The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, October 12, 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, MOORE, STELLY. Staff: Mark Long, Devan Jordan, Deanna Rabb, Robert Tomasek & German Velazquez from the Department of Transportation and Development, Tom Arceneaux, District Counsel, and William Bradford with Blachard, Walker, O’Quin & Roberts law firm.
ABSENT: MONTGOMERY
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 September 14, 2022.
AMENDMENT TO AGENDA:
On suggestion of the Chair to add an item to the agenda, Moore moved and Alley seconded a motion to add to the agenda a discussion regarding the proposal for the preliminary Rosewalk Subdivision Plat. The President asked if any member of the public wished to speak on whether to add the item to the agenda and there was no request to speak. The following Commissioners voted:
Alley - Yes
Bantle - Yes
Larkin - Yes
Moore - Yes
Stelly - Yes
By roll call vote with members present “yes” the motion carried unanimously and the item was added to the agenda.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Mr. Mike DeFalco, with Broussard & Company was present to discuss the review of the Bossier Levee District’s Annual Financial Report in detail and summarized the outcome of the recent annual Audit for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2022.
Mr. Ryan Estess with Raley & Associates, Inc. appeared to discuss a permit request to obtain approval for culvert installations and a road encroachment on Bull Fight Bayou located in Elm Grove.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Alley, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board approved the encroachment permit to install culverts and a road near Bull Fight Bayou. No comments from the public.
OLD BUSINESS:
The Board discussed forming a Corporate Endeavor Agreement with the Bossier Levee District along with the City of Bossier City at a projected cost share % of 50/50 regarding the channel improvement project on Lateral B-1 Ditch.
After reviewing the draft document of the Corporate Endeavor Agreement by the Applications Committee and its legal counsel the Board made a motion by Bantle, seconded by Stelly, to authorize the document to be executed and sent to the City Of Bossier stating the cost sharing of 50/50% to make necessary channel improvements on Lateral B-1 Ditch with a cost expectation of 1.8 to 2 million. No comments from the public.
The Board discussed the final processing and approval of the signing of a check for $150,000.00 made payable to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Division Feasibility Study to enable the Bossier Levee District to participate along with other contributing entities in the S W Arkansas Red River Navigation Feasibility Study. No comments from the public.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board reviewed the following plats from the MPC for approval:
1. DALCO BROWNLEE – subdivision located in section 33, Township 19 North, Range 13 West And Section 4. On motion by Alley, seconded by Stelly, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board agreed the plat met all requirements and approved a letter of no objection to be issued. No comments from the public.
2. MINOR PLAT FOR THOMAS VRAIG MOORE & LAUREN BROOKE TABOR MOORE – located in Section 27, Township 19 North. Range 13 West. On motion by Alley, seconded by Bantle, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board agreed the plat met all requirements and approved a letter of no objection to be issued. No comments
from the public.
3. ROSEWALK SUBDIVION PLAT (Preliminary) On motion by Alley, seconded by Stelly, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board stated that Unit # 1 would not impact the Bossier Levee District’s Control Area so therefore, a letter of no objection would be issued. Noted: Future master layout plan with detention regarding Willow Chute No comments from the public.
A discussion regarding an unpermitted fence encroachment located at 992 Maize Street on Willow Chute Bayou that was constructed by the homeowner, Mr. Justin R. Seaton was delayed to a future meeting due to the need for more information to be presented.
LEVEE AND DRAINAGE REPORT:
Red Chute Bayou Channel Slope Repairs
- 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.
- July 21, 2022- BLD provided a right-of-entry to Patrick White with the Vicksburg District for surveying and site assessment needed for plan design for bank stabilization repairs.
- September 12, 2022 – Soil survey for bank stabilization design started.
Red Chute Levee
- September 12, 2022 – issued a contract to F J Burnell in the amount of $210,192.00 for the delivery and placement of 2,784 Tons of crushed stone to levee access road passing lanes. Work scheduled to start on September 27, 2022.
Red Chute Levee Raise Project
- Mitigation analysis for levee raise was 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, 2021thru 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.
- July 6, 2022 – re-submitted letter of request to the Vicksburg Army Corps of Engineers for a Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment on the Red River Levee.
Flat River Outfall Pipes - South of Sligo Road
- February 2, 2022 – signed Cooperative Endeavor Agreement 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.
- July 20, 2022 – Board approved a quote for work to install and grout HDPE Liners from JPD Construction in the amount of $69,000.00.
- August 2, 2022 – the contractor began work installing the HDPE Liners; work substantially complete on September 1, 2022.
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.
- July 18, 2022 – work is substantially complete except for fence installation.
- September 13, 2022 – issued contract with F J Burnell for a concrete headwall and concrete apron at a cost of $42,966.00.
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
- Inspecting HDPE culvert liner installation.
- Cleaning and preparing culvert liner installation for video inspection.
- Inspecting various construction activities near levee and drainage systems.
- Applying herbicide on levees and drainage channels.
- 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 Bantle, seconded by Alley, and unanimously approved, the Board authorized the secretary for the Bossier Levee District to make payments for the month of April in the amount of $114,167.50 as set forth in the materials provided for the Board. The October 12, 2022 Bossier Levee District Board Meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:30 a.m.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary