The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the Levee Board Office, 3404 Industrial Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana.
The 1st Vice President, Lindell Webb, called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL PRESENT: ALLEY, MONTGOMERY, MOORE, STELLY, WEBB, TOM ARCENEAUX, ATTORNEY AND ROBERT TOMASEK, DOTD ENGINEER.
ABSENT: LARKIN AND BANTLE
The first order of business was opening prayer by Commissioner Webb and the Pledge of Allegiance by the Operations Coordinator, Marcus Long.
On motion by Montgomery, 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 July 11, 2018.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Michan Hollbrook, with Coyle Engineering, appeared before the Board to update and readdress the changes that had been reflected to the plat for approval of the Airline Plaza Subdivision.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Alley, and unanimously carried the Board approved the request to issue a Letter of No Objection contingent upon the following changes: monument to the 50 foot line, changing the metes and bounds descriptions to the 50 foot encroachment line, and the documentation of the pins at the property line. No comments from the public.
John Douglas Berry, Berry Plumbing, (Ken Smith, Engineer) – requested permit approval from the Board for a permit to build a new Berry Plumbing, LLC office building – warehouse located at 5501 Benton Road, Benton LA.
The above application from Berry Plumbing was tabled until the next Board Meeting in September, due to the lack of documentation. No comments from the public.
ichan Hollbrook with Coyle Engineering, representing JSP Realty LLC., appeared before the Board requesting approval for a ditch extension and outfall structure across the Bossier Levee District’s Control Area on New High School Ditch. Mr. Long also stated that the
City of Bossier City will maintain this outfall structure.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Stelly, and unanimously carried the Board approved the request for a ditch extension and outfall structure on New High School Ditch for a permit. No comments from the public.
OLD BUSINESS:
Deanna Rabb, Secretary, stated that that a correction to the minutes from the April 12, 2017 meeting was needed. Approval for an estimate from KCS Railroad Crossing was stated incorrectly for $20,000.00 and approval had actually been granted for $100,000.00.
On motion by Moore, seconded by Montgomery, and unanimously carried the Board authorized to update the minutes to reflect the updated approved amount of $100,000.00.
Mr. Long and Randy Denmon of Denmon Engineering discussed and updated the Board on both of the Red Chute Projects: Levee Raise and Levee Widening Project. Mr. Denmon showed some slides and stated that he advised the Bossier Levee District to proceed with
submitting information and to focus on only raising the North section. He added that this section would encompass about 70% of work done by the BLD when working a flood fight and to concentrate on raising the South section at a later time. Randy Denmon will continue to work on this project, submit paperwork, and meet with the CORPS prior to our next Board Meeting.
Mr. Long continued the discussion on temp right of ways and updated the Board on the outcome of Mr. Patrick Cordaro’s Real Estate Appraisal conducted by David W. Volentine.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Moore, and unanimously carried the Board approved the Committee’s recommendation of the purchase of the temporary Right of Way from Mr. Cordaro for the negotiated price of $6,000.00. No comments from the public.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mr. Long discussed with the Applications Committee and the Board three subdivision plats for review: Legacy Parks Common Area Plat, McLemore Plantation Unit #3, and Tandem Plaza.
On motion by Montgomery, seconded by Stelly, and unanimously carried the Board approved the Committee’s recommendation to issue a Letter of No Objection to the Legacy Parks Common Area Plat subject to the addition of the Bossier Levee District’s standard plat language. No comments from the public.
Mr. Joey French, Engineer briefed the Board on questions that they had in reference to the approval of the McLemore Plantation Plat.
On motion by Moore, seconded by Montgomery, and unanimously carried the Board approved the Committee’s recommendation to issue a Letter of No Objection to the McLemore Plantation Plat subject to: the addition of a description of the metes and bounds of the outer limit of the BLD’s Control Area, placement of the pins where the lot lines intersect the outer limits of the BLD’s Control Area, and the addition of the Bossier Levee District’s standard plat language. No comments from the public.
On motion by Montgomery, seconded by Alley, and unanimously carried the Board approved the Committee’s recommendation to issue a Letter of No Objection for the Tandem Plaza Subdivision Plat as shown. No comments from the public.
Mr. Long addressed the Board seeking the approval to purchase a Ford F550 Truck with a Quote from Wray Ford for an estimated cost of approximately $47,030.00.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Montgomery, and unanimously carried the Committee and the Board approved the acquisition of an F-550 truck purchase through the Louisiana State Contract. No comments from the public.
Mr. Long requested a resolution seeking authorization from the Statewide Flood Control Program for the Bossier Levee District to advertise for bids on the Red Chute Levee Widening Project.
On motion by Montgomery, seconded by Stelly, and unanimously carried the Board approved the recommendation for a resolution and for the District to proceed with the advertisement for bids for the Widening Project, subject to the approval by LDOTD. No
comments from the public.
On motion by Moore, seconded by Alley, and unanimously passed the Board authorized the Commissioners and staff to attend the Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana 78 th Annual Meeting in a joint effort with DOTD & CPRA, to be held at the Hilton Riverside Hotel, New Orleans, December 5 – 6, 2018 and be reimbursed for expenses.
Mr. Long discussed approval from the Board to authorize the use of Lawler Auction Company and or GovDeals.com to facilitate the selling of Bossier Levee District’s surplus equipment.
On motion by Montgomery, seconded by Alley, and unanimously passed the Board approved the Committee’s recommendation of engaging into contracts with Lawler Auction Company and GovDeals.com for auctioning surplus movable property and gave authorization to Marcus Long to proceed with the selling of surplus property in accordance of state law. No comments from the public.
On motion by Moore, seconded by Alley, and unanimously passed the Board passed a resolution authorizing the Bossier Levee District to provide lunch on August 28, 2018 for the Commissioners, CORPS employees, BLD staff, and DOTD employees during the annual levee inspection by the CORPS for the fiscal year of 2018.
On motion by Montgomery, seconded by Webb, and unanimously passed the Board approved the transfer of $200,000.00 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.
- July 9, 2018 – The levee widening project should be ready to advertise for bids in mid to late August 2018.
-July 17, 2018 – Received appraisal for Patrick Cordaro temporary access right of way. Mr. Cordaro is requesting $6,000.00 for the temporary right of way.
- July 19, 2018 – Received KCS RR Crossing Agreement.
- August 3, 2018 – Mailed KCS RR agreement along with $83,571 check, and insurance certificates.
- August 1, 2018 – Amended Dewberry contract in the amount of $6500.00 for work associated with shift in levee alignment and additional information requested by BLD.
- August 8, 2018 – Seeking approval to advertise for bids for the Red Chute Levee Widening Project; estimated cost $6,000,000.00.
Red River Levee Certification
- Levee certification expires September 30, 2019.
- May 8, 2018 – sent 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.
Bossier Drainage Maintenance Initiative
- BLD Crew to restart tree and brush removal on the east side of Red Chute Bayou between Hwy 80 and I-20; estimated time for completion 6 weeks.
- Tree and brush removal scheduled for lateral B-7; work to begin in approximately 6 weeks.
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.
- July 9, 2018 – waiting for owner to approve construction and maintenance easements. 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.
- July 3, 2018 - received proposed plan of work and estimated cost for repairs from Don Maddox in the amount of $7,332.00.
Flat River Erosion Repairs
- Nixon Engineering – working on survey and preliminary design for erosion control work north of Sligo Road.
Levee Surfacing
- June 20, 2018 – board approved 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
- 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 – board approved hiring contractor to remove sand bags.
- July 6, 2018 – received quotes for sand bag removal with a low quote of $21.90 / CY from Young’s Land Development LLC; estimated total of 1300 CY for a total estimated cost of $28,470.00.
Bridge Cleaning
- June 20, 2018 - Board approved hiring additional bridge cleaning work and channel tree removal work on hourly basis.
- July 25, 2018 – Work began on bridge cleaning and channel tree removal.
Equipment
1) 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.
2) Seeking approval for the option to use Lawler Auctions and GovDeals.com to sell surplus equipment.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- Clearing trees and brush along Red River Levee north of I-220.
- Cleaning levee outfall culverts in preparation for inspection videos.
- 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 Montgomery, seconded by Moore, 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 $223,667.75
On motion by Moore, seconded by Montgomery, the meeting was adjourned at 10:45
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary