Monthly Meeting Minutes

The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at 10:15 a.m. at the Levee Board Office, 3404 Industrial Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana.

The 1st Vice President, Tim Larkin, called the meeting to order.

PRESENT: ALLEY, LARKIN, MOORE, WEBB, TOM ARCENEAUX, ATTORNEY AND ROBERT TOMESAK, DOTD ENGINEER.

ABSENT: BANTLE, MONTGOMERY, AND STELLY.

The first order of business was opening prayer by Commissioner Webb and pledge of allegiance by Commissioner Larkin.

On motion by Webb, seconded by Alley unanimously passed, the Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes and approved the minutes of the regular meeting held on May 10, 2017.

REQUESTS BY VISITORS:

Joey French appeared representing Mr. Lucky requesting a permit for the Lucky Bridge replacement, with submission of the final plans and a letter of no objection from the Bossier Parish Police Jury.

On motion by Commissioner Alley, seconded by Commissioner Webb and unanimously passed the Board approved the issuance of the permit, subject to Mr. Larkin and Mr. Arceneaux, Attorney for the Levee District and Mr. Phillip Downer, Attorney for Mr. Lucky agree on revisions of inclusions/exclusions of said permit. This will avoid further delays for Mr. Lucky. No comments from the public.

Butch Ford, Engineer for the Bossier Parish Police Jury appeared requesting a permit to replace the Old Vanceville Road bridge.

On motion by Webb, seconded by Commissioner Moore and unanimously passed the Board approved the permit to rebuild the existing timber bridge on Vanceville Road over Willow Chute Bayou. No comments from the public.

Stephen Daras, Manchac Consulting Group, Inc., representing the City of Bossier appeared requesting to implement a gravity sewer main along East Texas Street in North Bossier.

On motion by Alley and seconded by Webb and unanimously approved the permit subject to final approval from the DOTD, Bossier City keep a watch on it, and a final review by Robert Tomasek and Mark Long. There were no comments from the public.

OLD BUSINESS:

On motion by Webb, seconded by Alley unanimously passed the Board reaffirmed the payment to be processed for $5,000.00 to be made payable to The Association of Levee Boards for the Louisiana Flood Risk Coalition.

On motion by Webb, seconded by Alley and unanimously passed the Board approved an amount not to exceed 5,000.00 to be set aside and authorized the use of these funds to further study Benoit Bayou and Benoit Bayou Lateral B-1.

The Board discussed the quote from Pulley White Insurance on Cyber and Security Breach Exposure. Comments were made by all Board Members and an agreement was made by all to obtain more information from Kirk Thomas. Commissioner Moore and Tom Arceneaux were designated to research said policy and quote. No action was taken, additional information needed and will be continued until next meeting.

On motion by Webb, seconded by Moore and unanimously passed the Board granted a Permit of encroachment to utilize 50 feet of levee easement south of lot 198 for a fence and garden to Mr. Joe Jones. This permit is contingent upon the applicant purchasing said land and the Parish Engineer issuing a letter of no obligation. Larkin asked for comments from the public, there were none.

NEW BUSINESS:

On motion by Alley, seconded by Webb and unanimously passed the Board named the Bossier Press Tribune as its official paper and communication to the public.

The Board discussed the Horseshoe Indemnification Agreement which originated in 1995, between the Levee District and Horseshoe Casino. This agreement was to indemnify the District from and against the cost of closing a seawall gap at the Ogilvie Street entrance to Horseshoe Casino property. Attorney, Tom Arceneaux presented to the Board an Amendment to Indemnification Agreement for the Board to approve.

On motion by Moore, seconded by Alley and unanimously passed the Board accepted the new documentation provided by council. No comments from the public.

Attorney Arceneaux presented to the Board a draft of the proposed general encroachment policy for review and requested all commissioners to read the policy and submit any comments to him.

On motion by Moore, seconded by Alley and unanimously passed the Board approved the re-appointment of Mr. Alan Warren to the Cypress Black Bayou Recreation & Water Conservation District’s Board of Commissioners.

Vice President Larkin appointed a nominating committee to present a candidate for President at the July meeting. Committee Members are Larkin, Alley and Webb. No comments from the public.

On motion by Moore, seconded by Alley and unanimously passed the Board authorized the secretary to transfer $150,000.00 from Huddleston/Smith Investments to the Board’s checking account for expenditures. No comments from the public.

On motion by Moore, seconded by Alley and unanimously passed the Board approved the 2016-2017 amended budget as shown: (See below).

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.

- February 14, 2017 – Received call from Mike Miller with Vicksburg USACE Regulatory advising that we need to submit a new 404 permit request.

- February 27, 2017 – Vicksburg Corps members by conference call advised that the proposed levee widening project would require a H&H Analysis as currently designed; they implied that if the levee widening could be shifted to the land side of the levee the H&H Analysis would not be needed.

- April 25, 2017 – Dewberry submitted an additional H&H analysis for the levee widening project to the Vicksburg Corps; uncertain at this time on when the Corps will comment on their review.

- June 2, 2017 – Received call from Neal Lewis with Vicksburg Corp; he stated that he thought the levee widening permit would be approved; additional reviews are required by MVD; estimated time to receive 408 permit 30-45 days. In addition, a 404 permit is required and will not be approved until after 408 permit received.

Flat River Erosion Repair

- Hired Nixon Engineering to survey and prepare plans for erosion repairs near Hwy 80 and at south end of Golden Meadows Subdivision on Flat River.

Red River Corps Study

- March 15, 2017 – Received email from Rich Brontoli advising that the Vicksburg Corps had received funding for the Sediment Survey and Hydraulic Model for the Red River.

- March 29, 2017 – Received schedule of activities for Corps Sediment Study and Hydraulic Analysis for the Red River; estimated time for Hydraulic Model to be finalized is July 2019 and the estimated time for the Sediment Model to be finalized is December 2019.

Bossier Drainage Maintenance Initiative

- Received a quote in the amount of $49,050.00 from Timberland Maintenance Services to remove trees and brush from Shady Grove Ditch and Southgate Estates Ditch and an additional cost of $2.25 per linear foot for fence repair which will be required for access; the estimated cost for fence repair is $2,250.00 bringing total estimated cost for work to $51,300.00.

- May 18, 2017 – Work began on Shady Grove Ditch and Southgate Estates Ditch; as of June 12, 2017 work is 80% complete.

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.

- Change Order number 1 increased the project amount from $397,626.00 to $407,617.50.

- April 3, 2017 – Project substantially complete.

Red River Levee Improvements

- Hired Denmon Engineering to survey and develop a preliminary plan for gap closures at two locations where the Red River Levee alignment and UP Rail Road cross between Viking Drive and Shed Road. During the June 2015 flood event the water surface elevation was within approximately 1.9 feet of low points of the Rail Road crossings.

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.

- February 23, 2017 – Spoke with Katy Breaux with the Vicksburg USACE who advised that funding for the Red River Levee Bank Caving Repairs was available through supplemental funding received by the Corps.

- April 11, 2017 – spoke with Katy Breaux and she advised that the Corps had ordered the riprap for the levee repairs at Red River Levee station 1080+00 to 1087+00 near A.R. Teague Parkway and it should be delivered in approximately one month; she said work should begin soon after riprap is received depending on Corps hired labor crew schedule.

Levee Surfacing

- Red River Levee between Viking Drive and Shed Road, we received quotes to surface approximately 1.36 miles of levee which has no surfacing between levee station 820+00 to 892+00; the low quote from Newt Brown Contractor. LLC in the amount of $109,760.00.

- Work started on May 15, 2017 and was completed on May 31, 2017 at a cost of $116,964.80; additional borrow material and crushed stone required to protect utilities crossing levee resulting in an overrun of $7,204.80; original quantity estimated.

Equipment

- Ordered John Deere 160G LC Track Excavator thru State contract in the amount of $167,040.90.

- Received new ½ Ton 4x4 pickup truck thru state contract at a cost of $24,764.00.

Levee and Drainage Crews

- Herbicide application on channels and levees.

- Inspecting levees, channels, and drainage structures; cleaning outfall pipes and flap gates.

- Cleaning debris from bridges on Red Chute Bayou and Flat River.

- Mowing levees, drainage easements and channels.

- Removing trees and brush on west side of Red Chute Bayou between Hwy 80 and Shed Road.

- Servicing and repairing equipment.

On motion by Alley, seconded by Moore, and unanimously passed the Board approved the Levee and Drainage report. No comments from the public.

APPROVAL OF EXPENDITUES:

On motion by Moore, seconded by Alley and unanimously passed, the Board approved the expenditures in the amount of $380,921.55.

ADJOURNMENT:

The Vice President asked if there were comments from the public, there were none.

On motion by Branton, seconded by Webb the meeting adjourned.

__________________________  _____________________________
Tim Larkin, 1st Vice President      Mary Jane Easterly, Secretary