The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 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, RABB, LARKIN, WEBB, LASSEIGNE, SINCLAIR, KATHERINE DOUTHITT, ATTORNEY AND ROBERT TOMASEK, DOTD ENGINEER.
ABSENT: BANTLE, BRANTON AND MONTGOMERY
The first order of business was opening prayer and pledge of allegiance by Commissioner Sinclair.
The minutes of the December 14, 2016 meeting were approved with one correction by Commissioner Lasseigne, particularly that the minutes should reflect that Mark Long summarized for the Board the permit applications of Palmetto Custom Homes and the City of Bossier City as opposed to representing those entities in their respective applications. On a motion by Lasseigne, seconded by Alley and unanimously passed, the minutes of the December 14, 2016 meeting were approved with such corrections. No comments from the public.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
None.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mark Long, Jr., Operations Coordinator, reviewed with the Board the plan change #1 on the Red River Maintenance Project. Request #1 – Shift a section of the levee so all work is done only one side of the levee. Updated quantity and unit prices in the amount of $9,491.50. Request #2 – An additional gate at Station 1391 + 90 were left out of original plans at a cost of $700.00. On motion by Webb, seconded by Larkin and unanimously passed the plan change was approved. No comments from the public.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board reviewed a letter from the Red River Valley Assn. on their upcoming convention to be held in February, 2017, requesting a sponsorship from the Levee Board. On motion by Sinclair, seconded by Alley and unanimously passed the Board approved a sponsorship in the amount of $800.00. No comments from the public.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Sinclair and unanimously passed, the Board authorized the Secretary to invest $1,900,000.00 with Huddleston Smith Investments. These funds were received for ad valorem taxes of 2016. No comments from the public.
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.
- October 11, 2016 – Submitted plans for Red Chute Levee Widening Project to the Vicksburg Corps for permit approval.
- November 7, 2016 – Received Letter dated July 21, 2016 advising of additional funding from Statewide Flood Control for Fiscal Year 2017 in the amount of $2,491,345 bring the project to be fully funded at $4,603,460.00.00.
- December 6, 2016 – Received call from Vicksburg Corps, Neal Lewis, Ray Wilson, and James Harper advising that the levee widening permit request requires an H&H study. Randy Denmon and Jacob Lesue are working on an estimate for the study.
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 crew mulching trees and logs removed from Red Chute Bayou Channel Cleaning project.
Red River Levee Maintenance Repair Project
- October 5, 2016 – Opened bids for Red River Levee Maintenance Repair Project; with a low bid from 3 Gen Construction LLC of $397,626.00.
- November 16, 2016 – notice to proceed given.
- January 10, 2017 - Project is approximately 30% complete.
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 – Verbal commitment from Corps for work to begin mid-September with Corps Hired Labor Crew.
- October 31, 2016 - Barry Moore with Vicksburg Corps advised that funding for PL 84-99 repairs is on hold.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- Inspecting levees, channels, and drainage structures; cleaning outfall pipes and flap gates.
- Mulching debris from channel cleanout and clearing.
- Cleaning debris from bridges on Red Chute Bayou and Flat River.
- Servicing and repairing equipment.
- Basal treatment.
President Rabb advised the Board that he would like to have the Executive Committee attend the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s exit conference for the year ending June 30, 2016. No comments from the public.
On motion by Sinclair, seconded by Webb and unanimously passed the Board authorized the Secretary to pay the bills for the month of December in the amount of $112,368.53. No comments from the public.
On motion by Lasseigne, seconded by Webb the meeting adjourned.
__________________________ _____________________________
James Rabb, President Mary Jane Easterly, Secretary