The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, June 20, 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, LARKIN, MOORE, STELLY, WEBB, TOM ARCENEAUX, ATTORNEY AND ROBERT TOMASEK, DOTD ENGINEER.
ABSENT: BANTLE & MONTGOMERY
The first order of business was opening prayer by Commissioner Webb and the Pledge of Allegiance by Commissioner Larkin.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Webb and unanimously passed, the Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes and approved the minutes of the regular board meeting held on May 9, 2018.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Mark Hudson, City Engineer and Ben Rauschenbach, with Manchac Consulting Consulting Group appeared before the Applications Review Committee prior to the Board Meeting to discuss a request for a permit for the installation of a 12” Ductile Iron Gravity Sewer Main and 16” PVC Water main crossing and lift station under Benoit Bayou Lateral 1.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Webb and unanimously carried the Board approved the crossings, contingent upon the lift station would be no closer than 50 feet from the high bank and including the variance in the depth of the crossings (10 feet rather than 15 feet). No comments from the public.
Mark Hudson, City Engineer and Ryan Estess, with Raley & Associates representing the City of Bossier City, met with the Applications Review Committee prior to the Board Meeting to review a request for a permit for the new Innovation Drive Extension Benoit Bayou Lateral 1 crossing and channel modifications.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Stelly and unanimously carried the Board approved the request in accordance with the plans and stated that the City would maintain the constructed infrastructure, and the Bossier Levee District would maintain the vegetation. Issuance of the said permit would be subject to approval by the parish Engineer for the drainage plan for the road project. No comments from the public.
Ji Daly, Southern Lifestyle Development, on behalf of Willow Heights, LLC submitted a request seeking approval of encroachments for the proposed Willow Heights Subdivision entrance which will include one lighted subdivision sign and landscaping.
On motion by Moore, seconded by Alley and unanimously carried the Board approved the encroachment permit for Willow Heights Subdivision. No comments from the public.
Travis Jore, with Mike McSwain Architects, presented and discussed proposed Bossier Levee District facility upgrades: equipment shed, washing station, concrete slab in current structure, asphalt.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Alley and unanimously carried the Board approved retaining the services of Mike McSwain Achitect, LLC. as presented to further design, prepare plans and specifications for the proposed BLD facility updates at the cost of $68,000.00. The Board agreed that if any changes and or modifications exceeded $10,000.00, then that would need to be presented back to the Board for additional review and or approval. No comments from the public.
OLD BUSINESS:
Marcus Long, Operations Coordinator had a discussion regarding the Red Chute Levee Raise Project and seeking approval to hire a consultant for assisting with the review and guidance on 408 permit request.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Stelly and unanimously carried the Board approved the hiring of Kurt Nixon with Nixon Engineering Solutions on an hourly consulting basis to assist with the review and 408 permit process.
Operations Coordinator, Marcus Long, discussed the Red Chute Widening Project and the need to obtain outside appraisals for temporary right of ways.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Alley and unanimously carried the Board approved the engagement of an appraiser to appraise value of needed temporary right of ways. (The committee suggested David Volentine as a possible appraiser). No comments from the public.
The Chair, President Timothy Larkin, added Mr. Bill Alley to the Nominating Committee to help facilitate a quorum to assist the Board in electing a slate of officers for the 2018-2019 term. This will be tabled until the next meeting held on July 11 th , 2018.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Moore and unanimously carried the Board approved the adding of Bill Alley to the Nominating Committee. No comments from the public.
NEW BUSINESS:
Marcus Long, Operations Coordinator discussed with the Applications Review Committee the delegation of issuance of letters of no objection for subdivision plats and whether to adopt an overall policy. That discussion was postponed to a future meeting.
Operations Coordinator, Mr. Marcus Long sought authorization to hire an outside contractor to remove sandbags from the Red Chute Levee.
On motion by Webb, seconded by Alley and unanimously carried the Board approved hiring of a contractor to remove the sandbags from the Red Chute Levee. They acknowledged that there was a possibility of FEMA reimbursement. They recommended bids or proposals be sought for the removal and approved a contractor not to exceed $80,000.00. No comments from
the public.
Mr. Long also requested approval for a levee surfacing project on the Red River Levee.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Alley and unanimously carried the Board approved the levee surfacing project and approved Newt Brown Contractors, LLC to proceed with the work at the low quote of $122,562.00. No comments from the public.
Mr. Long also requested approval to hire outside contract labor to perform channel clearing and maintenance.
The Applications Committee and the Board recommended that Mr. Long proceed with the hiring of outside assistance with regular channel clearing and maintenance and to monitor spending in line with budget.
Mr. Long also discussed three Subdivision Plats: Airline Plaza Subdivision, Bennett Subdivision and JSP Industrial Park.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Alley and unanimously carried the Board approved the three Subdivision Plats: Airline Plaza Subdivision, Bennett Subdivision, and JSP Industrial Park all be processed with a letter of no objection with recommendations from the Applications Committee stating that approval would be provided contingent upon all plats are revised to include the standard District language, pins no greater than 50 feet in a curve and pins no greater than 100 feet in a tangent line, and demonstrating the metes and bounds of the high bank of the Levee Board Controlled Area.
Asst. Secretary, Deanna Rabb sought approval of the Amended Budget for the fiscal year ending June 30 th , 2018.
On motion by Moore, seconded by Stelly and unanimously carried the Board approved the revised Amended Budget for June 30 th , 2018 fiscal year. No comments from the public.
Deanna Rabb, Asst. Secretary asked to name the Bossier Tribune as the official journal for the Bossier Levee District.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Stelly and unanimously carried the Board approved the Bossier Tribune as its official journal for the Bossier Levee District. All minutes and or Public Notices will be published in the BPT. No comments from the public
On motion by Moore, seconded by Alley and unanimously passed the Board approved the transfer of $175,000.00 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
- January 4, 2018 - Obtained new borrow pit lease with L J Earnest.
- May 9, 2018 – Received Corps Permit for levee widening project.
- May 16, 2018 – Sent letter to Vicksburg Corps requesting that they resume their review of our request to raise the Red Chute Levee.
- May 31, 2018 – participated in conference call with PDT Members for the Red Chute Levee Raise Project; the Corps advised the levee district to resubmit all aspects of the Red Chute Levee Raise Permit Request including Plans, Specifications, H&H Study, and etc. in a complete package for their review in accordance with EC 1165-2-216.
- June 11, 2018 – The levee widening project should be ready to advertise for bids in mid to late July 2018.
- June 13, 2018 – Discussion on hiring consultant to assist with review of permit request package for Red Chute Levee Raise Project and associated work.
Red River Levee Certification
- Levee certification expires September 30, 2019.
- May 8, 2018 – letter to Corps requesting their services in providing new levee certification.
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.
- Lidar Completed on March 31, 2018
Red River Levee Improvements
- June 6, 2017 - 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.
National Levee Data Base
- April 17, 2018 – attended a meeting at the Caddo Levee District Office with members from the Vicksburg Corps, parish, and levee district officials concerning the Corps Levee Safety Program
– Risk Communication. The Corps is suggesting a press release prior to their going online with Levee Summaries on their new National Levee Data Base website now scheduled for May 22, 2018. The Levee Summary for the Red River Levee has not been finalized as of May 8, 2018 nor has the summary for the Red Chute Levee.
Bossier Drainage Maintenance Initiative
- May 10, 2018 –BLD crew and equipment completed work on clearing brush and small trees from the left descending bank of the New High School Ditch and Lateral B-4.
- Tree and brush removal scheduled for lateral B-7.
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.
- March 26, 2018 – sent plans, right of entry agreement, and temporary access agreement to Mark Schroeder with Gray Investments LP for review and approval.
