3404 Industrial Drive - Bossier City, LA 71112

The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, April 12, 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, MOORE and STELLY. Staff: Mark Long, Devan Jordan, Deanna Rabb, Robert Tomasek from the Department of Transportation and Development, and Daniel Baker, District Counsel.

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 Alley, seconded by Moore, and unanimously passed, the Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes and approved the minutes of the regular Board Meeting previously held on March 8, 2023.

REQUESTS BY VISITORS:

Ryan Estess with Raley & Associates, Inc. requested a permit for construction of the Providence Classical Academy Highschool Expansion to include the review of the new driveway over Benoit Bayou, and the waterline crossing and sewer force main crossing under Benoit Bayou.

On motion by Alley, seconded by Stelly, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board approved the permit for the Highschool expansion at Providence Classical Academy, subject to the approval of the Parish Engineer. (PERMIT #2023 - 14)

Christopher Myers with Coyle Engineering Co., Inc. on behalf of their client Willow Chute Ranch Subdivision, LLC submitted a request for the following items be revised from their previous letter of request: approval of an encroachment for 1 20’ wide roadway crossing Willow Chute Bayou, installation of outfall pipes from the storm water detention ponds in Area 1 and Area 2, three roadside ditches discharging into Willow Chute Bayou, and the clearing of small trees and underbrush all within the Bossier Levee District’s 100’ Control Area.

On motion by Bantle, seconded by Stelly, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board stated that a wooden bridge was not approved by all governing authorities and therefore it was suggested for Mr. Myers to reevaluate the bridge plans and to resubmit final plans contingent on approval by Mark Long and DOTD. (PERMIT # 2022 – 58)

OLD BUSINESS:

A discussion regarding request for the NFIP Red River Levee Risk Assessment with the USACE.

On motion by Stelly, seconded by Alley, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board stated that the BLD would work with the CORPS in which a scope of work would be requested as well as obtaining a private engineering firm to apply for the 408 permit along with a budget.

NEW BUSINESS:

The Board reviewed the following plat received from the MPC for approval and authorization of No Objection Letters from the Bossier Levee District:

1). Willow Chute Ranch, A subdivision located in Sections 27 & 28, Township 19 North, Range 13 West

On motion by Alley, seconded by Stelly, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board agreed the Willow Chute Ranch subdivision plat met all requirements and approved a letter of no objection to be issued. No comments from the public.

Discussion of draft resolution and the potential for the Bossier Levee District to join the Attorney General’s Office along with other levee districts and state entities in the lawsuit against FEMA regarding Risk Rating 2.0.

On motion by Stelly, seconded by Bantle, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board authorized President Larkin to sign resolution once finalized by the secretary to officially join with other districts in the lawsuit against FEMA Risk Rating 2.0. No comments from the public.

The Board reviewed the proposal submitted from Randy Noble with Polaris for $9,250.00.

On motion by Moore, seconded by Bantle, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board authorized the payment to Polaris for proposed plan and profiles of recent levee elevations from the Red Chute Levee in the amount of $9,250.00. No comments from the public.

On motion by Moore, seconded by Stelly, and on recommendation from the Finance and Insurance Committee the board adopted the proposed 2023 – 2024 budget on behalf of the Bossier Levee District. 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 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.- USACE Periodic Levee Inspection – embankment inspection conducted on June 6, 2022; mechanical inspection conducted on June 1, 2022; structures inspection performed on June 22, 2022.
- September 1, 2022 – relined two existing CMP outfall structures on Red Chute Levee at levee station 238+40 and 375+00 at a total cost of $131,816.20. October 3, 2022, re-videoed relined culverts for submittal to the Corps.
- November 7, 2022 – BLD crews made repairs to seepage berms on Red River Levee north of Lock and Dam 5 Road.
- DOTD levee inspection scheduled for April 11, 2023.

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.
- March 8, 2023 – Vicksburg Corps met with board and provide updates and recommendations for an NFIP 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, new AT&T pole set.
- April 10, 2023 – power lines and communication cables have been relocated; old AT&T pole is scheduled to be removed.

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.
- 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.
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 $251,544.87 as set forth in the materials provided for the Board. The April 12th , 2023 Bossier Levee District Board Meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:20 a.m.

 

__________________________  _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President                   Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary       

 

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Address & Phone

Bossier Levee District
3404 Industrial Drive
Bossier City, LA 71112

P.O. Box 8279
Bossier City, LA 71113

p: (318) 746-7151
f: (318) 746-7206

After Hours/Emergency
Contact: (318) 455-3696

Bossier Levee District - 3404 Industrial Drive - Bossier City, LA 71112

P.O. Box 8279 - Bossier City, LA 71113

(318) 746-7151

 

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