Caddo Levee District

 

 

 

 

OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF

CADDO LEVEE DISTRICT

AT REGULAR MEETING HELD ON August 8, 2024

 

 

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At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District held at 10:00 a.m., August 8, 2024, at 1320 Grimmett Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana, the following members were present: Patrick Harrison, Kandi Moore, James T. Sims, Jackie Baker, and Willie Walker. Carolyn C. Prator was unable to attend.

 

Ronald F. Lattier, Law Offices of Ronald F. Lattier; Marshall Jones, J. Marshall Jones Jr., (APLC) a Professional Law Corporation; Joshua Monroe, E.I., LA Department of Transportation; John Barr, Regional Director, Senator John Kennedy’s Office; Laura Seabaugh, Office of Attorney General Liz Murrill; Gary Procell, Melissa Procell, Patrick Furlong, P.E., Executive Director; and Penny Adams, HR Analyst; and Sam Brimer, Levee Board Operations Superintendent were also present.

 

The meeting was opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

The Caddo Levee Board of Commissioners passed a Resolution of Recognition and Appreciation with a motion made by Mr. Sims and a second by Mr. Walker to present Gary Procell with a Special Recognition Plaque for appreciation of his many years of service and leadership as a Commissioner to the District.

 

President Harrison stated that the minutes from the July 11, 2024, 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 July 11, 2024 meeting. The motion unanimously passed.

 

Kandi Moore stated the monthly financial reports with income less than normal due to a drop in royalties, expenses were typical for this time of year with levee maintenance, and the total month of July concluded with a positive overall balance.

 

The Board reviewed payments and invoices for the month of July 2024 and subsequent bills for the month of June 2024. Mrs. Moore made a motion, with a second by Mr. Walker, to ratify payment of the invoices for the month of July 2024 and subsequent bills for the month of June 2024. The motion unanimously passed.

            

             The Board unanimously approved the following Resolution to approve the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire for Audit Engagements of Governmental Entities for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, with a motion by Mrs. Moore and a second by Mr. Sims.

 

             WHEREAS, in accordance with La. R.S. §24:513, the State Legislative Auditor has issued the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire for Audit Engagements of Governmental Entities, attached as Exhibit A and hereinafter referred to as “the Questionnaire”; and

 

             WHEREAS, the staff of the Caddo Levee District has completed the Questionnaire to the best of their belief and knowledge; and

            

             WHEREAS, the State Legislative Auditor requires that the Questionnaire be presented to and adopted by the governing body of the Caddo Levee District by means of a formal resolution in an open meeting.

 

             NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District, in legal session convened, that it does hereby adopt the completed Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire for Audit Engagements of Governmental Entities, attached as Exhibit A; and the staff of the Caddo Levee District is hereby authorized and directed to submit the Questionnaire appropriately as required by the State Legislative Auditor.

 

             The Tax Millage Resolution from May 9th, 2024 date amendment was made to comply with the new instructions from the Legislative Auditor’s office to the Caddo Assessor. The Board unanimously passed the following resolution to set the millage rate for 2024 at zero:   

             BE IT RESOLVED, that the following millage(s) are hereby levied on the 2024 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by Caddo Levee District:

 

MILLAGE                    Caddo Levee District                             0.00 mills

                                      

             BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proper administrative officials of the Parish of Caddo, State of Louisiana, be and they are hereby empowered, authorized, and directed to spread said taxes, as hereinabove set forth, upon the assessment roll of said Parish for the year 2024, and to make the collection of the taxes imposed for and on behalf of the taxing authority, according to law, and that the taxes herein levied shall become a permanent lien and privilege on all property subject to taxation as herein set forth, and collection thereof shall be enforceable in the manner provided by law.

             The foregoing resolution was read in full; the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by the following votes:

 

             YEAS: 5

             NAYS: 0

             ABSTAINED: 0

             ABSENT: 1

 

The Board unanimously approved amending the meeting agenda by moving Item 10 after Item 14 with a motion by Mr. Sims and a second by Mrs. Moore.

 

             President Harrison stated his own special appreciation to Gary Procell for his commitment and sacrifice to the District, but with his leaving, the Board would start the procedures in requesting a replacement. The landscape to the building is now complete. The sign claim has been processed and replacement will be finished soon.

 

             Mr. Furlong reported the Pump Station had the electrical controls delivered and will continue with the SWEPCO for the next portion of the project.  The Black Bayou project had the Preconstruction Conference with the contractor and has plans of completion by the beginning of September. Mr. Furlong also reported he attended the Red River Navigation Feasibility Project Consultant Meeting, the Gilliam Village Meeting, and plans to attend the ALBL Executive Committee Meeting in Baton Rouge. Insurance costs were reduced by increasing automobile deductibles. The District’s Permit Application process for Channels is almost finished.

 

There was no Legal Report.

 

             Marshall Jones reported on oil and gas commodity pricing, State Royalty Reduction Program, and the completion of Permacap plugging and abandonment of well project, with the advisement to research the Caddo Lake wells moving forward.

 

             The Board discussed investing in short-term Certificate of Deposits (CDs) with funds from the cash account. Mr. Sims made a motion to approve five (5) million dollars of cash funds to be moved to a twelve (12) month term CD to Cross Keys, contingent upon the acceptance of funds, then to grant Patrick Furlong authority to roll funds over to the next highest rate of short-term CDs. The motion unanimously passed.

 

Sam Brimer, Levee Board Operations Superintendent, reported on field staff mowing, mulching, and preforming an upcoming small slide repair due to the dry weather. 

 

Joshua Monroe, E.I., with DOTD, gave his Engineering Report, and stated that levee inspections are pending dates for the last week of August. 

 

Mrs. Moore addressed the need to dissolve the Personnel Committee, by reallocating duties to the Executive Committee, and asked for a motion to approve. Mr. Sims made a motion, with a second by Mr. Walker, to approve the dissolvement of the Personnel Committee and reallocation of duties to the Executive Committee. The motion unanimously passed.

 

There was no Legal Committee Report.

 

There was no Equipment Committee Report.

 

There was no Recreational Committee Report.

 

With no further business to be brought before the Board, Mr. Sims made a motion to adjourn, with a second by Mrs. Moore. The motion unanimously passed, and the meeting was adjourned.

 

 

President                                                                                                                  Executive Director                                                      

 

 

AUGUST 8, 2024

 

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

CADDO LEVEE DISTRICT

TENTATIVE AGENDA

MEETING ON AUGUST 8, 2024

10:00 A.M.

1320 GRIMMETT DRIVE

.

 

1.     Call meeting to order.

2.      Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.

3.     Public comments.

4.     Resolution of recognizing Gary Procell’s service to the district.

5.     Approval of minutes of regular meeting held on July 11, 2024.

6.     Discussion of monthly financial reports.

7.     Ratify payment of statements and invoices for the month of July 2024 and subsequent bills for the month of June 2024.

8.    Review and approval of Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire for Audit Engagements of Governmental Ethics for 2023-2024 fiscal year.

9.     Correction of Resolution on May 9th, 2024, regarding Tax Millage per new adoption instructions from Legislative Auditor’s office to Caddo Assessor. 

10.    Discussion of investing in additional, short-term CD with funds from the cash account.

11.    President’s Report.

12.    Executive Director’s Report.

13.    Report of Ron Lattier, Board’s Legal Counsel.

14.    Report of Marshall Jones, Board’s Oil & Gas Counsel.

15.    Forester’s Report.

16.    Engineer’s Report.

17.    Personnel Committee Report.

18.    Legal Committee Report.

19.    Equipment Committee Report.

20.    Recreation Committee Report.

21.    Other Business to Bring before the Board.

22.    Adjourn.

Minutes - August  8, 2024

 

Minutes

 

Agenda

 

Regular Business Hours : Monday thru Friday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm