OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF CADDO LEVEE DISTRICT AT REGULAR MEETING HELD ON DECEMBER 8, 2022
At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District held at 10:00 a.m., December 8, 2022, at 1320 Grimmett Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana, the following were present: Patrick Harrison, Kandi Moore, James T. Sims, Carolyn C. Prator, Jackie Baker, Willie Walker, and Gary Procell.
John Barr, Regional Director Senator John Kennedy’s Office; Ronald F. Lattier, Law Offices of Ronald F. Lattier; Robert Tomasek P.E., LA. Department of Transportation and Development; Ali M. Mustapha P.E., Executive Director; Penny Adams, Assistant Executive Director; Sam Brimer, Forester; and Mr. Jeff Taylor 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 November 10, 2022, meeting had been emailed for review and asked for a motion to approve. Mr. Sims made a motion, with a second by Mr. Baker, to approve the minutes from the November 2022 meeting. The motion unanimously passed.
Mrs. Moore discussed the monthly financial reports. She reported that the operating expenses were in line with monthly averages for this time of year and the revenues for the year have continued to improve in comparison to last year due higher crude oil and natural gas prices.
The Board reviewed payments and invoices for the month of November 2022 and subsequent bills for the month of October 2022. Mrs. Moore made a motion, with a second by Mr. Baker, to ratify payment of the invoices for the month of November 2022 and subsequent bills for the month of October 2022. The motion unanimously passed.
The Board discussed the current financials of the District and approved the consideration to invest a new Certificate of Deposit with HancockWhitney Bank for 12-month term at a rate of 3% with a motion by Mrs. Moore and a second by Mr. Sims. The motion unanimously passed.
The Board opened bids for a grazing permit advertised as Tract #1. The only bid submitted was as follows: Mr. Price Bundy $1,000/yr. ($12.50 per acre)
The following resolution was unanimously passed awarding the bid to Price Bundy with a motion by Mrs. Prator 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 hereby recognizes Price Bundy as high responsive bidder on a grazing permit described as follows:
Approximately 80 acres with 40 being in the SW/4 of SW/4 of Section 4, T21N, R16W and 40 being in the NW/4 of the NW/4 of Section 9, T21N, R16W in Caddo Parish, Louisiana,
and the Caddo Levee District’s President is authorized to issue a grazing permit on the above-described tract to Price Bundy with the provision that he pays his permit fees as required in the grazing permit.
No bids were received for a grazing permit advertised as Tract #2 described as follows: Approximately 80 acres with 40 being in the SW/4 of SW/4 of Section 36, T23N, R15W and 40 being in the NE/4 of the NW/4 of Section 1, 22N, R15W in Caddo Parish, Louisiana.
The Board opened bids for a grazing permit advertised as Tract #3. The only bid submitted was as follows: Mr. Jeff Taylor $4,500/yr. ($13.59 per acre)
The following resolution was unanimously passed awarding the bid to Price Bundy with a motion by Mrs. Prator 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 hereby recognizes Jeff Taylor as high responsive bidder on a grazing permit described as follows:
Approximately 331 acres being all CLD lands in Section 13, south and west of Twelve Mile Bayou, T19N, R15W; that portion of Section 14, south and east of Hwy 173 and south and west of Twelve Mile Bayou, T19N, R15W in Caddo Parish, Louisiana,
and the Caddo Levee District’s President is authorized to issue a grazing permit on the above-described tract to Jeff Taylor with the provision that he pays his permit fees as required in the grazing permit.
The Board unanimously approved the option to renew the contract for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2023, and ending December 31, 2023, with Delta Fuel Company, LLC for the purchase of fuel as per original bid specifications for January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 with two one-year renewal options, with a motion by Mr. Procell and a second by Mr. Walker.
There was no Oil & Gas Report.
President Harrison was pleased to report that all the Commissioners and the Board’s Attorney attended the Association of Levee Board of Louisiana Annual Meeting in New Orleans on November 29-December 1, 2022. Mr. Harrison reported that the event was successful, and the Honorable Governor John Bel Edwards spoke at the Conference. He explained that FEMA has revised the method used to determine the rates for flood insurance.
Mr. Mustapha reported that thirty-one (31) permit requests have been received, reviewed, and processed by Caddo Levee District in 2022. Also, he reported that the construction of Black Bayou Slide Repair Project that was awarded to David Lawler Construction, LLC at the October meeting has been completed and the final competition letter was issued after the inspection of the project was performed by the design engineer. The Construction Section of DOTD provided full daily construction management, inspection, and testing services on the project. Upon recordation of the final competition letter and receipt of the Lien – Free -Certificate, the final payment will be processed, and the project will be accepted and closed. The final project cost was $320,807.00 which was $2,099.00 less the contract amount. Also, Mr. Mustapha reported the rehabilitation by the use of slip lining, a trenchless technology method, and the repairs of two (2) corrugated metal pipes “a 36’’ diameter, 230 linear feet culvert and a 24” diameter, 75 Linear feet culvert located in Augurs area) on West Agurs Levee system were completed in early November. Also, he reported that a stripping contractor has been retained to power wash and re-stripe the parking area for the office building and is working with a contactor to replace the office’s monument yard sign that was damaged by a windstorm and has been deemed non-repairable. Mr. Mustapha also reported that he is working with Goldman Equipment and the State Purchasing Division to order two (2) new John Deere Tractors. The cost for each Tractor is above the maximum allowed in the State Contract for direct purchase of Farm Equipment and the purchase will require a special approval from the State. Also, he reported that he is working on plans for gravel surfacing a segment of West Agurs Levee from North Market Street South to the Railroad crossing at the end of Thomas Street, approximately six (6) miles during the summer of 2023.
Ronald Lattier, Board’s Legal Counsel reported that the district does not have any pending legal issues and thanked the Board for executing the Legal Services Contract Agreement.
Sam Brimer, Forester, reported that the crews started working on the annual cleaning of the paved ditches located within the City of Shreveport Corporate limits.
Robert Tomasek, P.E., DOTD, reported that his assistant, German Velazquez has accepted a position in the Design Section of the Department and will not be attending CLD Board meetings in the future. He responded to Board member’s question regarding the planned DOTD project to replace the Black Bayou Dam at LA 2 west of Hosston and indicated that he will provide a report on the status of the project at the January meeting.
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.
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Minutes - December
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