The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Monday, March 21, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the Levee Board Office, 3404 Industrial Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana.
The President, James Rabb, called the meeting to order.
PRESENT: SINCLAIR, ALLEY, RABB, LASSEIGNE, BRANTON, WEBB, KATHERINE DOUTHITT, ATTORNEY AND HARVEY CHRISTIAN, DOTD ENGINEER.
ABSENT: BANTLE, LARKIN AND MONTGOMERY.
The first order of business was opening prayer and pledge of allegiance by Commissioner Webb.
On motion by Sinclair, seconded by Alley, unanimously passed, the Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes and approved the minutes of the regular meeting held on February 10, 2016.
On motion by Sinclair, seconded by Lasseigne the current agenda was amended to include a permit request by Brian Bell to be included to the agenda.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Ben Rauschenbach – Manchac Consulting Group representing the City of Bossier City appeared requesting a permit for the Bossier City, Big Airline Force Main Improvement Project. Which will include a directional bore under the Red River Levee and A.R. Teague Parkway near the intersection of McDade Street and A.R. Teague Parkway. The President asked if there were any comments from the public, there being none.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Lasseigne unanimously passed the Board approved the permit request subject to revised plans and specs to be reviewed by the Operations Coordinator and the DOTD Engineer before recording.
Brian Bell, 6301 Inglewood Court, Bossier City, La. stated that he was at the meeting to observe and did not have a request of the Board.
OLD BUSINESS:
There was some discussion on the National Waterway Conference Membership and this was tabled until next month to receive additional information.
On motion by Lasseigne, seconded by Branton and unanimously passed the 2016-2017 Proposed Budget was adopted as presented. SEE BELOW COPY OF ADOPTED BUDGET.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board reviewed a letter from the Corps of Engineers on the Levee Inspection for the Red River Levee, Bossier Levee System. The Operations Coordinator mentioned in his discussion of the Corps Levee Inspection Report that certain trees located along the flood wall at Horseshoe Casino are shown to be unacceptable in the report and that he was verbally advised by the Corps that if the trees are not removed it will result in an unacceptable rating for the levee system on the next inspection.
Commissioner Sinclair directed the Operations Coordinator and Levee Board Attorneys to compose a letter to be sent to the Horseshoe Casino noting the violation and asking that the trees be removed.
On motion by Lasseigne, seconded by Alley and unanimously passed the Board approved a resolution authorizing commissioners and employees to attend the Association of Levee Boards Workshop in Baton Rouge, La., May 5-6, 2016 and be reimbursed in accordance with State Travel Regulations.
The Board reviewed a letter from the Association of Levee Board requesting funds for the Flood Insurance Reform Coalition.
On motion by Lasseigne, seconded by Sinclair and unanimously passed the Board approved paying $5000.00 to the Flood Insurance Reform Coalition.
The Equipment Committee met earlier and advised the Board that they have approved the purchasing of a new SUV for the Operations Coordinator, the generator proposal will be addressed at the April meeting. The committee recommended the purchasing of a crew truck two ATV vehicles and two new tractors. The Board advised the Operations Coordinator to obtain pricing and specifications for the above items. The Board discussed purchasing several track vehicles to be used in the flood fights and other daily operations. The Board directed the Operations Coordinator to obtain information about oil field equipment being sold at auction and contact the Legislative Auditors Office to obtain the guidelines for purchasing used equipment.
On motion by Branton, seconded by Alley unanimously carried the Board approved the purchasing of the crew truck, SUV, (2) ATV vehicles, two tractors and track vehicles subject to the approval of the equipment committee.
Commissioner Lasseigne commented on how the local agencies worked together on the recent flood and commended the Commissioners who were at the flood fight location daily, the Operations Coordinator who had been proactive in preparing for the flood and the Levee Board employees for their work during the flood fight. He asked that the President write letters of appreciation to all agencies who helped during this recent flooding.
On motion by Sinclair, seconded by Alley, and unanimously passed the Board authorized the Secretary to transfer $250,000.00 from Huddleston-Smith Investments to the checking account for payroll and expenditures.
The Board reviewed a letter from the Corps of Engineers requesting the Board to obtain right of way for slope and revetment stone repair on the Red River Levee at River Mile 226.5, Left Descending Bank, Bossier City Front , Bossier Parish, Louisiana.
The letter requested the levee district furnish right of entry for a duration of two years, that includes:
(1) The right to conduct surveys, soil borings, environmental/ culture resource investigations and general planning investigation to assist with the development of plans and specifications in support of the subject project.
(2) The right for contract survey personnel and/or Corps of Engineers personnel to enter on foot or in two/four wheel drive vehicles, and to make such observations and measurements as necessary.
(3) The right to cut or remove the minimum amount of trees and brush necessary to allow sighting by survey instruments to take cross sections and profiles in the area of heavy vegetation.
(4) The right to drive wooden stakes and metal rods into the ground in order to mark survey locations.
(5) The right to enter, and operate, large vehicle-mounted boring machinery for the purpose of surface explorations.
On motion by Sinclair, seconded by Lasseigne and unanimously passed the Board, subject to legal counsel approval, authorized the Operations Coordinator to acquire rights necessary and to certify this to the Corps of Engineers in order to move the project forward and authorized the President to sign the Authorization of Entry and legal counsel to sign the Attorney’s Certification of Authority.
The Operations Coordinator advised the Board that a trackhoe had been damaged to during the flood.
LEVEE AND DRAINAGE:
Red Chute Levee Improvement Project
- July 2, 2015 – submitted final plans to Corps and DOTD for review.
- August 6, 2015 – received letter from Statewide Flood Control for Fiscal Year 2016 Funding; $980,100 for FY 15/16; total to date $2,112,115; balance to complete State’s obligation $2,491,345.
- November 10, 2015 – Dewberry submitted additional hydraulic study information for the Corps 408 review; no additional comments from 408 review at this time.
- December 7, 2015 – Conference call with Vicksburg Corps, Denmon, BLD, and Dewberry – Corps advised that additional information needed for 408 permit request; Dewberry is working on additional information needed.
- December 26, 2015 – Jacob Lesue with Dewberry submitted revised hydraulics information for the 408 permit review and was advised by the Corps that it would be a minimum of one month before they could look at the revised submittal.
Red Chute Levee Maintenance
- Received approval to advertise for bids for HDPE pipe liners for two locations between I-20 and State Levee; revised estimated material cost $105,000.00.
Bossier Drainage Maintenance Initiative
- BLD crews mulching debris removed from Red Chute Bayou.
Red Chute Bayou Levee Sluice Gate Repair
- Received quote of $20,455 to replace a sluice gate and refurbish sluice gate box located on Barksdale AFB. Sluice gate has been received by contractor; will be installed when water level recedes.
Red River Levee
- August 18, 2015 – PL 84-99 Eligibility Determination site visit with Vicksburg USACE to inspect bank caving near Red River Levee station 1080+00 to 1087+00; also area near levee station 2385+00 stability berm is eroding.
- November 10, 2015 - No official confirmation of PL 84-99 approval at this time; we did receive verbal information that the site at 2385+00 would not be approved and the site at station 1080+00 to 1087+00 is still under consideration.
-February 3, 2016 – Spoke with Barry Moore with the Vicksburg Corps and he advised that the PL 84-99 request has been approved and funds are available for the bank stability repairs at levee station 10+80 to 10+87. He anticipates that a notice to proceed will be given in June of this year and the estimated completion date is September 15, 2016.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- Repaired Red River Levee near station 2340+00
- Clearing on Ninock Ditch north of Ninock RR Overpass
- Mulching trees and logs removed from Red Chute Bayou north of Dogwood Trail.
- Inspecting levees, channels, and drainage structures; cleaning outfall pipes and flap gates.
- Making levee repairs on Red Chute Levee between US 80 and Dogwood Trail.
- Removed debris drift buildup on bridges.
- Trapping Beavers and Hogs.
- Breaking Beaver Dams.
- Servicing and repairing equipment.
Equipment
- Request approval to purchase two new 110 HP Tractors thru state contract.
- Request approval to purchase one 3/4 Ton crew cab 4-wheel drive truck for spray crew thru state contract.
- Request approval to purchase one full size 4-wheel drive SUV thru state contract.
- Request approval to rent tracked carriers for $4,500.00/month each.
The Operations Coordinator advised the Board that he had hired a contractor to remove debris from several bridges in the parish and reminded the Board that he may hire a contractor to fill in the low spots in the Levee.
The Operations Coordinator advised the Board that Flat River has reached a level that the gates can be closed and he advised the Board that he would like to keep level on Flat River falling approximately on-half foot per day.
President Rabb presented a clock to Harvey Christian, DOTD Engineer who will be retiring on April 1, 2016 and thanked him for his service to the Board during the past years.
APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURES:
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Secretary for the district be and she is hereby authorized to make the payments set forth above in the amount of $89,765.58
ADJOURNED:
On motion by Alley, seconded by Branton the meeting was adjourned.
NO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
__________________________ _____________________________
James Rabb, President Mary Jane Easterly, Secretary
Adopted Budget
7/1/2016-6/30/2017
REVENUE:
| AD VALOREM TAXES &REVENUE SHARING | $2,929,000.00 |
| PERMITS | $3,500.00 |
| INVESTMENT INCOME | $100,000.00 |
| ROYALTY INCOME | $3,000.00 |
| OTHER INCOME | $4,000.00 |
| STATE GRANTS | $37,345.92 |
| STATEWIDE FLOOD CONTROL FUNDING | $2,112,115.00 |
| RENTAL INCOME | $34,000.00 |
| INTEREST CHECKING | $700.00 |
| TOTAL REVENUE | $5,223,660.92 |
EXPENSES:
| SALARIES & RELATED BENEFITS | $1,393,350.00 |
| TRAVEL | $23,000.00 |
| OPERATING, SUPPLIES EXPENSE | $1,556,300.00 |
| PROFESSIONAL SERVICES | $295,100.00 |
| ACQUISITION & MAJOR REPAIRS | $599,500.00 |
| SPECIAL PROJECTS | $11,762,115.00 |
| TOTAL EXPENSES | $15,629,365.00 |
| EXCESS EXPENSES/REVENUE | $10,405,704.08 |
| BEGINNING FUND BALANCE | $10,618,523.00 |
| ENDING FUND BALANCE | $212,818.92 |