The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Levee Board Office, 3404 Industrial Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana.
The President, Tim Larkin, called the meeting to order
PRESENT: ALLEY, BANTLE, MONTGOMERY, WEBB, TOM ARCENEAUX, ATTORNEY AND ROBERT TOMASEK, DOTD ENGINEER.
ABSENT: MOORE AND STELLY.
The first order of business was opening prayer by Commissioner Webb and the 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 board meeting held on October 11, 2017.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Britt Framel, GEP Haynesville, LLC and Jacob Champion, Acadian Land Services, LLC appeared at the Applications Review Committee Meeting prior to the regular board meeting to discuss a request made for approval of maintenance, upkeep and use of the existing access road along the Red Chute Bayou Levee as access for two additional well sites. The Bossier Levee Board previously approved a temporary ninety day access along the levee for construction of a well pad and well site. They also encouraged above applicant to find an alternate access route other than the levee for permanent access to the new well site and future well sites.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Webb the Board denied this permit request for access along the Levee due to the impact of heavy equipment and weight being placed upon the Levee. Therefore, as previously discussed they will need to find an alternate route other than the Levee for their access. No comments from the public.
Ryan Estess, Raley & Associates, Inc. appeared seeking permit approval for the encroachment of a detention pond inadvertently not requested for Fairburn Avenue Extension and the regrading of the existing Kingston Elementary detention pond when original drainage plans were submitted for the proposed Benton High School currently under construction.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Webb and unanimously passed the permit was approved for the Bossier Parish School Board. No comments from the public.
Kurt Nixon, Nixon Engineering had a discussion and updated the Bossier Levee Board on the Benoit Bayou Study.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mark Long, Operations Coordinator discussed Dewberry Consultants proposal for an addendum to their existing contract to perform additional services for a No Rise Study required by the Parish Engineer for the Red Chute Bayou Levee Widening Project at a cost of $6,500. (The contract total would increase from $87,645.00 to $94,45.00).
On motion by Alley, seconded by Montgomery and unanimously passed the request was granted to expend the additional funds and update the budget. No comments from the public.
The Board reviewed a proposal from Wetlands Unlimited Inc. to complete the wetland permitting (404 permit) for the Red Chute Levee widening.
On motion by Webb, seconded by Alley and unanimously passed, the Board approved the proposal from Wetlands Unlimited Inc. at an estimated cost of $21,000.00.
The Board reviewed and discussed the status of the present Borrow Pit Lease and Surface Soil Removal Agreement with Atkins-Sonnier Family Lands which will expire on December 31, 2017. No action was needed at this time.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Bossier Levee Board reviewed a request from Mr. Joe C. Nobles for a reduction of an easement for a fence permit along Willow Chute Bayou at 283 Montrose Place. He stated that he would like to construct a chain link fence on his property in the 100 foot control area to the property line and install 12’ gates, or whatever the BLD recommends him to do to allow proper excess when needed.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Bantle the Board denied his request to fence in the 100 feet control area, however they did unanimously pass and approve a permit for a fence in the outer 50 feet of the BLD’s control area. A permit will be issued to Mr. Nobles to construct said fence in the outer 50 feet of the control area.
The Levee Board discussed a resolution approving the annual contract with Blanchard, Walker, O’Quinn, and Roberts for the 2018 year to represent the Bossier Levee District in litigation approved by the state Attorney General. No comments from the public.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Montgomery and unanimously passed the Board approved the resolution for the legal counsel for the upcoming 2018 year.
On motion by Montgomery, seconded by Bantle and unanimously passed the Board approved the transfer of $150,000.00 from Huddleston Smith to the checking account for expenditures and payroll. No comments from the public.
The Levee Board addressed information that had been discussed by the Health Insurance Committee at an earlier meeting and made several recommendations for next year. First, to move up the renewal time period to allow for more time to discuss changes and implement them. Secondly, to look ahead and see if the current plan is sustainable and look at utilization. And finally to discuss the possibility of tuning up the benefits and compensation plans.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Montgomery and unanimously passed the Board approved the authorization for the 11% increase and to renew the Bossier Levee District’s Insurance Plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield for the next year.
LEVEE AND DRAINAGE REPORT:
Red Chute Levee Improvement Project
- July 2, 2015 – submitted final plans to Corps and DOTD for review.
- 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 – Met 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 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.
- 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 full 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.
- 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 the 408 permit is received.
- August 7, 2017 –Vicksburg Corps Senior Staff, James Ross, Henry Dulaney and others meet with BLD and discussed the ongoing 408 review for the Red Chute Bayou Levee Improvement Project; they made suggestions for revising the permit request letter and funding needs for the Corps 408 review.
- August 23, 2017 – mailed revised 408 request letter to Colonel Derosier for Red Chute Levee Widening Project.
- September 27. 2017 – Received letter from Colonel Derosier advising that his staff work with the levee district to obtain a 408 permit for the levee widening project.
- Borrow Pit Lease scheduled to expire 12-31-2017.
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
- Work ongoing, with BLD crew and equipment, clearing brush and small trees from banks of Red Chute Bayou between Hwy 80 and Dogwood Trail on east side of channel.
Pecan Valley Ditch Repair
- Coyle Engineering preparing plans for ditch repairs.
Red Chute Bayou Levee
- Red Chute Bayou CMP Repair; requested quotes to install HDPE Pipe Liners for repair of existing 72 inch diameter CMP culverts; received low quote of $144,100.00 from Cambridgemoen LLC. Authorized contractor to order pipe; estimated deliver first week of December 2017.
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.
- September 13, 2017 – Denmon Engineering authorized to provide concept plan details for gap closure designs at two Union Pacific RR crossings at a cost not to exceed $5,000.00.
Equipment
- Ordered two new John Deere 6145M Cab Tractors thru state contract in the amount of $91,972.64 each; total $183,945.28. Estimated delivery date January 2018.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- Clearing brush and small trees from east bank of Red Chute Bayou between I-20 and Hwy 80.
- 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.
- Servicing and repairing equipment.
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 $87,070.01.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Webb the meeting was adjourned at 11:45.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Mary Jane Easterly, Secretary