The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, December 13, 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, MOORE, WEBB, TOM ARCENEAUX, ATTORNEY AND ROBERT TOMASEK, DOTD ENGINEER.
ABSENT: BANTLE, MONTGOMERY 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 November 8, 2017.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
The Board discussed the permit application from the Red River Waterway Commission at the Applications Review Committee Meeting prior to the regular board meeting to discuss a request made for approval to relocate two sections of asphalt walking trails along the Red River Levee near Arthur Ray Teague Parkway.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Webb the Board approved this permit request for the relocation of the walking trails on Arthur Ray Teague Parkway that run alongside the Red River Levee subject to approval of the actual plans by LDOTD and Mark Long, BLD Operations Coordinator.
No comments from the public.
OLD BUSINESS:
The Board reviewed and discussed the status of the present Borrow Pit Lease and Surface Soil Removal Agreement with the Atkins-Sonnier Family Lands which will expire on December 31, 2017. No action taken at this time, however, sources feel empowered to complete a new agreement soon.
NEW BUSINESS:
On motion by Alley, seconded by Montgomery and unanimously passed the Board approved the transfer of $100,000.00 from Huddleston Smith to the checking account for expenditures and payroll.
No comments from the public.
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.
- December 4, 2017 – Wetlands Unlimited submitted the permit application for the Levee Widening Project to the Corps and other environmental agencies.
- 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.
- Cleared trees and brush from Lateral B-7 Ditch.
- Removing downed trees and beaver dams from channels in various locations.
- Herbicide basil application on small trees and brush in channels.
- Inspecting levees, channels, and drainage structures; cleaning outfall pipes and flap gates.
- Trapping hogs and beavers.
- Repairing gates on levees.
- 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 $63,637.73.
On motion by Webb, seconded by Alley the meeting was adjourned at 10:20.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Asst. Secretary