The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 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 – LARKIN, ALLEY, BANTLE, MOORE, RICH, 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
The first order of business was the opening prayer by Commissioner Alley and the Pledge of Allegiance by Commissioner Larkin.
Mr. Daniel Baker read the Oath of Office and swore in Mr. Wade Rich to assume his new position as a Commissioner for the Bossier Levee District representing Ward 4 effective on December 15 th , 2023 for the term of pleasure issued by Mr. Mr. John Bel Edwards, Governor.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Bantle, and unanimously passed, the Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes and approved the minutes of the regular Board Meeting previously held on December 13, 2023 unanimously passed, the Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes and approved the minutes of the regular Board Meeting previously held on December 13, 2023.
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Mrs. Emily Mott, Executive Director of the Red River Valley Association appeared before the Board and introduced herself and discussed its importance to assist with future flood control, recreation, navigation, and the economic impact it continues to bring to Louisiana in the future as all entities work together.
OLD BUSINESS:
None.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board stated that after a site visit had been conducted and upon reviewing the plat submitted for Greenacres Ranchette Unit No. 3 and finding no major issues Mr. Mark Long will proceed with the issuance of a letter of no objection.
The Board discussed to potentially increase the Bossier Levee District’s sponsorship to the RRVA (Red River Valley Association) from $1,200.00 to $2,0000.00 annually, due to rising costs and initiatives for the future.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Moore, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board unanimously authorized the increase in annual dues from the BLD to the RRVA to $2,0000.00 annually.
The Board considered a request submitted by Mr. Reggie D. Lewis, P.E. on behalf of Raley and Associates regarding the Bossier Levee District to potentially abandon its maintenance easement of the Merritt Ditch located in the Tiburon Subdivision. Platting, maintenance, and requirements of the BLD regarding this ditch were discussed.
On motion by Stelly, seconded by Alley, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board unanimously approved a resolution reversing the action and authorized its counsel to produce the document to nullify action. No comments from the public.
The Board had a discussion regarding the removal and cost of some potential encroaching trees along the Red River Levee due to the CORPS 15 foot encroachment; expanded from a 6 foot encroachment requirement. It was discussed that typically if they are not producing trees, the current landowner would give permission without any payment of value. However, these are currently producing pecan trees being removed, therefore, the Bossier Levee District would need approval to compensate the landowner per tree.
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Stelly, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board unanimously authorized a payment of $22,500.00 ($2,500.00 per tree including the root system and back fill to the area) to Mr. Albert S. Burt, 245 Cat Island Road, Benton LA 71006 to help facilitate in removing as many encroachments as possible.
The Board considered the following items to be purchased:
3 EX MARK LAWNMOWERS: $23,279.99 each = TOTAL: $69,839.97
2 TRACTORS / 2 CUTTERS: 2 @ $143,486.48 = TOTAL: $286,972.96
2 @ $32,122.92 = TOTAL: $64,245.84 = $351,218.80
2 TRAILERS: 1 @ $8,183.23 and 1 @ $11,473.23 = TOTAL: $19,251.76
2 SKID STEER ATTACHMENTS: 1 @ $16,434.88 & 1 @ $2,816.88 = TOTAL: $19,251.76
HERBICIDE SPRAYER: $4,662.49
2024 FORD EXPEDITION 4WD: $52,891.00
On motion by Bantle, seconded by Alley, and on recommendation from the Applications Committee the Board unanimously agreed that the above prices were reasonable and therefore all purchases were approved.
The Board discussed the resolution authorizing the secretary to transfer $250,000.00 from Huddleston/Smith Investments to the BLD checking account for all upcoming monthly expenditures.
On motion by Alley, seconded by Bantle, the Board approved the transfer of $250,000.00.
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 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.
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
- 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 Alley, seconded by Bantle, and unanimously approved, the Board authorized the secretary on behalf of the Bossier Levee District to process all payments for the month of December in the amount of $479,611.61 as set forth in the materials provided for the Board. The January 10, 2024 Bossier Levee District Board Meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:55 a.m.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary