The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, November 14, 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.
ROLL CALL PRESENT: ALLEY, BANTLE, LARKIN, MOORE, WEBB, TOM ARCENEAUX, ATTORNEY AND ROBERT TOMASEK, DOTD ENGINEER.
ABSENT: 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 Montgomery, seconded by Stelly and unanimously passed, the Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes and approved the minutes of the regular board meeting held on October 10, 2018.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Mark Hudson, Bossier City Engineer and Mike Paul, TRC Engineers representing the City of Bossier City, appeared before the Applications Committee and the Board seeking a permit for the Walter O. Bigby Carriageway and associated bridge, roadway, 42” diameter outfall drainage pipe, and pump station adjacent to the Red River Levee between levee station 860+00 and 905+00. The committee recommended to the applicant that additional plan details be provided for review and recommended to the board that the committee be authorized to approve the permit request upon receiving the additional plan details.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Moore, and unanimously carried the Board approved the Committees recommendation to grant the Committee the authority to approve the permit request once additional information is received and subsequent approval from DOTD is obtained. No comments from the public.
Michan Holbrook, Coyle Engineering representing TPBS, LLC – Mr. Edward Gaiennie, requested a permit for proposed underground utilities, a proposed privacy fence, and utility poles to be placed along the rear of lots located in The Preserve Subdivision, Phase 1 near the Red River Levee.
On motion by Moore, seconded by Alley, and unanimously carried the Board approved the Committees recommendation to approve the permit subject to approval from DOTD and the CORPS. No comments from the public.
Neal Lewis and Spenser Touchstone representing the Vicksburg US Army Corps of Engineers presented a plaque to the Board and acknowledged the employees of the Bossier Levee District for the Operation and Maintenance of Flood Control Projects. This plaque stated that it was given in recognition of the superior management of resources in the operation and maintenance of our levee projects for the year 2017. It stated that our organization fully exemplifies the Corps values of Safety, Integrity, and Respect by continuing to actively support the flood damage reduction mission and sustain the public’s trust.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mr. Long and Kurt Nixon of Nixon Engineering discussed and updated the Board on both of the Red Chute Projects: Levee Raise and Levee Widening Project. Mr. Long informed the Board that he had just received notification from DOTD Statewide Flood Control of the approval to Advertise the levee widening project for bids. Randy Denmon of Denmon Engineering will process the advertisement.
Kurt Nixon presented a proposal for a feasibility study to evaluate the potential impacts that could possibly occur due to the Levee Raise Project.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Webb, and unanimously carried the Board in conjunction with the Applications Committees recommendation, approved the proposal for a feasibility study as presented by Mr. Nixon. No comments from the public.
Mr. Long briefed the Board on the outcome of the surplus equipment that was sold by Lawler Auction Company on behalf of the Bossier Levee District and he acknowledged that we had received a check in the amount of $15,615.00 for said surplus equipment.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Moore, and unanimously passed the Board approved the transfer of $350,000.00 from Huddleston Smith to the checking account for expenditures and payroll. No comments from the public.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Bantle, and unanimously passed the Board approved the resolution for President Larkin to sign paperwork from the Louisiana Office of Community DRU (Disaster Recovery Unit) in order to facilitate the Bossier Levee District to hopefully receive a 25% grant award in the amount of $28,798.36. 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 19, 2018 – received KCS RR Crossing Agreement form.
- 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 – board approved advertising for bids for the Red Chute Levee Widening Project; estimated cost $6,000,000.00.
- September 17, 2018 – Received comments from Billy Williamson with Statewide Flood Control on plans and specifications.
- October 1, 2018 – submitted revised plans and specs to Statewide Flood Control for review and approval.
- October 26, 2018 – received email from Billy Williamson requesting additional information on previously requested clarification and changes to the plans.
- November 1, 2018 – Randy Denmon submitted revised plans and specifications to Statewide Flood Control.
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
- November 8, 2018 – Katy Breaux with Corps advised that the study should be completed by late spring of 2019.
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
- July 7, 2018 - BLD Crew resumed tree and brush removal on the east side of Red Chute Bayou between Hwy 80 and I-20. Work delayed due to equipment break down and wet conditions.
Pecan Valley Mobile Home Park
- November 13, 2018 – Met with LeeAnne Wells, Manager of Pecan Valley Mobile Home Park, and Mark
Schroeder representing Gray Investments to discuss flooding issues and possible solutions at the Mobile Home Park.
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.
Herndon Ditch
- Received request from Bossier City to clean out the Herndon Ditch; Polaris Services was hired to provide profile elevations of the ditch centerline and to provide cross-sections every 500 feet on the unpaved section of the ditch; the survey information is needed to determine the scope of the channel cleanout and associated work.
- October 10, 2018 – board approved a project to regrade 4400 LF of the ditch. Work began on October 15, 2018 with BLD crew clearing ditch; Newt Brown Contractor started excavating and grading ditch on October 18, 2018. As of November 12, 2018 work is 50% complete.
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 – Requesting approval to hire 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.
Equipment
1) Surplus equipment sold at Lawler Auction on – 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.
- October 10, 2018 – board approved purchase of new RDM44EX Mulcher attachment; estimated cost $37,090.00.
- October 10, 2018 – board approved purchase of a new saw blade attachment for track excavator; estimated cost $10,000.00.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- Mowing levees and channels
- Removing downed trees from levees and channels.
- 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.
- Inspecting levee and channel contract work.
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 $283,502.69.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Webb, the meeting was adjourned at 10:50
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary