The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, September 8, 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, AND MOORE
Staff: Mark Long, Deanna Rabb, Tom Arceneaux - staff attorney, Robert Tomasek and German Velazquez from the Department of Transportation and Development.
ABSENT: BANTLE and STELLY
The first order of business was the opening prayer by Commissioner Alley 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 of the regular Board Meeting previously held on August 11, 2021.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Colonel Robert A. Hilliard, Vicksburg District Commander along with Tyler Coleman and Neal Lewis with the US ARMY CORPS presented a Certificate of Merit for the Operation and Maintenance of Flood Control Projects to the Bossier Levee District/Board with a plaque stating “In recognition of the superior management of resources in the operation and maintenance of your levee projects for the year of 2020. Your organization fully exemplifies the CORPS values of Safety, Integrity, and Respect by continuing to actively support the flood damage reduction mission and sustain the public’s trust.” They also presented a plaque for 2019, as they could not attend the Board Meeting in person due to the Covid 19 - Corona Virus. Deanna Rabb took a picture of everyone with both plaques and they thanked them for the acknowledgement and wished them safe travels back to MS. No comments from public.
Mike DeFalco, auditor with Broussard & Company, Inc. was present at the Board Meeting and discussed the Annual Financial Report and recent Audit for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2021. The Board thanked him for his report. No comments from the public.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mr. Mark Long gave an update on the continued progress of the Red Chute Levee Widening Project with Testament Construction and reviewed Change Order #8 in the amount of $27,562.18 for fencing. Mr. Tim Larkin stated that he will sign Change Order, once approved by the Engineer, Randy Denmon and Testament. Testament Construction is still working on the current punch list and the Bossier Levee District will review for final acceptance once all of the punch list items are satisfied. No comments from the public.
The Board discussed the revised letter/quote for $183,100.00 and backup received from F.J. Burnell, Inc. to raise two pump stations along the Red Chute Bayou Levee near Louisiana Downs. The Applications Committee along with the Board recommended to postpone consideration until the next meeting in order to acquire an engineer to assist in the evaluation. No comments from the public.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board reviewed the amended plat for WK Stockwell Health Park received from the MPC for approval. The Applications Committee and the Board both stated that Mark Long was already authorized to issue a letter of no objection once changes recommended by him are made and re-submitted. No comments from the public.
The Committee and the Board acknowledged receipt of a letter from Gary Wyche, President of Cypress Black Bayou Recreation and Water Conservation as a response to previous statements and correspondence received from Ms. Dee Hanson and others made to the BLD claiming mismanagement of the Cypress Black Bayou Recreational Board. The Bossier Levee District Applications Committee and the Board also noted the appointment expiration of July 31, 2022 and stated they would need to proceed with a nomination in May of 2022.
Resolution for Tim Larkin to sign the representation letter from Broussard & Company provided in regards with the audit of the financial statements of the BLD.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Montgomery, and unanimously carried the Board authorized President Tim Larkin to sign the representation letter from Broussard & Company to enable the completion of the audit. No comments from the public.
The Board discussed the adoption of the current millage rate @ 4.17 mills for the 2021 year and the passage of the resolution – NO ROLL FORWARD. (Tax roll: $709,320,693, estimated to produce approximately $2,957,881 in tax revenue.)
On motion by Moore, seconded by Montgomery and unanimously carried the Board passed a resolution to adopt the current 4.17 tax millage rate for 2021, with no roll forward.
Yeas: 4
Nays: 0
Absent: 2
Abstaining: 0
No comments from the public.
On motion by Moore and seconded by Webb and unanimously carried the Board passed the resolution authorizing all Commissioners, BLD’s Legal Counsel - Mr. Tom Arceneaux, and its Staff to attend the Association of Levee Board’s Convention in New Orleans, LA to be held on December 5 -7, 2017 and be reimbursed for all actual expenses. No comments from the public.
Resolution authorizing the secretary, Deanna Rabb to transfer $500,000.00 from Huddleston Smith Investments to the checking account for projects and expenditures.
On motion by Montgomery, seconded by Alley and unanimously passed the Board authorized the secretary to transfer $500,000.00 from Huddleston/Smith Investments to ensure payments for projects, payroll, and all other expenditures. 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.
- August 5, 2021 – received Tentative Certificate of Substantial Completion from project engineer with an effective date of August 2, 2021.
- September 7, 2021 – work on punch list items ongoing; some of the major items to be completed or repaired are levee surfacing, seeding, damaged 48” culvert north of Dogwood Trail.
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.
- July 8, 2021 – Lanny Barfield with the Vicksburg USACE District, advised that the District recently requested approval from the MVD to fund repair of the sites.
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 south of LA 511 Bridge 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.
- On or around June 16, 2021, Raley and Associates began work on cross sections and topo on a 6.0-mile segment of the levee from lock and Dam 5 road north; anticipated completion date August 15, 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.
- August 9, 2021 – F.J. Burnell, Inc. began work on culvert replacement at levee station 24+0024+00; as of September 7, 2021 work is 85% complete.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- Repairing levee embankments.
- Mowing levees and drainage channels.
- 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 Moore, and unanimously approved, the Board authorized the Secretary for the District to make payments for the month of May in the amount of $177,689.73 as set forth in the materials provided for the Board.
The September 8th, 2021 Bossier Levee District Board Meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:45 a.m.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary