The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, August 10, 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: ALLEY, BANTLE, MONTGOMERY, BRANTON, RABB, LARKIN, WEBB, LASSEIGNE, SINCLAIR, TOM ARCENEAUX, ATTORNEY AND ROBERT TOMASEK, DOTD ENGINEER.
ABSENT: NONE.
The first order of business was opening prayer and pledge of allegiance by Commissioner Lasseigne..
On motion by Lasseigne seconded by Montgomery, unanimously passed, the Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes and approved the minutes of the regular meeting held on July 13, 2016.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Mr. Bruce Easterly appeared on behalf of the Bossier Parish Police Jury requesting a permit for improvement to a section of Swan Lake Road from I-220to the Flat River Bridge and a new road from the Flat River to the Crouch Road.
The project will cross five drainage channels maintained and controlled by the Levee District and the State Levee (Red Chute Levee) near Cypress Bayou. The channels are Willow Chute Bayou, Flat River, Stinson Slough, Cypress Bayou and State Levee. Mr. Robert Tomesek, DOTD Engineer stated that one channel was not mentioned the Waggoner Slough. Mr. Easterly stated that he would revise his plans and include the Waggoner Slough.
On motion by Larkin, seconded by Branton, unanimously passed the Board approved the project in full with adequate latitude to make adjustments as necessary to allow the jury to proceed with the project. The President asked if there were comments from the public, there were none.
Micha Duffy, Coyle Engineering representing Bee Bend -Rosedale LLC. This was tabled until next month.
Randy Denmon, Denmon Engineers appeared to present the Board with a supplemental contract for engineering, surveying and related services on the Red Chute Levee Improvements in the amount of $39,900.00 to make adjustments to the plans. On motion by Lasseigne, seconded by Branton, unanimously passed the Board will explore the option of the project being done in two phases. On motion by Sinclair, seconded by Larkin, unanimously carried the Board accepted the supplemental contract to the original contract on Red Chute Levee and authorized the President to sign the contract on behalf of the Bossier Levee District. The President asked for comments from the public, there were none.
OLD BUSINESS:
President Rabb announced to the public stating on Wednesday September 14, 2016, at the Levee District Office, 3404 Industrial Drive, Bossier City, La. @ 10:00 a.m. the Board will adopt a resolution levying the ad valorem property millage for the year 2016.
Mark Long, Operations Coordinator represented Anthony Cyr with the BAFB requesting a permit to install a temporary 24” diameter culvert in side ditch adjacent to the levee for approximately two months.
On motion by Larkin, seconded by Bantle unanimously passed the Board approved the permit for the temporary culvert. The President asked for comments from the public, there were no comments.
On motion by Sinclair and second by Alley and unanimously passed the Board approved the transfer of $230,000.00 from Huddleston Smith to the checking account for expenditures and payroll. The President asked for comments from the public, there was none.
NEW BUSINESS:
None.
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.
- April 19, 2016 – Met with Vicksburg Corps and discussed 408 review; they advised that the information submitted by Dewberry was inadequate for their review.
- June 15, 2016 – Meeting scheduled with Vicksburg Corps to discuss 408 H&H submittal.
- July 21, 2016 – Met with Statewide Flood Control manager and discussed building the project in two phases; Phase 1 being from ground line up to current levee elevation and Phase 2 being from current levee elevation up to new levee design grade when approved by Corps. Billy Williamson, Statewide Flood Control manager, spoke favorable of the plan for 2 phases of construction; at this time, we have not received an official approval.
- July 29, 2016 – Approved contract for Dewberry for additional work required for Corps 408 permit H&H submittal in the amount of $71,210.00.
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.
- Work is scheduled for filling low areas where sand bags were placed in recent high water event.
- Received quotes for 2150 Tons of levee maintenance aggregate to be placed on the Red Chute Bayou Levee on BAFB from Range Road south 3.14 miles. Low quote of $86,000.00 from Newt Brown Contractors.
Bossier Drainage Maintenance Initiative
- Work resumed on Red Chute Bayou between Dogwood Trail and Hwy 80 clearing underbrush and small trees along banks of channel; also removing downed trees and logs from channel.
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.
- August 2, 2016 – advised contractor that conditions on Red Chute Bayou are suitable to begin work.
Red River Levee Maintenance Repairs
- July 13, 2016 – Board authorized Kurt Nixon with Nixon Engineering to begin work on survey and design for repair of low areas on the Red River Levee.
Red River Levee PL 84-99 Repairs
- 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.
- 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.
- March 31, 2016 – Sent Authorization for Entry to Corps for PL 84-99 survey work.
- June 8, 2016 - Furnished construction RW document for repair work.
- July 12, 2016 – Corps soil boring crew obtained soil boring for bank caving repair design.
2016 Flood Damages
- Bank Caving on Flat River and Red Chute Bayou; concerns on Flat River near Poole Rd.
- April 14, 2016 – channel inspection found 25,310 feet of bank caving; estimated repair cost for repair $19,000,000.00; damages reported to FEMA no determination on eligibility for funding at this time.
- July 14, 2016 – FEMA representative advised that FEMA Assistance is only available channel bank stabilization is only available when a bridge or other public structure is in danger of damage.
- July 25, 2016 – contracted with Timberland Maintenance Services for removal of sand bags from the March 2016 flood event in the amount $28.00 per cubic yard of sand bags and associated debris picked up and hauled to approved land. Contract quantity estimated at 1500 cubic yards for total estimated cost of $42,000.00. The sand bag removal is FEMA reimbursable at 75%. As of 8-5- 2016 work is 98% complete.
- August 2, 2016 – Corps advised that none of the Red Chute Bayou banking near the levee for which we requested PL 84-99 rehab assistance was eligible for funding.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC:
Mr. Phillip Downer, III Attorney with Downer, Jones Marino & Wilhite, LLC appeared representing the Lucky Family Trust Bridge crossing Flat River.
There was discussion by Mr. Downer, Commissioners and Mark Long, Operations Coordinator concerning the bridge including the history of the bridge, repairs and cost sharing efforts to repair the bridge. Mr. Long and Mr. Downer discussed the engineers report from Mr. French and Mr. Fenner.
Commissioner Sinclair made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Larkin to enter into Executive Session:
Voting in favor: Branton, Bantle, Sinclair, Larkin, Rabb, Montgomery, Lasseigne, Alley and Webb.
Opposed: None
Motion carried.
Commissioner Sinclair made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Webb to close the Executive Session.
Voting in favor: Branton, Bantle, Sinclair, Larkin, Rabb, Montgomery, Lasseigne, Alley and Webb.
Opposed: None
Motion carried.
Commissioner Sinclair thanked Mr. Downer for coming to the meeting with the idea of looking for a cooperative approach first. Commissioner Sinclair stated that the Board is willing to look into a cooperative approach proposal and repeated that the Board will not require a free span bridge. Commissioner Sinclair advised Mr. Downer to gather more information and come back to the Board and they will consider the proposal but, the Board is not seeing a lot of liability on their part and if they would participate at all.
Mr. Downer stated that he sees the liability differently from past history, other documents on the bridge and unanswered questions by both his client and the Board.
APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURES:
On motion by Sinclair, seconded by Montgomery, unanimously passed the Board approved the payment of expenditures in the amount of $269,819.32.
ADJOURNED:
On motion by Alley, seconded by Branton, unanimously passed the meeting was adjourned.
__________________________ _____________________________
James Rabb, President Mary Jane Easterly, Secretary