The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, June 9, 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, BANTLE, LARKIN, AND STELLY
Staff: Mark Long, Deanna Rabb, Tom Arceneaux - staff attorney. and Robert Tomasek from the Department of Transportation and Development.
ABSENT: MONTGOMERY and MOORE
The first order of business was the opening prayer by Commissioner Alley and the Pledge of Allegiance by Commissioner Larkin.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Alley, and unanimously passed, the Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes and approved the minutes of the regular Board Meeting held on May 12, 2021.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Ryan Estess with Raley & Associates, Inc., retained by Mr. Cody Thomas, a homeowner who resides in Benton, appeared before the Applications Committee and the Board requesting a permit request for an encroachment permit for the building of a proposed garage at his home located at 100 Colonel Burt Dr., Kingston Plantation Subdivision, Unit #3, Lot 88. PERMIT #2021 – 03
On motion by Alley, seconded by Bantle, and unanimously carried the Board denied the current permit request on account of the current placement of the proposed garage at his residence. The Board did ask Mr. Long to conduct a site visit to physically look at the property with all parties and discuss if another location could be agreed upon that was not as low and out of the BLD’s Control Area. No comments from the public.
Micha Duffy with Coyle Engineering Co., Inc., representing TPBC, LLC has submitted a permit request to construct a berm and a swale inside the BLD’s levee easement / Control Area of Mack’s Bayou adjacent to the Retreat at the Preserve, Unit 7 in the first 50-ft. closest to the rear of the lots. PERMIT #2021 – 26
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Stelly, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board delayed approval to review prior action nearby and act after obtaining additional information. No comments from the public.
Micha Duffy with Coyle Engineering Co., Inc. on behalf of the Bossier Parish Police Jury has submitted a request to release the drainage servitude from the BLD to be owned and maintained by the BPPJ. The BPPJ plans to improve the Bobby Bird Ditch Road to include culverts at Old Brownlee Road through the Smith property and construct an earthen ditch to be located on the common property line shared by Bee Bend-Rosedale, LLC and the property owners on the north side of Bobby Bird Road.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Alley, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the District abandon the Bird Ditch also known as the Bobby Byrd Ditch from control of the Bossier Levee District, conditioned on receipt of as resolution from the Bossier Parish Police Jury accepting responsibility for the ditch, and authorize the President to execute an abandonment of the control to be recorded in the Conveyance Records of Bossier parish. No comments from the public.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mark Long updated the Board regarding the Red Chute Levee Widening Project. Mr. Larkin gave a legal status update. Applications Committee and Board agreed with Mr. Larkin that all discussion of liquidated damages should occur at the end, rather than piecemeal with each draw. Reporting showed still only approximately 75% complete and likely another 60 days or more for completion, due to rainfall and current water levels. No comments from the public.
Mr. Long updated the Board on the current progress of the Red River Levee Raise 408 Permit process with the Vicksburg CORPS of Engineers. He received two quotes in reference to a survey of a portion of the levee. Lower quote received by Raley & Associates, estimated around $19,000.00 for a topo and a cross section every 100 feet and other ancillary services for about six miles of the levee.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Alley, and unanimously carried the Board passed a motion for Mr. Long to engage Raley & Associates to conduct the levee survey. No comments from the public.
NEW BUSINESS:
There were no proposed plats received from the MPC requiring approval from the Bossier Levee District, therefore, no action was 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.
- May 31, 2021 – Work approximately 74.7 % complete as of most recent application for payment. 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 Slope Repairs
- 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.
- Corps Routine annual inspection conducted on May 3, 2021 on the Red Chute Bayou Levee.
- Corps Periodic Levee Inspection conducted May 4-5, 2021 on the Red River Levee.
- Work underway north of I-220 removing encroaching trees and brush.
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.
- April 22, 2021 – conference call with Vicksburg Corps to discuss Risk Assessment; Katy Breaux advised that the Corps has obtained funding for the Hydraulic Analysis portion of a Risk Assessment
- June 8, 2021 – spoke with Katy Breaux, Project Manager with Vicksburg Corps and she advised that work on the Hydraulic Analysis portion of the Risk Assessment should be completed by the end of July 2021.
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.
- 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 for pipe north of Sligo Road on Buddy Lucky property as soon as site conditions dry.
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.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- Clearing brush and tree encroachments on Red River Levee.
- 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 Alley, seconded by Stelly, and unanimously approved, the Board authorized the Secretary for the District to make payments for the month of May in the amount of $112,721.05
as set forth in the materials provided for the Board.
The June 9 th , 2021 Bossier Levee District Board Meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:10 a.m.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary