The Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District is holding two public information meetings Wednesday (Dec 3) in Alliance and Rushville on a proposed increase in chemigation permit fees.

The Alliance meeting is at 10:00 in the Library Learning Center while the Rushville meeting at 2:00 in the Security First Center.

NRD general manager Patrick O’Brien says all the NRDs across the state are increasing their fees for the first time in 28 years as a result of a new law passed earlier this year.

The Upper Niobrara White currently charges $30 for a new chemigation permit, $10 for a renewal and $100 for a special or emergency permit.

The proposed increase would be to $75, $25, and $300 respectively….levels O’Brien says are intended to meet the actual costs of overseeing the chemigation program.

O’Brien says that unless unforeseen issues arise at Wednesday’s information meetings, the NRD board will discuss the increase at its next regular meeting a week from Thursday and set a formal public hearing on the increase for sometime early next year.