2437 Brookside Drive – on Flat River
- April 24, 2018 – Received a request from John Cordaro who lives at 2437 Brookside Drive for engineer to inspect home and yard, repairs to yard, and possible purchase of home for damages he believes are associated with the Flat River Bank Stabilization Project Phase 5.
- May 15, 2018 – site inspection was made by Mark Long and Robert Tomasek, DOTD Engineer. No visible damage to house, no cracks in brick or slab visible. Back yard has some uneven settlement but no major issues observed.
Flat River Erosion Repairs
- Nixon Engineering – working on survey and preliminary design for erosion control work north of Sligo Road.
Levee Surfacing
- Requesting approval for contract levee surfacing on the Red River Levee from levee station 1738+25 to 1782+00 and from station 1853+75 to 1905+50 in South Bossier near Taylor Town; approximate total length 9,550 feet; estimated quantity 2,476 Tons; Low quote of $122,562 from Newt Brown Contractor LLC.
Red Chute Bayou Levee Culvert Rehab
- August, 2017 - Received low quote of $144,100.00 from Cambridgemoen LLC to install HDPE Culvert Liner in existing double barrel 71” CMP at levee station 472+43.
- January 15, 2018 – work began on HDPE Liner installation.
- June 11, 2018 – HDPE Liner work substantially complete on work at station 472+43.
- May 9, 2018 –approval given for contract to line remaining unlined CMP Culverts on Red Chute Bayou Levee in the amount of $138,317.52.
Red Chute Levee High Water Event
- March 1 thru March 8, 2018 - Sandbagged low areas on Red Chute Levee with assistance from the City of Bossier, Bossier Parish, and Bossier Sherriff’s Department.
- April 27, 2018 – Returned Crawler Carriers rented for flood preparations.
- June 20, 2018 – Requesting approval to hire contractor to remove sand bags.
Bridge Cleaning
- March 6, 2018 - Hired Young’s Land Development LLC on hourly rates to clean debris buildup from bridges on Red Chute Bayou and Flat. Work from March 6 thru March 26 was $29,416.00.
- April 11, 2018 thru April 17, 2018 – additional bridge cleaning by Young’s Land Development in the amount of $10,400.00.
- Requesting approval to hire out additional bridge cleaning work and channel tree removal work.
Flat River – Illegal Dumping of debris in Channel
- Flat River North West of Airline Drive residents are dumping large piles of tree limbs, etc. on slope of channel. Residents have been advised to remove debris; also contacted Bossier Parish Sherriff’s for assistance in having debris removed.
Red River and Red Chute Levee – Illegal Dumping of Used Tire
- Approximately 300 tires were dumped on the Red River and Red River Levees within the past 3 months. Police reports have been filed and tires have been picked up and haul away by BLD employees.
Equipment
1) Accepted Delivery of two 72” zero turn mowers – Kubota ZD1211RL-72R; $13,210.08 each from State Contract
2) Ordered 1 extended cab ½ ton truck 4X4: estimated cost $24,888.00 / State Contract
3) To be sold - surplus equipment – equipment numbers: 213 -2001 Rhino 15’ Cutter; 215 – 2005 Rhino 15’ Cutter; 221 – 2008 Bush Hog 15’ Cuter; 222 – 2008 Bush Hog 15’ Cutter; 302 – 2003 Ex Mark 72” Mower; 317 – 2003 Ex Mark 72” Mower; 339 – 2013 Ex Mark 72” Mower.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- Mowing levees and channels
- Removing downed trees from levees and channels from recent storms.
- Herbicide application on levees and channels.
- Inspecting levees, channels, and drainage structures; cleaning outfall pipes and flap gates.
- Repairing gates on levees.
- Servicing and repairing equipment.
On motion by Moore, seconded by Alley, and unanimously approved, the Board authorized the Secretary for the district to make the payments set forth in the attachment to these minutes in the total amount of $194,973.00.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Webb, the meeting was adjourned at 11:30
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Asst. Secretary