The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 10:20 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 – LARKIN, ALLEY, BANTLE, and STELLY. Staff: Mark Long, Devan Jordan, Deanna Rabb, Phillip Sturdivant and Josh Monroe with DOTD, Daniel Baker – District Counsel for the Bossier Levee District.
ABSENT: MONTOMERY and MOORE
The first order of business was the opening prayer by Commissioner Alley and the Pledge of Allegiance by Commissioner Larkin.
On motion by Stelly, 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 November 15, 2023.
AMENDMENT TO AGENDA:
On suggestion of the Chair to add an item to the agenda, Stelly moved and Bantle seconded a motion to add to the agenda a discussion regarding the consideration of dismissal of the Vogel law suit. 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
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:
Resolution to approve the Bossier Levee District to provide lunch on December 14 th and 15 th to the Risk Assessment Cadre from the CORPS while they are in town working and performing evaluations.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Stelly, the Board approved the BLD to provide lunch to the CORPS. No comments from the public.
The Board reviewed the PARC subdivision and updated it by stating to delineate as a commercial lot. There were no other plats submitted to the BLD by the MPC or other entities for approval and authorization of Letters of no objection. No comments from the public
Resolution authorizing the secretary to transfer $300,000.00 from Huddleston/Smith Investments to checking account for all upcoming monthly expenditures.
Mr. Daniel Baker updated the Board on the present outcome of the Vogel lawsuit and it was discussed to vote to consent to dismissal.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Alley, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board unanimously approved to dismiss the Vogel lawsuit including to lift the stay and each party being responsible for their own costs. It was stated that the legal counsel would create all documents needed and have them filed accordingly. No comments from the public.
Resolution approving the Bossier Levee District to provide lunch during their December 19 th , 2023 (end of the year) employee recognition and safety meeting.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Bantle, the Board approved the BLD to provide lunch to the BLD staff during the end of the 2023 year safety meeting. No comments from the public.
Resolution approving the contract with Blanchard, Walker, O’Quinn, and Roberts for the 2024 year to Represent the Bossier Levee District in litigation approved by the State Attorney General’s Office.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Alley, the Board approved renewing the present contract with Blanchard, Walker, O’Quinn, and Roberts to represent the BLD in 2024.
Resolution authorizing secretary to transfer $150,000.00 from Huddleston / Smith Investments to checking account for all upcoming monthly expenditures.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Bantle, the Board approved the transfer of $150,000.00.
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 the 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 near completion.
- May 4, 2023 - PDT meeting conducted through WEBX; major topic was discussion of unexploded ordinances within project limits. It is anticipated that the project delivery date will be in the fall of this year.
- May 11, 2023 – submitted right-of-way authorization documents to Corps.
- Bid opening scheduled for December 20, 2023.
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 and 2021 Levee Inspection Report.
- Work to remove encroaching items and the correction of deficiencies is ongoing.
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.
- April 29, 2023 – mailed letter of request for an Accelerated Levee Evaluation (Risk Assessment) for NFIP Purposes to the Vicksburg USACE.
- June 6, 2023 – received cost share agreement and scope of work for the levee risk assessment.
- July 12, 2023 – cost share funding in the amount of $433,000.00 to be mailed to USACE this date.
- September 8, 2023 – spoke with Brandon Cummins with the Vicksburg Corps about status on the risk assessment and he advised that the Corps has obtained their share of the funding, and the risk assessment team has begun gathering data for the risk assessment.
- September 13, 2023 – hired Kurt Nixon to provide a cost estimate to raise an approximate 6-mile segment of the Red River Levee for the purpose of applying for capital outlay funding from the State.
- October 13, 2023 - Kurt Nixon provided a cost for raising a 6-mile segment of the Red River Levee with an estimated cost of $10,376,768.00.
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 Surfacing
– Advertised for bids for 3.6 miles of aggregate levee surfacing on the Red River Levee near Elm Grove; bid opening 10:30 am Monday, September 25, 2023.
- September 25, 2023 – received a bid of $367,400.00f from Newt Brown Contractors LLC.
- Work began on October 16, 2023, and suspended on October 23 rd due to unexpected conflicts with utility crossings.
- November 14, 2023, work scheduled to begin for remedy of utility crossing conflicts.
- December 8, 2023, utility crossing embankment repairs substantially complete.
- December 11, 2023, placement of levee surfacing aggregate began.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- Removing and burning downed trees from the channel of Red Chute Bayou between Sligo Road and Cross Bayou.
- Inspecting various construction activities near levees and drainage channels.
- Tree trimming on various drainage channels and levees.
- Mowing various locations.
- Drift removal at bridges on Red Chute Bayou.
- Inspecting levees, channels, and drainage structures.
- Cleaning and winterizing equipment.
- 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 Alley, seconded by Bantle, and unanimously approved, the Board authorized the secretary on behalf of the for the Bossier Levee District to make all payments for the month of December in the amount of $203,315.80 as set forth in the materials provided for the Board. The December 13, 2023 Bossier Levee District Board Meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:50 a.m.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary