The Board of Commissioners of the Bossier Levee District met in regular session on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 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, MONTGOMERY, & MOORE. Staff: Mark Long, Devan Jordan, Deanna Rabb, Josh Monroe with DOTD, and Co-counsel Anna Claire Tucker. ABSENT: BANTLE & STELLY
The first order of business was the opening prayer by Commissioner Montgomery and the Pledge of Allegiance by Commissioner Alley.
On motion by Montgomery, seconded by Alley, and unanimously passed, the Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes and approved the minutes at the regular Board Meeting previously held on June 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. (No meeting in July)
REQUESTS BY VISITORS:
Mr. Phillip Thomas, homeowner, submitted a written request to install a culvert between the residential driveways at the roadside ditch, Williams Bayou, located at 1076 Buckhall Road. This request was made by the homeowner because he proposes that this area has poor drainage and may potentially create a safety hazard.
On motion by Alley, and seconded by Moore, the Board voted unanimously to approve the culvert installation requested by Mr. Phillip Thomas contingent upon gaining insight from him if he has obtained a permit from Bossier Parish or securing a letter of no adverse impact from the parish to proceed. No comments from the public. (PERMIT #2025-47)
Mr. Kurt Nixon with Nixon Engineering Solutions was present and discussed the potential Red Chute Bayou Levee Raise and the costs that could be associated with this future project. He discussed the possibility of working with Dewberry, statewide flood control, drafting a risk assessment and securing a 408 permit to move forward. No comments from the public.
On motion by Alley, and seconded by Montgomery, the Board voted unanimously to authorize moving from updating study and creating a presentation including an analysis budget. No comments from the public.
OLD BUSINESS:
None.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board received three plat(s) from the MPC to be reviewed for approval and or the issuance of a No Objection Letter(s).
1). Brownlee Cove Subdivision, Sections 4 & 5, Township 18 North, Range 13 West
2). Deen Point Road Minor Plat, Section 16, Township 19 North, Range 13 West
3). Golden Meadows Subdivision Unit #28, Section 19, Township 17 North, Range 12 West (Preliminary Plat)
The Applications Committee found no objections, therefore, no action was taken as the above plats can all be administratively approved by the BLD Operations Manager, Mr. Mark Long.
The Board approved a resolution authorizing the Secretary to transfer $300,000.00 from Huddleston/Smith Investments to the Bossier Levee District operating checking account at Bonvenu Bank for upcoming projects and all future expenditures.
LEVEE AND DRAINAGE REPORT:
Red River Levee Certification/Accreditation
- 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 was mailed to USACE this date.
- 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.
- December 12, 2023, through December 15, 2023 – Risk assessment team made field observations of the levee; also performed tabletop discussion on potential failure modes.
- July 9, 2025 – received draft risk assessment report for BLD review.
- July 18, 2025 – submitted comments from review of draft risk assessment report.
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.
Flat River Culvert Replacement
- October 9, 2024 – Requesting approval to hire contractor to replace 42-inch diameter by 80-foot CMP outfall culvert on Ninock Ditch to Flat River Cut-off Ditch.
Flat River Channel Clearing
- Channel Clearing is ongoing with BLD crew and equipment between Smith Road and Sligo Road.
- May 5, 2025 – 4,016 LF of barbwire fence relocated by contractor to allow access for channel clearing; cost $21,272.00.
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 Damage
- May 8, 2025 - damage to the levee crown near levee station 1043+00 has occurred due to placement of heavy equipment on the unprotected levee crown by sign installation crews constructing new Live Casino sign. Repairs will be made when work crew is available.
Levee and Drainage Crews
- Inspecting various construction activities near levees and drainage channels.
- Clearing Flat River between Smith Road and Sligo Road.
- Cleaned downed trees from storm damage at various locations.
- Cleaning outfall drainage culverts.
- Inspecting levees, channels, and drainage structures.
- Mowing on levees and drainage channels.
- Herbicide application along levee fences and drainage channels.
- Servicing and repairing equipment.
Required Equipment Repair
- John Deere 200 Track Excavator – hydraulic motor needs replacement; estimated cost of repair $20,000.00. Rental machine required during downtime.
Equipment Purchases
- July 11, 2024 – Ordered two 16-yard dump trucks. Expected delivery is February 2025.
- February 14, 2025, received Mack Dump Truck.
- July 7, 2025, received International Dump Truck.
Surplus Equipment
- The following equipment is to be sold as surplus.
1) 2003 Case MX 110 with 5313 hours; Equipment # 205.
2) 2009 John Deere 7230 with 4975 hours; Equipment # 207.
3) 2009 John Deere 7230 with 4705 hours: Equipment # 208.
4) 2007 Ford F-450 with 103,566 miles; Equipment # 108.
5) 2000 John Deere Track Excavator with 4790 hours; Equipment # 203.
On motion by Moore, seconded by Alley, and unanimously approved, the Board authorized the secretary on behalf of the Bossier Levee District to process all payments for the months of July and August in the amount of $622,048.10 as set forth in the materials provided for the Board. The August Board Meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:15 a.m.
__________________________ _____________________________
Tim Larkin, President Deanna S. Rabb, Secretary