The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 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 AND MOORE
ABSENT: MONTGOMERY, STELLY, AND WEBB
The first order of business was opening prayer by Commissioner Alley and the Pledge of Allegiance by Commissioner Larkin.
On motion by Moore, seconded by Alley, and unanimously passed, the Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes and approved the minutes at the regular Board Meeting held on December 11, 2019.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Richard Brontoli, the Executive Director of the Red River Valley Association, appeared requesting support from the Bossier Levee District for the Southwest Arkansas Feasibility Study.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Alley, the Board conveyed that the Bossier Levee District intends to willingly participate and work with the Arkansas Red River Commission and the Arkansas Waterway Commission on the SW Arkansas Feasibility Study, not to exceed a $100,000.00 dollar commitment, as approved. No comments from the public.
OLD BUSINESS:
None.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board discussed a proposed plat received from the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) for approval: Redwood Place at Legacy, Unit #12 (Section 21, Township 19 North, Range 13 West) – 38 Lots.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Moore and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board approved the proposed Redwood Place at Legacy Plat. No comments from the public.
Mr. Landan Weaver who resides at 5825 Bayou Drive located in the Golden Meadows Subdivision contacted the Bossier Levee District and made a request for repairs to be made to the bank of Flat River behind his yard. His back yard had experienced subsidence which he thinks is related to the Flat River drainage channel.
On Motion by Moore, seconded by Alley, and unanimously passed on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board approved the District to repair the receding area by: removing Mr. Weaver’s fence, demolishing his storage building, leveling the ground, putting down grass, replacement of the fence. The Board also stated that the District should seek their legal counsel, Mr. Tom Arceneaux to draft an agreement between the homeowner, Mr. Weaver and the BLD. The cost of all repairs should not exceed $20,000.00, as authorized. No comments from the public.
The Applications Committee and the Board discussed the Red River Levee regarding recently received plan and profile drawings with the new 1% WSE indicating insufficient free board on approximately 6 miles of the levee at the lower end, near Lock and Dam 5 They agreed to discuss with other governmental entities to develop a plan to address this issue. No action taken.
The Secretary, Deanna Rabb discussed with the Board an email received from Mr. George Winfrey regarding reappointments and appointments of Board Members. It was expressed that each present commissioner should try to obtain a recommendation in writing from one or more of the legislators who represent their specific parish in the legislature. No action taken.
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 22, 2019 – contract signed with Testament Construction.
- July 23, 2019 – Started Time Charges.
- January 6, 2020 – Work approximately 50% complete.
Red Chute Levee Raise Project
- Mitigation analysis for levee raise is being conducted by Nixon Engineering and Dewberry Consultants.
- October 31, 2019 – Nixon Engineering delivered mitigation report.
- December 8, 2019 – Kurt Nixon and Jacob Lesue presented the board with mitigation study results.
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 November 11, 2019.
- October 1, 2019 – Began work removing fallen trees from bayou on BAFB.
- November 4 - BLD crew with hired labor completed work of removing trees from channel on BAFB, remaining work of tree disposal to begin after BAFB hunting season. Tree removal ongoing on Red Chute Bayou between Dogwood Trail and BAFB.
- December 9, 2019 – Donald Walker, Chief of Vicksburg Corps Emergency Management called and advised that the Vicksburg Corps would be providing funding for approximately 10 bank caving sites along the levee.
- December 10, 2019 – Captain Papia with the Vicksburg District made a site visit to assess the bank repair areas.
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 18, 2019 – Received Red River 1% WSE Profile from Corps in an Excel file, the information provided was not compatible with existing levee profile information on file at BLD.
- September 18, 2019 - requested Vicksburg Corps to plot profile of new 100-year water surface elevation onto existing NLD Plan and Profile drawings of Red River Levee.
- December 6, 2019 – we received the new 1% river profile grades for the Red River Levee from the Vicksburg Corps; waiting to receive levee plan and profile with 1% river profile.
- December 13, 2019 – we received plan and profile drawings with new 1% river profile.
Flat River Erosion Repairs
- Nixon Engineering – working on survey and preliminary design for erosion control work north of Sligo Road.
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.
- November 11, 2019 – New Shop Building 99% complete; paving and incidental work 95% complete.
- December 9, 2019 – work is substantially complete except for repairs needed to correct ponding in concrete drive, security camera repairs, and waterline protection sleeves, and various other punch list items.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- Herbicide basal treatment on trees in drainage channels.
- Inspecting levees, channels, and drainage structures; cleaning outfall pipes and flap gates.
- Removing fallen trees from Red Chute Bayou.
- Breaking up beaver dams.
- Repairing gates on levee.
- Trimming tree limbs on levee.
- Various site work at Bossier Levee District yard.
- 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.
- November 19, 2019, received truck.
Surplus Equipment
The following 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 Alley, and unanimously approved, the Board authorized the Secretary for the District to make payments in the amount of $484,529.44 as set forth in the materials provided for the Board.
The January 8th , 2020 Bossier Levee District Board Meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:05 a.m.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary