The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, September 11, 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: BANTLE, MONTGOMERY, MOORE, STELLY, WEBB, THOMAS ARCENEAUX, ATTORNEY, AND ROBERT TOMASEK, DOTD.
ABSENT: ALLEY.
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 August 14, 2019.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Mark Hudson, City of Bossier City Engineer appeared before the Applications Committee to request approval from the Bossier Levee District and the CORPS for the proposed Walter O. Bigby Carriageway Highway Project.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Montgomery, and unanimously passed on recommendation from the Application Committee, with full support of the building of the Parkway in the areas shown and them noting no conflicts, project still subject to approval from DOTD and the CORPS. No comments from the public.
Kenneth Smith, P.E. with Smith Engineering Company, Inc. and Warren Moore with Total Properties appeared requesting a reduction of the District’s Control Area along the right descending bank of lateral B-4 between East Texas Street and Interstate 20 for a potential commercial development.
The Applications Committee and the Board reviewed the permit request and stated that the encroachment to facilitate the development of the commercial property would not accommodate the 50 foot easement. Therefore, they were instructed to revise their preliminary plans and resubmit the updated plans for approval after the revisions had been made. No action was taken and there were no comments from the public.
OLD BUSINESS:
NONE.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mark Long briefed the Board regarding the study conducted by the CORPS on the Red River. He discussed that this study has produced a new 100-year flood profile and the requirement for new BFE’s to be established.
The Bossier Levee District did not receive any proposed plats for approval from the MPC and other agencies, therefore no discussion was needed.
Resolution for Board Members and staff to attend the ALBL Annual Meeting to be held in New Orleans, LA on December 4-5, 2019, and be reimbursed for expenses.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Webb, and unanimously passed the Board approved the Commissioners and the BLD Administration to attend the ALBL Meeting on December 4 -5 in New Orleans, LA., and to be reimbursed for expenses as well. No comments from the public.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Webb, and unanimously passed the Board approved the transfer of $900,000.00 from Huddleston Smith to the checking account for upcoming expenditures including payroll and construction projects. No comments from the public.
LEVEE AND DRAINAGE REPORT:
Red Chute Levee Improvement Project
- January 9, 2019 at 9:30 am. – opened bids on Red Chute Bayou Levee Improvement Project; with low bid of $5,145,791.49 from Testament Construction Services, LLC.
- March 21, 2019 – Railroad contractor installed RR Crossing at Red Chute Levee.
- March 22, 2019 – contract signed with Testament Construction.
- April 10, 2019- held preconstruction meeting.
- May 6, 2019 - Received letter of no objection to issue notice to proceed from Statewide Flood Control.
- July 23, 2019 – Started Time Charges.
- September 9, 2019 – Work approximately 15% complete.
Red Chute Levee Raise Project
- Mitigation analysis for levee raise is being conducted by Nixon Engineering and Dewberry Consultants.
- June 6, 2019 – Kurt Nixon gave a power point presentation on ongoing study for mitigating potential levee raise impacts; analysis to be expanded to include improvements for south Bossier drainage.
Red Chute Bayou Channel
- Recent high-water events have caused several slope failures on the bayou inside Barksdale AFB; work is needed to remove trees and stabilize slope failures near levee.
- July 24, 2019 – Vicksburg Corps conducted a damage assessment of high-water damages on Red Chute Bayou; no determination as of August 13, 2019.
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 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.
- August 28, 2019 – the Vicksburg Corps met with the Flood Technical Committee and briefed the Committee on the preliminary findings from the Study. The Study has produced a new 100-year flood profile which indicates that a portion of the levee north of Lock and Dam 5 has less than the minimum 3-foot free board; the new 100-year flood profile will also require new Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) be established. The Study is scheduled to be completed in March or April of 2020. Shona Gibson with FEMA Region 6 was also at the meeting and she said the Corps and FEMA will be working together to produce the new BFE’s; she also said that our levee system will not be re-certified due to the deficient levee height north of Lock and Dam 5. We have been in communication with the Corps to obtain a copy of the new 100-year flow line.
- September 9, 2019 – Received an email from Cory Windors, Chief of Hydraulics at Vicksburg District, suggesting the levee district obtain a new levee profile survey and submit it to the Vicksburg District for them to run thru their hydraulic model in order to better determine the extent of an low areas on the levee system.
Bossier Drainage Maintenance Initiative
- Red Chute brush removal between US 80 and I-20 scheduled to resume.
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 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.
- August 29, 2019 – Contractor resumed work regrading ditch and compacting slopes to correct embankment slides that occurred after initial ditch cleanout.
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.
Bossier Levee District Facility Upgrades
- March 18, 2019 – M&M Builders started work on Bossier Levee District Facility Upgrades.
- April 8, 2019 – earthwork grading, drilled piers, stone base, and forms set for slabs on new
shop and on existing shop. -- - April 9, 2019 - concrete slab poured on existing equipment shed.
- April 12, 2019 – poured concrete slab on new shop building.
- August 13, 2019 – construction on metal building approximately 90% complete.
- September 6, 2019 – contractor completed removal of old shop building.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- Mowing levees and drainage channels.
- Spraying herbicide on drainage channels and levees.
- Inspecting levees, channels, and drainage structures; cleaning outfall pipes and flap gates.
- Removing sandbags from Red Chute Levee.
- Repaired holes on and beside Red River Levee.
- Servicing and repairing equipment.
Equipment
- March 14, 2019 submitted purchase order for a new F-450 Crew Cab 4X4 Work Truck for tractor crew. Truck scheduled to be built October 7, 2019; estimate delivery mid-October.
Surplus Equipment
- Requesting to declare the following as surplus equipment to be sold at auction:
1) 2003 Case MX 110 with 5313 hours; Equipment # 205.
2) 2016 John Deere 6135E with 459 hours; Equipment # 380.
On motion by Moore, seconded by Montgomery, and unanimously approved, the Board authorized the Secretary for the District to make payments in the amount of $284,269.16 as set forth in materials provided for the Board.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Webb, the September 11th, 2019 Bossier Levee District Board Meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:40 a.m.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary