The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 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, MONTGOMERY, MOORE, and STELLY. Staff: Mark Long, Devan Jordan, Deanna Rabb, Robert Tomasek & German Velazquez from the Department of Transportation and Development, and Tom Arceneaux, District Counsel.
ABSENT: None
The first order of business was the 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 of the regular Board Meeting previously held on July 20, 2022.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Christopher E. Myers, P.E. with Coyle Engineering Co, Inc. on behalf of their client, Willow Chute Ranch Subdivision, LLC appeared requesting a permit to grant approvals for an encroachment for a 26’ wide roadway crossing Willow Chute Bayou, installation of a 24” diameter outfall pipe from the storm water detention pond, three roadside ditches to discharge into the bayou, and the clearing of some trees and underbrush all within the Levee District’s 100’ Control Area of Willow Chute Bayou.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Alley, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board approved issuing an Encroachment Permit to Willow Ranch Subdivision subject to the verification of additional protection against erosion, the existing bottom channel elevation on both sides of the channel crossing, culvert crossings in Area 1 drainage outfall (to be relabeled from Area 2 on submitted drawings) and Area 3 drainage outfall and contingent upon the approval of revised plans obtained by DOTD and the BLD Operations Coordinator, Mr. Mark Long. No comments from the public. (PERMIT #2022 – 58)
Ben Rauschenbach, P.E., Bossier City Engineer with Manchac Consulting Group was present to discuss the request received for a proposed 20’ access servitude to improve the Carriage Oaks No. 2 Lift Station by constructing a 10’ concrete access apron from Hickory Ridge Drive to the existing lift station located at Lot 27 of Carriage Oaks East.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Stelly, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board authorized Manchac / COB the access servitude to improve the Carriage Oaks No. 2 Lift Station as requested. No comments from the public. (PERMIT #2022 – 61)
OLD BUSINESS:
Mr. Mark Long continued a discussion regarding the Red Chute Bayou Levee Surfacing Project including some additional options for 38 passing lanes of 200 feet length in each curve; 2,784 tons of stone estimated for lanes (8”) with an approximate cost of $203,232, putting stone on the entire length instead would be greater than $600,000.00, or soil cement with stone at an estimated cost of 1.8 million.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Bantle, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board authorized moving forward with the passing lane option for the Red Chute Bayou Levee Surfacing Project and to seek bids for the work to be done by an outside contractor not exceeding $250,000.00. No comments from the public.
Mr. Mark Long continued a discussion for potential work to be done for a Red River Scour Repair Project. The Board discussed that prior action was done at the expense of an entity other than the district and that the Red River Waterway Commission believed it was the USACOEW responsibility.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Montgomery, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board agreed not to create the Red River Scour Repair Project at the present time, however, work to continue determining what entity might fund and or perform the work and authorization was also granted for Mr. Tim Larkin to discuss or attend a RRWC meeting to hopefully obtain more information. No comments from the public.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board reviewed Lot No. 1 and Lot No. 2 amended Plat of Tract No. 6B of Lucky Partition, Unit No. A, located near Bull Fight Bayou submitted by the MPC and approved the issuance of a letter of no objection. No comments from the public.
The Board reviewed some changes to the design of the Crowing Lane Concrete Culvert Headwall design to maintain the ditch. They reviewed an estimate recently received from F.J Burnell, Inc. in the amount of $39,958.00.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Stelly, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board authorized a budget of $50,000.00 for work to commence with F.J. Burnell and Kurt Nixon of Nixon Engineering to consult. No comments from the public.
