The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 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: Commissioners - ALLEY, LARKIN, MONTGOMERY, MOORE, AND STELLY Staff: Mark Long, Deanna Rabb, Tom Arceneaux - staff attorney, Robert Tomasek and German Velazquez from the Department of Transportation and Development.
ABSENT: BANTLE
The first order of business was the opening prayer by Commissioner Montgomery and the Pledge of Allegiance by Commissioner Larkin.
On motion by Alley, 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 March 10, 2021.
AMENDMENT TO AGENDA:
On suggestion of the Chair to add an item to the agenda, Larkin moved and Moore seconded a motion to add the discussion to rescend the change order with Testament Construction Company to stabilize the levee road on the Red Chute Levee Project. The President asked if any member of the public wished to speak on whether to add the item to the agenda and there were no requests to speak. The following Commissioners voted:
Larkin - Yes
Alley - Yes
Montgomery - Yes
Moore - Yes
Stelly - Yes
The Commissioners having voted unanimously to add the item to the agenda, it was added.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Michael Kelsch, P.E. with Raley and Associates, Inc. on behalf of their client Cane’s Landing Commercial Phase 1, appeared requesting approval for a permit to extend a 15” A2000 storm pipe into Willow Chute Bayou. PERMIT #2021-15
On motion by Moore, seconded by Alley, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board approved the issuance of the permit for placement of the storm pipe into Willow Chute. No comments from the public.
Jeff Raley, with Raley & Associates, Inc., representing TIL Holdings LLC, attended the Applications Committee Meeting requesting a permit to encroach 6 foot into the existing 25 foot Bossier Levee Board Easement / Control Area due to a correction of a site plan during the 1994 construction of the Valvoline Instant Oil Change located at 2240 Airline Drive.
Further investigation by Mark Long revealed that an application had previously been made by Bossier City in 1967 and the district released this location from its control, therefore there is no current control area in that location and no need for a permit application. No action taken and no comments from the public.
Dee Hanson, who resides in the Benton area submitted an email with the with attachments proclaiming mismanagement of the Cypress Black Bayou Recreation Board. Ms. Hansen notified the Secretary, Deanna Rabb on the morning of the Board Meeting that she had been out of town and would not be able to attend. Therefore, this item will be placed for further discussion on next months agenda on May 12, 2021.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mark Long updated the Board regarding the Red Chute Levee Widening Project. He reported on the current progress, the anticipated cost overruns, and stated that the percent complete was approximately 75%.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Montgomery and unanimously carried the Board authorized to withdraw the previously authorized change order to stabilize the levee road on the Red Chute Levee.
Kurt Nixon with Nixon Engineering briefed the Board on the current progress of the Red River Levee Raise 408 Permit process with the Vicksburg CORPS of Engineers. He discussed the need to communicate with the Caddo Levee Board regarding their levee issues, concerns, and plans.
NEW BUSINESS:
There were no proposed plats received from the MPC requiring approval from the Bossier Levee District, therefore, no action was taken.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Stelly and unanimously carried the Board passed a resolution adopting the previously proposed Bossier Levee District budget as shown below, with the notes and project projections for the upcoming fiscal year. No comments from the public.
BOSSIER LEVEE DISTRICT
ADOPTED BUDGET
JULY 1, 2021 – JUNE 30, 2022
| REVENUES | |
| Ad Valorem Taxes and Revenue Sharing | $3,221,500.00 |
| Permits | $8,500.00 |
| Interest Income | $176,250.00 |
| Mineral Royalties | $95,000.00 |
| Rental and Other Income | $51,000.00 |
| TOTAL REVENUES: | $3,552,250.00 |
| EXPENDITURES: | |
| Wages and Benefits | $1,425,000.00 |
| Operating Expenses | $1,882,500.00 |
| Supplies | $96,500.00 |
| Professional Services | $583,500.00 |
| Acquisitions and Major Repairs | $696,000.00 |
| Special Projects | $11,490,000.00 |
| TOTAL EXPENDITURES: | $16,027,300.00 |
| EXCESS/EXPENDITURES/REVENUES: | $12,475,050.00 |
| BEGINNING FUND BALANCE | $12,806,165.00 |
| FUND BALANCE ENDING: | $331,115.00 |
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary is hereby authorized and in 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.”
The foregoing resolution was read in full, the roll was called on the adoption of the budget and thereof, and the resolution was adopted by the following votes:
Yeas: 5
Nays: 0
Absent: 1
Abstaining: 0
The President asked if there were comments from the public, there were none.
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.
- March 31, 2021 – Work approximately 73.1% 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.
- March 11, 2020 – Kurt Nixon submitted a revised mitigation study report with recommendations for a levee raise and mitigation.
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.
- 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.
- March 30, 2020 – received letter dated March 24, 2020 from the colonel of the Vicksburg District Army Corps denying our request for PL 84-99 funding for bank caving repairs.
- Waiting for further direction from Corps on repair requirements.
Levee Inspection Compliance
- BLD has completed an inspection and report of deficiencies on the Red River Levee including items listed on the USACE 2019 Levee Inspection Report. Our plan of action is to start removing all unwanted vegetation and other encroachments in areas where permission can be obtained from property owners.
- Work on north end of levee is underway removing encroaching trees and brush.
- August 12, 2020 – board approved work for sluice gate valve repairs on Red River Levee in the amount of $24,956.00.
- March 19, 2021 – sluice gate repairs at station 1170+00 complete.
- March 19, 2021– sluice gate repairs completed at Red River Levee station 1070+00, repairing embankment throughout levee system.
- April 13, 2021 – embankment repair work ongoing with BLD crews in preparation of Red River Levee Periodic Inspection.
Red River Levee Certification
- May 8, 2018 – sent letter to Corps requesting their services in providing new levee certification.
- 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.
- September 9, 2020 – hired Kurt Nixon to review options for levee certification.
- January 11, 2021 – held conference call with Vicksburg Corps and discussed 408 permit requirements for raising the areas with deficient free board on the Red River Levee north of Lock and Dam 5.
- March 3, 2021 – Kurt Nixon provided progress letter on status of the 408 permit.
- April 12, 2021 – conference call held with Katy Breaux and members of the Vicksburg Army Corps of Engineers to discuss a Risk Assessment to be used for levee certification.
Red River Corps Study
- 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.
- December 6, 2019 – we received the new 1% WSE river profile grades for the Red River Levee from the Vicksburg Corp.
- December 13, 2019 – we received plan and profile drawings with new 1% WSE 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.
- August 6, 2020 – Corps held a WebEx meeting and discussed the summary report; they also provided copies of the report.
Flat River Erosion Repairs
- Nixon Engineering – working on survey and preliminary design for erosion control work north of Sligo Road.
- Drop pipe replacement planned pending design from DOTD; location approximately 2 miles upstream of Sligo Rd.
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.
- August 12, 2020 – board approved replacing a double 48” x 193’ CMP with a new 10-gauge Poly coated CMP; with a low quote in the amount of $105,000.00 from F.J. Burnell, Inc.
- Pipes delivered to BLD yard on December 18, 2020; installation pending suitable site conditions.
Bossier Levee District Facility Maintenance Repairs
- August 12, 2020 – board approved various facility repairs in an amount not to exceed $65,000.00.
- Jackson Construction began work on January 27, 2021; work approximately 90% complete.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- Clearing brush and tree encroachments on Red River Levee.
- Making various repairs on the Red River Levee in preparation for a USACE Periodic Levee Inspection scheduled to begin on March 15, 2021.
- Inspecting levees, channels, and drainage structures; cleaning outfall pipes and flap gates.
- Removing fallen trees from levees and channels.
- Breaking up beaver dams.
- Repairing gates on levee.
- 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 Alley, and unanimously approved, the Board authorized the Secretary for the District to make payments for the month of March in the amount of $206,589.55 as set forth in the materials provided for the Board.
The April 14, 2021 Bossier Levee District Board Meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:06 a.m.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary