BATTLE CREEK, Neb. -- It was a full house Thursday evening at the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resource District, all seemingly in attendance to discuss Battle Creek.

Battle Creek has been a frequent subject at the LENRD meetings, especially in recent weeks, as concerns about increased taxes have been raised toward board members.

The LENRD Board of Directors recently voted 11-4 to not accept any dam project for their Battle Creek Watershed Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) plan.

However, according to General Manager Mike Sousek, this decision has put the board in an awkward situation, as their April deadline to find a project that meets a cost-benefit ratio is quickly approaching.

Sousek had requested an extension, but hadn't yet received a response from the National Resources Conservation Service.

After continued discussions, Director Gary Loftis put forward a motion to accept a bidding number from Houston Engineering from their alternative study.

By doing this, Loftis said, they can consider incorporating those findings into their WFPO study.

These alternative plans all included a dam when presented to the board.

"To me, the only thing that makes sense is to at least let the study go through to see what the one alternative we had that was somewhat of a compromise," Loftis said, referencing a levee dam combo proposed by Houston Engineering months ago. "That seems to be the only thing we can financially do. Either we do that or we turn our back on Battle Creek. To clarify...this is just to get a bid for the study to bring it back next month for us to vote on whether we're going to continue with that study or not."

This motion seemed to ease some Battle Creek residents, who came out in large numbers to attend Thursday's meeting.

Rumor had seemed to reach the ears of the city's residents that the board was planning to throw away the study and give up. 

"I didn't come here to advocate for the dam or advocate against the dam," said Bryan Daum, a Battle Creek resident. "We just want some protection from floods in Battle Creek. I was coming in here with pistols loaded...I was upset because I heard through the grapevine...that this thing was going to be scrapped tonight. Listening to you all talk back and forth...it looks like you all want to help protect Battle Creek. You're all built on people who don't quit and I don't want to see anyone quit on this project in Battle Creek."

This sentiment seemed to be repeated by multiple members of the crowd reiterating that they can't be forgotten and need help.

The motion was passed 12-3 with Kris Loberg, Gary Loftis, Jay Reikofski, Matt Steffan, Melissa Temple, Anthony Wisnieski, Rod Zohner, Mark Burenheide, Michael Fleer, Chad Korth, Roger Gustafson, and Mark Hall voting in favor and Scott Clausen, Jerry Allemann and Jim Aschoff voting against.

The board members will receive project bids for the Houston Engineering projects proposals, which will lead to further discussion at next month's meeting.