The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 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: LARKIN, MONTGOMERY, MOORE, STELLY, WEBB, TOM ARCENEAUX, ATTORNEY AND ROBERT TOMASEK, DOTD ENGINEER.
ABSENT: ALLEY AND BANTLE
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 December 12, 2018.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Ryan Estess with Raley and Associates appeared before the Applications Committee with a request to the Board for a permit for the revision of the proposed cross sections of Benoit Lateral that was previously permitted as part of the Innovation Drive Project.
On motion by Montgomery, seconded by Webb and unanimously carried the Board approved the recommendation from the Applications Committee to approve the changes to the permit as reflected on the modified plans and authorized Mark Long to issue a revised permit to the City of Bossier City. No comments from the public.
OLD BUSINESS:
Bids were opened for the Red Chute Levee Widening Project January 9th at 9:30 a.m., prior to the Board Meeting and were presented to the Board for further review. The Bids were as follows:
Testament Construction - Bid: $5,145,791.49
W.L. Bass - Bid: $6,977,178.80
Specialty Trackhoe - Bid: $5,254,884.70
Mr. Long verified that there were no bids submitted electronically. Lowest responsive bid is to be ratified by the Board at the February 13th meeting. No comments from the public.
NEW BUSINESS:
Michan Holbrook with Coyle Engineering, representing TPBC, LLC submitted to the Board for approval of the Estates at the Preserve Subdivision, Unit No. 2 and Unit No. 3 revised Plats with previous changes requested by the Bossier Levee District.
On motion by Montgomery, seconded by Stelly and unanimously carried the Board approved the Application Committee’s recommendation to issue letter(s) of no objection for both of the subdivision plats located at the Estates at the Preserve Subdivision. No comments from the public.
The Board reviewed and discussed the current Lease Agreement with Semi – Sunbelt Equipment Marketing Inc., to reach a decision on whether to retain or return four IC-50 Crawler Carriers being utilized for the Red Chute Bayou Flood Fight. This rental agreement period was from 12/21/18 through 01/19/19 for $4,500.00 each or $18,000.00 total.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Montgomery and unanimously carried the Board agreed with the Applications Committee to retain all four IC-50 Carriers for one more month and pay the subsequent rental because equipment may still be needed quickly and the uncertainty if rental could be acquired when needed, if returned. No comments from the public.
LEVEE AND DRAINAGE REPORT:
Red Chute Levee Improvement Project
- November 28, 2018 – Began Advertisement for Bids for levee widening project; bid opening scheduled for January.
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
- 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.
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
- October 10, 2018 – board approved a project to regrade 4400 LF of the ditch.
- October 15, 2018 - work began on with BLD crew clearing ditch.
- October 18, 2018 - Newt Brown Contractor started work excavating and grading ditch.
- December 18, 2018 – channel excavation substantially complete; grading of spoil dirt to be completed when site dries.
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
- December 21, 2018 – leased four IC-50 IHI Crawler Carrier’s from Sunbelt Equipment Marketing, Inc.; the lease rate for each machine is $4,500.00/month and the first month’s lease ends on January 20, 2019.
Bossier Levee District Facility Upgrades
- Advertisement for bids began on January 2, 2019; bids to be opened on Wednesday February 6, 2019 at 10:00 am. Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference Tuesday January 15, at 10:00 am.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- December 20, 2018 thru December 23, 2018 - Sandbagging Red Chute Levee from Dogwood Trail to State Levee.
- Cleaning sandbag stockpile by removing deteriorate bags.
- Patching potholes and ruts with aggregate surfacing on Red Chute Levee north of Dogwood Trail.
- Inspecting levees, channels, and drainage structures; cleaning outfall pipes and flap gates.
- Repairing gates on levees.
- Cleaning debris buildup on bridges.
- Servicing and repairing equipment.
- Inspecting drainage 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 $143,081.38.
On motion by Montgomery, seconded by Stelly, the meeting was adjourned at 10:45
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary