The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, March 11, 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 STELLY
ABSENT: MONTGOMERY, MOORE AND WEBB
The first order of business was opening prayer by Commissioner Alley and the Pledge of Allegiance by Commissioner Larkin.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Montgomery, and unanimously passed, the Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes and approved the minutes at the regular Board Meeting held on February 12, 2020.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Christopher La Croix with Atakapa Services, LLC, Manchac Consulting Group, and Mark Hudson City Engineer, who are all representing the City of Bossier City appeared to discuss the Levee Crossing Permit Application for the Walter O’ Bigby Carriageway Stormwater Pump Station and outfall lines potentially discharging into the Red River.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Stelly, and unanimously passed on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board approved the permit application and will support the plans for the WOB Carriageway Stormwater Pump Station and the outfall lines to discharge into the Red River, subject to further concurrence from DOTD and the CORPS. No comments from the public.
Gary Clark with Civil Design Group, LLC on behalf of the Bossier Parish Police Jury was present to discuss a proposed encroachment of the planned West Linton Road Extension to Fairburn Avenue that would encroach into the BLD’s statutory Control Area along Willow Chute Bayou and a crossing of Willow Chute Bayou and associated improvements on Bossier Parish Project No. 19006 2019 -132.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Alley, and unanimously approved, the Board approved the Applications Committee recommendation to approve the plans dated March 11, 2020 submitted by and permit Civil Design Group on behalf of the BPPJ and permit the roadway encroachment, box culverts, and outfalls into the Willow Chute Channel in conjunction with the roadway project. No comments from the public.
Tommy Vilbig with Vilbig & Associates, PLLC and Kenneth Smith with Smith Engineering Company Inc. representing Total Properties requested to appear to discuss their updated site plan revisions dated February 24, 2020 regarding a request for the approval to construct a proposed QuikTrip along the right descending bank of Lateral B-4 between East Texas Street and I-20.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Stelly, and unanimously approved, the Board approved the Applications Committee recommendation to approve QuickTrip’s request to occupy portions of the easement in the Bossier Levee District’s Control Area with selected improvements shown on their map in the 1 st 50 feet, the next 25 feet, and no improvements shown in the final 25 feet. No comments from the public.
Ryan Estess with Raley & Associates, Inc, appeared and discussed a permit request on behalf of McLemore Plantation, Unit #4 to install a 12” discharge pipe in the Levee Board Easement into Willow Chute Bayou.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Stelly, and unanimously approved, the Board approved the Applications Committee recommendation to approve the outfall pipe permit for McLemore Planation, subject to modifications to be made of the revised plans and the approval by DOTD. The Board delegated the Operations Manager, Mark Long to authorize the approval of this permit administratively to avoid any further delays. No comments from the public.
OLD BUSINESS:
The Board asked the BLD’s Secretary, Deanna Rabb to review the changes that were previously made by members of the Finance Committee and to give an overview of the proposed 2020 – 21 Budget.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Bantle, and unanimously approved, the Board passed the resolution to adopt the 2020 - 21 Budget previously approved by the Finance Committee on March 3, 2020. No comments from the public.
Be at further resolved that the Secretary is hereby authorized and in his/her sole discretion, to make transfers within the various budget classifications from one classification to another as she may deem necessary provided that any transfer of funds in excess of five percent (5%) of the classification must be approved in advance by action of the Board of Commissioners at a meeting duly noticed and convened.
NEW BUSINESS:
On recommendation from Mark Long, the Board discussed the need to hire a surveyor to provide levee stationing along the Red River Levee at all cross fences and drainage structures.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Alley, and unanimously approved, the Board approved the hiring of a contract surveyor to facilitate the levee stationing with the contingency of not exceeding $30,000.00, if DOTD is not available to assist. No comments from the public.
The Board discussed the approval of the re-engagement of our prior auditor, Broussard & Company, CPA’s, LLC and the increase of $500.00 per audit fee difference from the previous three year contract period.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Stelly, and unanimously approved, the Board passed the resolution to re-engage Broussard & Company, CPA’s, LLC for the next three upcoming years ending June 30, 2020, 2021, and 2022 at $18,000.00 for the entire contract period. No public comments.
David Fletcher, homeowner, who resides at 340 Myers Road along Willow Chute Bayou submitted a Fence Encroachment Permit Request for review by the Board after receiving Nification from the Bossier Levee District that it would need to be relocated due to its violation in its current placement.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Stelly, and unanimously passed on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board approved the permit application request for the fence encroachment to be relocated along the line 50 feet from the high bank of Willow Chute Bayou. 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 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.
- BLD crews are burning trees and logs removed from channel.
Levee Inspection Compliance
- Bossier Levee District staff are inspecting and prioritizing corrective actions for all items indicated as minimally acceptable in 2019 USACE Levee Inspection Reports. An initial deficiency report should be completed by April 15, 2020 for both the Red River and Red Chute Bayou levee systems.
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.
- March 9, 2020 – work contracted with M&M Builders is substantially complete.
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 levees and channels.
- Mowing levees and drainage 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
The following equipment is scheduled to be sold as surplus.
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.
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 $182,711.23 as set forth in the materials provided for the Board.
The March 11th, 2020 Bossier Levee District Board Meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:30 a.m.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary