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Minutes - January
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Regular Business Hours : Monday thru Friday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm |
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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF CADDO LEVEE DISTRICT AT REGULAR MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 13, 2022
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At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District held at 10:00 a.m., January 13, 2022 at 1320 Grimmett Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana, the following were present: Patrick Harrison, James T. Sims, Carolyn C. Prator, Willie Walker, and Gary Procell. Jackie Baker and Kandi Moore were unable to attend.
Ronald F. Lattier, Law Offices of Ronald F. Lattier; Robert Tomasek, LA Department of Transportation and Development; German Velazquez, LA Department of Transportation and Development; Susan Douglas, LA Department of Transportation and Development; John Barr, Regional Director Senator John Kennedy’s Office, Heidi Stewart, GIS Analyst, Northwest Louisiana Council of Governments; Ali M. Mustapha, Executive Director; Penny Adams, Assistant Executive Director; and Lynda Jones, Administrative Assistant were also present.
The meeting was opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
President Harrison asked for any comments from the public regarding agenda items or other issues. There were no public comments.
President Harrison stated that the minutes from the December 16, 2021 meeting had been emailed for review and asked for a motion to approve. Mr. Sims made a motion, with a second by Mr. Walker, to approve the minutes from the December 2021 meeting. The motion unanimously passed.
President Harrison discussed the monthly financial reports. He reported that the operating expenses were consistent with monthly averages for this time of year, and the monthly revenues have improved since last year.
The Board reviewed payments and invoices for the month of December 2021 and subsequent bills for the month of November 2021. Mr. Procell made a motion, with a second by Mr. Sims, to ratify payment of the invoices for the month of December 2021 and subsequent bills for the month of November 2021. The motion unanimously passed.
The Board unanimously approved the payment of 2022 dues for the Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana in the amount of $2,000.00 with a motion by Mr. Sims and a second by Mr. Walker.
The Board unanimously approved the payment of 2022 dues for the Red River Valley Association in the amount of $2,000.00 with a motion by Mr. Sims and a second by Mr. Walker.
The Board discussed the renewal one (1) Certificates of Deposit currently held by Home Federal Bank that matured on January 12, 2022. It was recommended that $250,000.00 be reinvested into a CD for six months at a rate of 0.20% and the remaining funds be placed in the money market account. The Board unanimously approved the recommendation with a motion by Mrs. Prator and a second by Mr. Walker.
The Board unanimously approved the transfer of Campsite Permit from Darryl K. Rolland to Randal W. Klonowski for approximately one (1) acre known as Lot# 15 with approximately 140’ water frontage on Caddo Lake in Section 21, T20N, R15W, Caddo Parish, Louisiana with a motion by Mrs. Prator and a second by Mr. Sims.
The Board unanimously approved the transfer of Campsite Permit from Curtis Gene Ryan to Margaret Marrs for approximately one (1) acre known as Lot# 27 on the south side of Caddo Lake in extreme southwest corner of Section 21, T20N, R15W, Caddo Parish, Louisiana with a motion by Mr. Procell and a second by Mr. Sims.
The Board unanimously approved the transfer of Campsite Permit from Zane Abbitt to Jessica Sublett for approximately one (1) acre known as Lot# 133 on Black Bayou in Section 9, T22N, R15W, Caddo Parish, Louisiana with a motion by Mrs. Prator and a second by Mr. Walker.
The Board unanimously approved the transfer of Campsite Permit from William Shepherd to Zach L. Dial III for approximately one (1) acre known as Lot# 216 on Caddo Lake in Section 21, T20N, R15W, Caddo Parish, Louisiana with a motion by Mrs. Prator and a second by Mr. Walker.
The Board unanimously approved the renewal of the following campsite permits: Stacy Alexander, Rebecca Ash, Joe C. Bader JR., Ralph Burton, James Charon JR., Charles Daniels, Elizabeth Daniels, Peggy Deese, Melinda Fenner, M. Randall Fish, Todd Hopkins, Gerald Humphrey, Jerry Humphrey, Jeffery Johnson, Steven Jones, Evony D. LaBorde, Joey Malloy, L.E. Mars, Richard May, Noella McLaurin, George Monerief, Shelia Moore, Ronald Owens, Samuel Rowley, Roy Rudd, Susan Scott, Kenneth Thomas, James Towery, Lawrence Wells, Sheri Whatley, and Donald Wojan with a motion by Mr. Sims and a second by Mrs. Prator.
There was no Oil & Gas Report.
There was no President Report.
Mr. Mustapha reported that the Omicron variant impacted Caddo Levee District’s Field Office and required closure of the shop for a few days to ensure controlling the spread and the safety of all the employees. All the employees who were affected were fully vaccinated and have fully recovered, and will be returning to work on Tuesday, January 18th, after Dr. Martin Luther King’s Day Holiday. Also, he reported that the sign for the main office was damaged by high wind during November and if it is not repairable; replacement will be required.
Mr. Mustapha reported that the resignation of Danielle Thames last year has created a need for an experienced accountant to provide limited support services and to ensure compliance with state and federal accounting practices and audit requirements. Also, he reported that Caddo Levee District has retained Sheffield and Sheffield, LLC., Accounting and Tax Service to provide the needed services including quarterly tax reports.
Mr. Mustapha reported that E and L Development, Inc. has submitted a request to Caddo Levee District requesting a lease of approximately one (1) acre of Caddo Levee District’s property located at LA 173 and Twelve-Mile Bayou in Section 14, T19N, R15W for use to install a pumping system for transporting water from the bayou to a pond located west of the town of Blanchard. The Commissioners recommended that the Executive Committee review the request and consult with the Board’s Legal Counsel regarding this matter.
Mr. Mustapha reported that he has received from Mr. Richard Brontoli a draft copy of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Arkansas Department of Agriculture (ADA) and the Louisiana “Parties” participating in the funding of the feasibility study of extending navigation along the Red River between Shreveport and Texarkana. Upon completion of the draft review, all comments will be incorporated into the Final Agreement and the Louisiana “Parties” will be required to execute the Agreement and submit a Letter of Guarantee. Caddo Levee District ‘s funding share of the study is a maximum of $150,000.00. The seven (7) person Project Evaluation Committee will include three (3) members form the Louisiana “Parties”.
Mr. Mustapha provided a written report that detailed the status and progress of all ongoing projects and open permits. One (1) permit request was received in December and a total of (41) permit requests have been received in 2021.
There was no Legal Counsel Report.
There was no Forester Report.
Robert Tomasek reported that the LA Department of Transportation and Development staff is reviewing and evaluating the request for consideration of allowing the construction of a boat launch for use to access Black Bayou at LA 1 south of Rodessa. Mr. Tomasek plans to attend the Black Bayou Watershed District Quarterly Meeting on Thursday, January 20th, to discuss the proposed project.
There was no Personnel Committee Report.
There was no Legal Committee Report.
There was no Equipment Committee Report.
There was no Recreation Committee Report.
With no further business to be brought before the Board, Mr. Sims made a motion to adjourn, with a second by Mr. Walker. The motion unanimously passed, and the meeting was adjourned.
President Executive Director |