VALENTINE, Neb. - As the Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District (MNNRD) plans a multi-million dollar remodel, the public will have a chance to weigh in on the project. The MNNDRD Board voted Monday to host open houses in Valentine and Ainsworth for the proposed 11,000-square-foot project in Valentine.

“We owe it to the taxpayers before we think about spending money,” said Greg Wilke, a board director. “We have to be upfront. If the school was doing a project like this, they would be holding meetings.”

While the exact cost is still unknown, estimates place the building at more than $3 million, with the total project potentially reaching $4 million. MNNRD General Manager Mike Murphy said that the district has been budgeting for the project for years, basically since it moved to its current location in 2017.

“A lot would not meet fire code for today’s standards. The roof leaks every time it rains, and it’s not insulated well,” said Murphy.

MNNRD has been debating a new building or remodel since before the COVID pandemic, but then construction costs increased dramatically.

“Due to the cost, we’ve been trying to utilize additional outside funding to reduce the impact to local taxes,” said Murphy. “Local taxpayers shouldn’t see an increase in taxes.”

An official date for the open houses has not yet been set. If public feedback is positive, Murphy hopes to begin the bidding process within the next couple of months.