engineering News-Record for water transmission pipeline work. He also shared Garney’s experience working with the CMAR process as they have $15.2 billion in collaborative delivery.
As part of Garney’s proposal, they will be teaming up with Van Kirk Brothers Contracting out of Sutton, Neb., who have experience working with installation of irrigation canals and pipelines.
Currently 85-year old infrastructure delivers water into Elwood Reservoir. The new E65 siphon would divert water from the E65 canal into short sections of open canal and a siphon for delivery to the reservoir by gravity flow. This would remove the need to pump water into the reservoir and secure uninterrupted long-term delivery of water to the 42,000 acres in the E-65 system and ensure that irrigation, recharge, recreation and wildlife benefits are sustained in the future.
Central has already received an $8.98 million grant from the Water Sustainability Fund for the project and a water smart grant in the amount of $3 million.
Also at Monday’s Meeting:
- The board approved contracts for the three members selected to the independent Board of Consultants required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in conjunction with the Kingsley Dam refacing projects. The three-member board of experts include John W. France for geotechnical/dam safety engineering, Thomas E. Riley for hydrology and hydraulic engineering and David L. Kriebel for coastal engineering.
- In addition to selecting the board of consultants, Natural Resources and Compliance Manager Mike Drain provided a status update on the Kingsley Dam Upstream Facing Project. He outlined recent progress, including completion of the cause investigation, preliminary alternatives evaluation and screening, topographic mapping, and wind and wave data collection. Drain noted that extensive data analysis continues in collaboration with the engineering firm and its specialized subconsultants. Central is also working closely with the State of Nebraska, FERC, and the project’s engineering contractor, RJH. The next phase of the project will involve computer and physical modeling, which is expected to continue through the summer of 2027.
- Directors approved a purchase requisition with Meyer Utility Structures of Memphis, Tenn., in the amount of $84,827 for steel to be used for the H-frame structure at the Jeffrey Hydroplant.
- A purchase requisition was approved in the amount of $276,588 for the purchase of chemicals from Van Diest, Inc.
- Directors approved the purchase of $307,790 in pipe from Kroy Industries of York, Nebraska, to support planned pipeline replacement projects along the E‑65 and Phelps Canal sections ahead of the upcoming irrigation season.
- In response to the announcement from general manager Devin Brundage on his Dec. 31, 2026 retirement, board president Kyle Shepherd gave a preliminary outline on how the board will proceed with the process of selecting a replacement.
- Civil Engineer Tyler Thulin reported that Lake McConaughy’s elevation was at 3230 feet on Monday (50.1% capacity). Inflow readings were unavailable due to icing on the gauge, while outflows were at 600 cubic feet per second (cfs). Snowpack in the upper North Platte basin is currently at 69% of median average, the lower North Platte is at 40% of median and the South Platte Basin is at 59%.