FAQS

(Frequently Asked Questions)

 

WHAT IS AN SID?    The concept of Sanitary Improvement Districts, also know as SIDs, dates back to 1873 England.  Districts were governed by a sanitary authority and were responsible for various public health matters such as providing clean drinking water, sewers, and street cleaning.  In modern day Nebraska, Sanitary Improvement districts exist as a political subdivision of the State of Nebraska created and governed by specific statutory authority. An SID is a municipal corporation much like a small city with the exception of possessing police powers.  The primary responsibility of an SID is to provide financing for the development, operation, and maintenance of public facilities for the benefit of the property within the SID boundaries.  Generally, SIDs are created to develop a new area near an existing city and once the debt level is paid down to a reasonable level the area is absorbed by the city and the SID eliminated.  Due to Riverside Lakes unique situation, it continues to operate as an SID (#177).  Our SID generally meets the third Wednesday of each month, however this schedule is subject to change.  SID meeting notices are posted in the entrance the week of each meeting.

WHO SERVES ON THE SID BOARD?    SID #177 is made up of a five member board that is elected every two years in the November election.  Our current board consists of:

 

DOES RIVERSIDE LAKES HAVE A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION ALSO?    Yes.  The Riverside Lakes Homeowners Association (RLHA) is a vital part of the Riverside Lakes community.  Association dues are $75 a year and should be sent to:

RLHA

506 Lakehurst

Waterloo, NE 68069

This fee covers admission to several events and enables RLHA to organize numerous events and publish the newsletter.  Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month.   For more information visit  Homeowners Board or contact John Pirruccello 779-4310.

WHO ARE OTHER KEY CONTACTS?    For police and fire please call 911.  For water issues, call People Service at 359-4307 or 1-888-861-1921 for emergency water outages.  OPPD provides electrical service while Aquila provides natural gas.  Trash pick up is not provided so an independent contractor such as Stan and Sons (402) 359-2723 or  Abes Trash (402) 571-4926 will be needed.   Communications companies that service the area include Cox Communications  and Qwest.

WHAT LAWN FERTILIZERS SHOULD I USE?    Lawn fertilizers that are phosphorus free or contain minimal amounts of phosphorus (usually the middle number on the bag) should be used to protect the lakes.  A high phosphorous concentration can lead to a host of water problems such as algae blooms, scum, decreased water clarity, and stress on the fish.

SHOULD I PUT OUT FOOD FOR DUCKS AND GEESE?    NO!  Feeding waterfowl is strictly prohibited.   We have an overabundance of waterfowl and feeding them will only make it worse.   Excessive amounts of these birds generate an excessive amount of waste and other problems. 

WHAT ARE THE BUILDING CODES?    Any new structures or changes to existing structures need to be approved by the homeowners association. In most cases a building permit from the city of Omaha will also be required. See Omaha Codes .  Keep in mind that property lines generally end at the sea walls and the SID owns most of the beach areas, the land under the water, and all common areas and use is granted to homeowners through the SID.  If a project will effect any of these areas, the SID board should be contacted in advance.   These regulations exist to protect all homeowners and are not meant to be a determent to home improvement. Generally, any board member can offer guidance in this area.  For more information, visit: SID Dock Specifications .

WHY DOES THE CITY OF OMAHA HAVE ZONING JURISDICTION?  In Nebraska a small city's zoning jurisdiction extends 2 miles beyond its borders while large cities, such as Omaha, have a three mile range.  Previously, Riverside Lakes was within Elkhorn's zoning jurisdiction.   Since Omaha annexed Elkhorn, the city of Omaha now has zoning jurisdiction over the Riverside Lakes area.

DO WE HAVE FLUORIDE IN OUR DRINKING WATER?  No.  This issue was studied and proposed in 2007 and voted down. Advocates of water fluoridation say that fluoridation is similar to fortifying milk with vitamin D and say it is an effective way to prevent tooth decay. Those opposed to public fluoridation of drinking water contend that water fluoridation can have harmful health effects and claim that fluoridation takes away individual choice as to the substances a person ingests. During debate of the proposal to add flouride it was noted that floride provides no benefits to adults and that our filtration system would remove most of the flouride from the water before it reached our homes.  Residents with children should inform their dental care provider that our water is not fluoridated.

HOWS THE BEST WAY TO MEET PEOPLE?  There are several excellent events throughout the year to help residents get together. Find out more by reading the Newsletter or visit the Upcoming Events page.

 

 

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