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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF CADDO LEVEE DISTRICT AT REGULAR MEETING HELD ON APRIL 14, 2022 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -
At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District held at 10:00 a.m., April 14, 2022, at 1320 Grimmett Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana, the following were present: Patrick Harrison, Kandi Moore, Jackie Baker, Willie Walker, and Gary Procell. Carolyn C. Prator and James T. Sims were unable to attend.
Robert Tomasek, LA Department of Transportation and Development; German Velazquez, LA Department of Transportation and Development; John Barr, Regional Director Senator John Kennedy’s Office; Wesley Davis, Legal Aide Senator John Kennedy’s Office; and Penny Adams, Assistant Executive Director were also present. Ali M. Mustapha, Executive Director was unable to attend.
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 March 10, 2022, meeting had been emailed for review and asked for a motion to approve. Mrs. Moore made a motion, with a second by Mr. Baker, to approve the minutes from the March 2022 meeting. The motion unanimously passed.
Mrs. Moore discussed the monthly financial reports. She reported that operating expenses and revenues for March remain consistent with monthly averages for this time of year.
The Board reviewed payments and invoices for the month of March 2022 and subsequent bills for the month of February 2022. Mr. Procell made a motion, with a second by Mr. Walker, to ratify payment of the invoices for the month of March 2022 and subsequent bills for the month of February 2022. The motion unanimously passed.
The Board opened the meeting to public hearing to discuss the operating budget of Caddo Levee District for the 2022-2023 fiscal year with a motion by Mrs. Moore and a second by Mr. Walker. The Board discussed the proposed budget and reviewed in detail the projected revenues and expenditures for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. There were no public comments. The public hearing was closed with a motion by Mrs. Moore and a second by Mr. Walker.
The Board unanimously passed the following resolution to approve the operating budget for the Caddo Levee District 2022-2023 fiscal year with a motion by Mr. Procell and a second by Mr. Baker:
BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District in legal session convened, that:
Section 1: The attached estimate of revenues for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2023, be and the same is hereby adopted to serve as an operating budget of revenues for the District, during same period.
Section 2: The attached estimates of expenditures for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2023 be and the same is hereby adopted to serve as a budget of expenditures for the District during the said period.
Section 3: The adoption of the operating budget of expenditures be and the same is hereby declared to operate as an appropriation of the amount therein set forth within the terms of the budget classification.
Section 4: Amounts are available for expenditures only to the extent included within the 2022-2023 fiscal year budget.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Executive Director is hereby authorized and in his sole discretion, to make transfers within the various budget classifications from one classification to another as he may deem necessary provided that any transfer of funds in excess of five percent (5%) of the classification must be approved in advance by action of the Board of Commissioners at a meeting duly noticed and convened.
The Board unanimously passed the following resolution to designate funds for the Caddo Levee District budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year with a motion by Mr. Baker and a second by Mr. Walker:
BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District, in legal session convened, that it does hereby designate $27,571,191 for capital outlay and $6,000,000 for flood fight contingencies for the 2022-2023 fiscal year budget.
The Board unanimously approved the payment of 2022 dues for the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association in the amount of $1,000.00 with a motion by Mr. Procell and a second by Mr. Walker.
The Board unanimously approved the attendance of the Commissioners at the Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana 35th Annual Workshop to be held on Thursday and Friday, May 5-6, 2022, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with a motion by Mrs. Moore and a second by Mr. Walker.
The Board unanimously passed the following resolution to approve the execution of an agreement with the ADA, RRWC, and LA Parties for a Red River Feasibility Study with a motion by Mrs. Moore and a second by Mr. Walker:
WHEREAS, there is a need for a study to determine the feasibility of extending navigation along the Red River above Shreveport and Bossier City into southwest Arkansas;
WHEREAS, a 2018 study concluded that completion of navigation on the Red River would generate a 1.8 benefit to cost ratio should two locks and dams be added extending navigation to Garland, Arkansas and a 1.2 benefit to cost ratio should three locks be added extending navigation to Index, Arkansas;
WHEREAS, the Parties believe that the extension of navigation on the Red River from its current terminus at Shreveport, Louisiana into southwest Arkansas will enhance economic development within the region and will provide transportation costs savings to local businesses and the nation;
WHEREAS, the Parties believe that in addition to transportation savings, the project, if completed could provide significant additional benefits to the region including additional water supply, power generation, flood control and recreation;
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to partner to complete a full feasibility study (the Study) authorized by Section 203 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) for submission to the Secretary of the Army for review;
WHEREAS, The ADA is the local sponsor with the United State Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Vicksburg District for the Study; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that the Study will cost approximately three million dollars ($3,000,000.00), with the State of Arkansas funding approximately one-half of the Study and the Louisiana Parties funding approximately one-half of the Study, as set forth in detail in the MOA; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District Desire to Execute the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture (ADA), a state agency of the State of Arkansas, the Red River Waterway Commission (RRWC), Bossier Parish Police Jury, Caddo Parish Commission, Caddo Levee District, Bossier Levee District, City of Shreveport, Bossier City and Caddo-Bossier Port Commission, each individually known as a “Party” and collectively known as the “Parties.” The RRWC, Bossier Parish Police Jury, Caddo Parish Commission, Bossier Levee District, City of Shreveport, Bossier City and Caddo-Bossier Port Commission, collectively to be known as the “Louisiana Parties”, as depicted on the MOU attached hereto; and
WHEREAS, Caddo Levee District agrees to enter into an escrow agreement with a financial institution chosen by the ADA to establish an interest-bearing escrow account into which the Parties will deposit and store $150,000.00 for the Study which was approved by the District’s Board of Commissions at regular Board Meetings; and
WHEREAS, Caddo Levee District shall provide a “Letter of Guarantee”, for the required funding commitment and disbursement, and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District, in legal session conveyed, that it does hereby agree to the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the “Louisiana Parties” and its President, Patrick Harrison, be and hereby is, fully authorized to execute for and on behalf of the Board of Commissioners the “MOA” with the Parties containing such terms and conditions as he, in his sole discretion, deems proper and necessary, to fully effectuate the intent of this Resolution.
The Board unanimously approved the following resolution, with a motion by Mr. Procell and a second by Mr. Baker for furnishing the revised right of way to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Emergency Bank Stabilization Project:
WHEREAS, the Emergency Bank Stabilization of West Agurs Levee Segment at NLD stations 196+90 and 427+10 (hereinafter “Project”) was approved for funding by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District (hereinafter “USACE”) under P.L. 84-99; and
WHEREAS, the USACE requested that Caddo Levee District Board of Commissioners furnish right-of-way for construction of the Project as shown on the plan maps (attached) and the Board’s President execute an Authorization for Entry (AFE) and the Board’s Attorney execute the Attorney’s Certificate of Authority.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District, in legal session convened, that it does hereby furnish the right-of-way required which is located within the statutory servitudes of Caddo Levee District and/or waters of the United States (hereinafter “U.S.”) for use for the Project at no cost to the U.S., including damages to the timber and crops, if any, and Caddo Levee District will save and hold harmless the U.S. for any and all damages that may result from the proposed Project and that its Board President, Patrick Harrison, be and hereby is, fully authorized to execute for and on behalf of the Board of Commissioners the Authorization For Entry containing such terms and conditions as he, in his sole discretion, deems proper and necessary, to fully effectuate the intent of this Resolution.
Mrs. Moore made a motion, with a second by Mr. Walker, to award the Annual Supply of Spray Herbicide Chemicals to Red River Specialties as per their original bid specifications from April 8, 2021 to December 31, 2021, with two one-year renewal options. The motion unanimously passed.
The Board unanimously approved the renewal of the following campsite permits: Roy Davis on Jeems Bayou, Benjamin Duos being west of Crouch Dam Road, and Lloyd Proctor on Jeems Bayou with a motion by Mrs. Moore and a second by Mr. Baker.
There was no Oil and Gas Report.
President Harrison reported that there had recently been a decrease in staff, but operations were well in hand and would continue as usual.
There was no Executive Director Report.
There was no Legal Counsel Report.
There was no Forester’s Report.
There was no Engineer’s Report.
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, Mrs. Moore made a motion to adjourn, with a second by Mr. Procell. The motion unanimously passed, and the meeting was adjourned.
President Executive Director |