Lake Neiamoka, a proposed luxury lake development in Pawnee County, is not dead, the developer spearheading the project said Thursday.

“Absolutely not,” said William “Coach” Reed of Falls City. “We have never missed a beat.” Reed, who represents a group of investors called The Louisiana Purchase Group, said the project will move forward without the participation of the Nemaha Natural Resources District.

“We have a plan that we think is solid enough,” he said.

Earlier this month, the Nemaha NRD board voted 11-9 to not proceed with any lake project in Pawnee County — including Lake Neiamoka. One board member abstained from voting.

The district had been working on a Pawnee County lake project for years before the Lake Neiamoka proposal surfaced. And Reed said many local people wanted the district to lead the project.

Despite the vote, Reed said he would like the district to be part of the project down the road.

“We have never depended on any entity to be the driving force,” Reed said.

Bob Hilske, general manager of the Tecumseh-based district, did not rule out its future involvement.

“I assume there is always the opportunity to reconsider (the project) by the board. … We’ll have to see what happens,” he said.

Reed said he plans to meet with landowners soon to discuss the project and what his investor group has to offer. About 50 landowners would have to give up land for the 11,000-acre development.

Many landowners oppose the project, saying they would lose some of their best farm ground. They have also doubted Reed’s claim it would bring economic prosperity to  Pawnee County.

Reed asked the Pawnee City Council and Pawnee County Board of Commissioners to approve interlocal agreements this week. Those groups made no decisions.

Reed said such local commitments are important to get support of out-of-state investors.

Reed and his group want to build a dam on Turkey Creek and create a 5-mile-long lake, bordered by about 3,000 luxury homes, two golf courses and a public recreation area.

It would be built about six miles south of Pawnee City near the Nebraska-Kansas line.

Reed, who has been trying to get the district to be a part of the recreational development, estimated the infrastructure alone would cost about $100 million.

Reed said he has some financial backing for the project but would not specify an amount. He said he has commitments to build the dam, and water and sewage treatment plants needed for the homes.

“We have, what I feel, are all the parts to the project,” Reed said.

Hilske said Reed and his investor group do not need the district’s approval to build the dam.

But because the project includes roads, county officials will have to be involved.

Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.

The Lake Neiamoka plan

Where: Six miles south of Pawnee City, near the Nebraska-Kansas border

The name: Comes from its proximity to Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas

Lake size: 3,000 to 3,500 acres

Dam: Three-quarter-mile earthen structure

Water depth: 40 feet at its deepest

Source of water: Turkey Creek

Size of development: 11,000 acres

Cost: At least $100 million for infrastructure

Housing: 2,000 to 3,000 homes, ranging in value from $150,000 to $500,000 each

Recreational features: Boating, fishing, swimming, two golf courses, with one possibly open to the public

Source: Olsson Associates, Nemaha NRD, developer William Reed