On motion by Moore, seconded by Bantle, and unanimously passed the Board adopted the current millage rate @ 4.17 mills for the 2022 year and the passage of the resolution – NO ROLL FORWARD. No comments from the public.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Alley, the Board passed a resolution for the Engagement Letter, Investment Confirmation Letter, Legal Letter, Bank Confirmation, and the Louisiana Compliance Questionaire be signed by Tim Larkin and subsequent letters be mailed to Huddleston Smith (Attn: Brad Smith), Blanchard, Walker, O’Quinn and Roberts (Attn: Mr Tom Arceneaux) and returned to Broussard and Company (Attn: Mr. Mike DeFalco) and completed to be adopted for the 2021 – 2022 fiscal year audit. No comments from the public.
LEVEE AND DRAINAGE REPORT:
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 USACE Vicksburg District, advised that the District recently requested approval from the MVD for funding approval to repair of the sites.
- May 10, 2022 – Received an email from Craig Prestwood, Senior Project Manager, with the USACE Vicksburg District advising that our request for bank stabilization repairs has been approved by the MVD and that they are getting ready to send in a funding request to MVD for design and data collection.
Red Chute Levee
- USACE Periodic Levee Inspection scheduled for week of June 6, 2022.
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.
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.
- November 15, 2021 thru November 18, 2021 video inspection made on all levee drainage structures.
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 August 17, 2021 Raley and Associates completed work on cross sectioning and topo survey of a 6.0-mile segment of the levee from lock and Dam 5 road north.
- January 4, 2022 – received a status update on the CORPS H&H Analysis for the Red River Levee; the H&H Analysis is complete however they are waiting on new risk assessment classification guidance before issuing a report.
- March 28, 2022 – a meeting with the Vicksburg Corps and local officials was held; the Corps presented their recommendations for a path forward on levee accreditation and discussed an in-depth levee risk assessment to be cost shared with the Corps and local entities; estimated cost range between $250,000.00 and $750,000.00.
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 Outfall Pipes - South of Sligo Road
- February 2, 2022 – Cooperative Endeavor Agreement made with the Bossier Parish Police Jury to cost share on the installation of two outfall pipes south of Sligo Road on Flat River.
Red Chute Bayou Levee Culvert Rehab
- November 18, 2021, video inspection of the outfall CMP culvert at station 238+30 revealed a separation in the corrugated metal pipe; repair needed as soon as possible.
- December 15, 2021 – the board approved advertising for bids for HDPE culvert liners to line two CMP culverts on Red Chute Levee located on BAFB.
- January 12, 2022 - HDPE Culvert Liner Bid from Isco Industries, Inc. in the amount of $62,816.20 was approved by board.
- February 2, 2022 – received delivery of HDPE Culvert Liners.
Tinsley Ditch Culverts
- December 15, 2022 – the board authorized Kurt Nixon with Nixon Engineer to proceed with survey and design for the replacement of existing culverts under Crowing Lane and installation of a new culvert between Crowing Lane and Lateral B-4 ditch.
- February 1, 2022 – revised construction plans received from Nixon Engineering.
- March 3, 2022 – Bids were opened for the Crowing Lane Drainage Improvements with a low bid of $232,757.50 from FJ Burnell.
- March 30. 2022 – work began.
- May 9, 2022 – work approximately 84% complete.
Red River Levee Ponding Area
- January 5, 2022 – requested surveyor to survey area near Red River Levee Station 147+00 to determine how best to drain an area of ponding water adjacent to the levee.
- April 1, 2022 received survey information from Travis Sturdivant with Raley and Associates of ponding area and proposed drainage ditch.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- Made various repairs in preparation for the USACE Periodic Levee Inspection.
- Removed fallen trees from levees and channels in various locations.
- Inspecting levees, channels, and drainage structures; cleaning outfall pipes and flap gates.
- Trimming trees and brush on levees and drainage channels.
- Mowing levees and drainage channels.
- Servicing and repairing equipment.
Surplus Equipment
- The following equipment is 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 Moore, seconded by Montgomery, and unanimously approved, the Board authorized the secretary for the District to make payments for the month of April in the amount of $102,448.76 as set forth in the materials provided for the Board. The July 20, 2022 Bossier Levee District Board Meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:25 a.m.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary