The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 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 from the Department of Transportation and Development, and William Bradford, 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 Moore, 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 February 8, 2023.
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 Willow Heights, Unit #3 Utility Servitude. 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
Montgomery - 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:
None.
OLD BUSINESS:
None.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board reviewed the following plats received from the MPC for approval and authorization of No Objection Letters from the Bossier Levee District:
1). Covenant Church Subdivision (A subdivision located in Section 29, Township 19 N, Range 13 W, Bossier Parish Louisiana, Northwest Louisiana Land District containing 2.834 acres received from Kurt Nixon, Engineer with Nixon Engineering Solutions.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Stelly, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board agreed the Covenant Church Subdivision plat met all requirements and approved a letter of no objection to be issued. No comments from the public.
2). Willow Heights Subdivision, Unit No. 3 (A planned unit development being located in Section 20, Township 19 North, Range 13 West of the Louisiana Prime Meridian, Northwestern Land District, Bossier Parish, Louisiana, containing 40.166 acres, more or less.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Montgomery, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board agreed the plat met all requirements including the encroachment for a utility servitude therefore a letter of no objection was approved to be issued to the Willow Heights Subdivision. No comments from public.
Discussion to seek approval for Mark Long to purchase 2 new pieces of equipment on behalf of the Bossier Levee District: 1). John Deere Skid Steer at the price of $112,781.51 and 2). Ex Mark Laser Z 72” Zero Turn mower at the estimated cost of: $22,988.99.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Stelly, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board authorized the Bossier Levee District to make both estimated purchases from Goldman John Deere for $112,781,51 and Tubbs for $22,988.99. No comments from the public.
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.
- October 12, 2022 – Topo survey for bank stabilization design is near completion.
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, 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 additional 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; Will McRae with the Vicksburg Corps Levee Safety Center presented Corps 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.
- December 13, 2022 – conference call with Will McCrae, Brandon Cummins, Lanny Barfield and other members of the Vicksburg Corps concerning the Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment. Will McCrae advised that new guidance for evaluating a risk assessment would be coming out in February of 2023; he advised waiting for the new guidance before starting the risk
assessment.
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.
- October 24, 2022 – Bossier Parish Police Jury crew started work.
- November 22- 23 BLD trucks assisted BPPJ hauling soil for pipe backfill.
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.
- November 7, 2022 – required utility relocation started; undetermined time required to complete utility relocation.
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
- Monitoring water gauges and operating the Red Chute Diversion Structure.
- Re-installed flap gate on outfall culvert replaced by Parish at Mulberry Bayou under Poole Road.
- Cleaning drift from bridges.
- Inspecting various construction activities near levees and drainage channels.
- Inspecting levees, channels, and drainage structures; cleaning outfall pipes and flap gates.
- Trimming trees and brush from levees and drainage channels.
- Basal Herbicide application on fence rows along Red River Levee.
- 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.
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 March in the amount of $87,081.23 as set forth in the materials provided for the Board. The March 8, 2023 Bossier Levee District Board Meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:30 a.m.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary