The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, February 12, 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, MONTGOMERY, AND MOORE
ABSENT: STELLY AND WEBB
Mr. Montgomery attended while on call from his position with the Bossier Fire Department, and, therefore, did not draw any expenses or compensation for the meeting.
The first order of business was opening prayer by Commissioner Montgomery and the Pledge of Allegiance by Commissioner Larkin.
On motion by Montgomery, 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 January 8, 2020.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
The Board considered the request of DDR & E Investments, LLC, requesting that the high bank of Willow Chute Bayou at 5510 Airline Drive be determined to be the location shown on a newly provided site plan for Permit Application 2019-40, and for a permanent encroachment on the outer 50 feet of the District’s Control Area.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Bantle, and unanimously approved, the Board approved the depiction of the high bank of Willow Chute Bayou to be at the location shown on the plat submitted by the applicant, and further approved the requested encroachment on the outer 50 feet of the District’s Control
Area subject to receipt of final plans showing the extent of the encroachment. No comments from the public.
The Board considered the request of the Bossier Parish Policy Jury to replace a bridge over Flat River at Swan Lake Road, and the re-alignment of Swan Lake Road over Flat River.
On motion by Moore, seconded by Bantle, and unanimously approved, the District approved the application as submitted. No comments from the public.
OLD BUSINESS:
None.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board discussed proposed final plats received from the Metropolitan Planning Commission related to Estates at the Preserve, Unit No. 2, and Unit No. 3. The final plats meet all District requirements for letters of no objection, and the District authorized letters of no objection for the preliminary plats.
On motion of Moore, seconded by Alley, and unanimously approved, the Board approved issuance of letters of no objection for both plats. No public comments.
The Board discussed the abandonment of a pipeline under three district waterways.
On motion by Alley, second by Montgomery, and unanimously approved, the Board approved the abandonment and termination of any permit for the crossings, with such abandonment to be in recordable form approved by the District’s counsel. No public comments.
The President reported on proposals presented to the District by Hoogland’s Landscape Co. for landscaping the District headquarters property. The President and other commissioners will meet with a representative of Hoogland’s to discuss changes to the proposals for presentation at a later date. No action necessary at this time.
The Board received the request for nomination of certain mineral interests apparently owned by the District (the District not owning the surface, but only a mineral servitude) in Section 5, T16N, R12W, Bossier Parish, for bid by the Louisiana State Mineral Board.
On motion by Alley, second by Montgomery, and unanimously approved, the District RESOLVED to submit the requested mineral acreage to the Louisiana State Mineral Board for lease. No public comment.
Mr. Long gave the Commissioners a briefing on the status of the Red Chute Levee Improvement Project.
Mr. Long gave the Commissioners a briefing on the status of the certification or approval of the United States Army Corps of Engineers of the Red River Levee.
On motion by Montgomery, second by Bantle, and unanimously approved, the Board approved a change order of up to $17,466.26 on State Project – Red Chute Levee Improvements to replace anchors on outfall culverts. The approval is for the one requested, with the possible replacement of others if needed in the judgment of the Project Engineer. The $17,466.26, is for all three replacements if necessary. No public comment.
The President advised the Board that the 2020-2021 proposed budget for the District will be the subject of Finance Committee meetings and proposals.
On motion by Moore, second by Montgomery, and unanimously adopted, the Board declared the following movable property surplus, to be sold in accordance with state law:
| Equip # | Year | Mileage/Hrs | Model |
| 380 | 2016 | 520 | John Deere 6135E |
| 381 | 2016 | 326 | John Deere 6135E |
| 207 | 2009 | 4975 | John Deere 7230 |
| 208 | 2009 | 4705 | John Deere 7230 |
| 205 | 2003 | 5326 | Case MX110 |
| 108 | 2007 | 103,566 | FORDF-450 |
| 203 | 2000 | 4790 | JD 120 Excavator |
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.
- February 7, 2020 – we received word from Craig McRaney with the Vicksburg Corps that the levee can be raised above elevation of Lock and Dam 5 Road; Mr. McRaney also advised that the levee district should submit a request for a 408 permit to raise the levee in the areas with insufficient freeboard.
- February 10, 2020 – a conference call was held with several members of the Vicksburg Corps; the purpose of the call was to seek guidance on how to expedite the permit for the levee raise and to request that the Corps provide assistance in obtaining the permit. Very little new information was obtained from the call; the Corps did say that they would research the Congressional Authorization for the levee to determine if any restrictions such as an additionally congressional authorization would be needed to raise the levee.
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 various channels.
- 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.
Surplus Equipment
- Requesting to surplus the following equipment and to sell at auction:
1) 2003 Case MX 110 with 5313 hours; Equipment # 205*.
2) 2016 John Deere 6135E with 520 hours; Equipment # 380*.
3) 2016 John Deere 6135E with 326 hours; Equipment # 381.
4) 2009 John Deere 7230 with 4975 hours; Equipment # 207.
5) 2009 John Deere 7230 with 4705 hours: Equipment # 208.
6) 2007 Ford F-450 with 103,566 miles; Equipment # 108.
7) 2000 John Deere Track Excavator with 4790 hours; Equipment # 203.
*Previously approved to surplus.
On motion by Montgomery, seconded by Moore, and unanimously approved, the Board authorized the Secretary for the District to make payments in the amount of $2,387,859.02 as set forth in the materials provided for the Board.
The February 12 h , 2020 Bossier Levee District Board Meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:40 a.m.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary