The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, February 10, 2018 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, MOORE, STELLY, WEBB, TOM ARCENEAUX, ATTORNEY AND ROBERT TOMASEK, DOTD ENGINEER.
ABSENT: MONTGOMERY.
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 and unanimously passed, the Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes and approved the minutes of the regular board meeting held on January 10, 2018.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Jeffrey Darden – AEP Swepco, Ryan Estess – Raley & Associates, Inc., and Keith Norwood – Bossier Parish School Board appeared at the Applications Review Committee Meeting and the Board Meeting seeking permit approval for the installation of an overhead electric system to provide power to the new Benton High School at 349 Fairburn Avenue along Willow Chute Bayou.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Bantle the Board approved the permit request from AEP/SWEPCO for Benton High School. No comments from the public.
Mr. Scott and Tammy Smith – Bossier Remodeling/Construction Company, attended the Applications Review Committee Meeting to discuss the potential permit application to demolish the carwash located at 2112 Airline Drive and possibly erect a new retail shopping center with a need for more space resulting in the encroachment closer to the Lateral B-1 Ditch behind the establishment.
The Board advised Mr. and Mrs. Smith to proceed with preliminary designs away from the Top Bank of Lateral B-1 Ditch to be approved in the future. No comments from the public.
OLD BUSINESS:
NEW BUSINESS:
The Applications Review Committee discussed the permit application from Manchac Engineering on behalf of Bossier City prior to the regular board meeting to review their request for a 30’ treated wastewater effluent line levee crossing and discharge into Red Chute Bayou; located at the Bossier City NE WWTP. DOTD communicated that they prefer a drop structure for the outfall pipe. The Committee approved the permit with restrictions and pending DOTD approval.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Bantle the board approved this permit request subject to verification of any required environmental permits and approval of outfall plans by DOTD. No comments from the public.
The Board reviewed and discussed the 2018-19 Proposed Budget and agreed that the budget would be adopted at the March Board Meeting after it has been reviewed by the Finance Committee. This Finance Committee agreed to meet for further discussion on: February 28, 2018 at 9:00 A.M.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Alley and unanimously carried the Board passed a resolution authorizing employees and commissioners to attend the 33 rd Annual Association of Levee Board Workshop in Baton Rouge, LA on May 3 – 4, 2018 and be reimbursed in accordance with state travel regulations.
Yeas: 6
Nays: 0
Absent: 1
Abstaining: 0
No comments from the public.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Webb and unanimously carried the Board approved two facility improvement projects: 1). adding a shower to the maintenance shop not to exceed 10,000.00 and 2). Paving/concrete the floor of the shop building not to exceed 20,000.00. A review of upcoming proposed levee and drainage projects were also discussed for the 2018-19 year/budget.
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.
- January 4, 2018 - Obtained new borrow pit lease with L J Earnest.
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
- September 25, 2017- hired Coyle Engineering to prepare plans and easement description for ditch repairs.
- January 8, 2018 – received final plans; have not received easement description.
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.
- January 8, 2018 – Received HDPE pipe.
- January 15, 2018 – Work began on HDPE Liner installation.
- February 14, 2018 – Installation approximately 80% 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.
- 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.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- Cleaning Debris buildup on bridges on Red Chute Bayou and Flat River.
- 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.
- 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 $86,680.18.
On motion by Moore, seconded by Stelly the meeting was adjourned at 10:45.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Asst. Secretary