OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF

CADDO LEVEE DISTRICT

AT REGULAR MEETING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2024

At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District held at 10:00 a.m., September 12, 2024, at 1320 Grimmett Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana, the following members were present: Patrick Harrison, James T. Sims, Jackie Baker, Carolyn C. Prator, and Willie Walker. Kandi Moore was unable to attend.

Ronald F. Lattier, Law Offices of Ronald F. Lattier; Patrick Furlong, P.E., Executive Director; and Penny Adams, HR Analyst, were also present.

The meeting was opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Sims made a motion, with a second by Mr. Walker, to amend the agenda to add an item, “Discussion of Electric Service Line Extension Agreement”, after item 12. The motion unanimously passed.

President Harrison stated that the minutes from the August 8, 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 August 8, 2024 meeting. The motion unanimously passed.

President Harrison reported on the monthly financial reports with strong balances in the second month of the fiscal year from income the financial portfolio with the exception of expenses in insurance, building repairs, and the purchase of new equipment.

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

             The Board unanimously approved a resolution in conjunction with Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana to support Act 408 as a proposed amendment of the Constitution of Louisiana regarding federal revenues generated from coastal sources of oil, gas, alternative or renewable energy production be deposited by the State into the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund with a motion by Mrs. Prator and a second by Mr. Walker.

Mr. Furlong summarized legal information gathered and discussions with the LA Office of Attorney General. Mr. Sims stated that the Legal Committee met and unanimously recommended the Board increase the attorneys fee schedules due to new market rates published February 2024, as well as to contract the attorneys to attend conferences at a different rate. The Board unanimously approved the resolution to approve the professional legal services contract for Mr. Ronald F. Lattier of The Law Offices of Ronald F. Lattier for October 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, with a motion by Mr. Sims and a second by Mr. Walker. The Board unanimously approved the resolution to approve the professional legal oil and gas services contract for Mr. Marshall Jones, J. Marshall Jones Jr., APLC for October 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, with a motion by Mr. Sims and a second by Mr. Baker. The Board unanimously approved the resolution to approve the conference services contract for Mr. Ronald F. Lattier of The Law Offices of Ronald F. Lattier for October 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, with a motion by Mr. Walker and a second by Mr. Sims. The Board unanimously approved the resolution to approve the conference services contract for Mr. Marshall Jones, J. Marshall Jones Jr., APLC for October 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, with a motion by Mr. Sims and a second by Mr. Baker.

The Board unanimously approved the attendance of the Executive Director, Commissioners, and Board Legal Counselors at the 84th Annual Meeting of the Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana to be held on December 4-5, 2024, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a motion by Mr. Sims and a second by Mr. Walker.

The Board discussed the SWEPCO Electric Service Line Extension Agreement needed to complete the New Agurs Pump Station project. Mrs. Prator made a motion, with a second by Mr. Walker, to approve the SWEPCO agreement for running electricity to the New Agurs Pump Station. The motion unanimously passed.

             President Harrison reported on repairs for the building, awning, landscape, and sign. He then expanded the financial report with more details on consolidating the bank accounts for simplicity. Mr. Sims made a motion, with a second by Mr. Walker, to approve Mr. Furlong to transfer all the funds in the CapitalOne account and $500,000 from the First Horizon account into the Cadence operating account. The motion unanimously passed.

             Mr. Furlong reported that all LA State Offices were closed this week, on Wednesday and Thursday, and the Auditor had to reschedule his travel until next month due to Hurricane Francine. The field staff were working on an in-house levee slide repair on Twelve Mile Bayou and a contractor was working on a levee slide repair at Black Bayou near Pine Island. CCTV video inspections of pipes conducted per USACE requirements. A drone recently flew to capture some footage for future use. C8 Canal panels were reported to have a slow collapse due to the banks shifting. Mr. Furlong plans to prioritize projects and consult with DOTD, USACE, and LA Watershed on various different projects.

             Mr. Lattier commented on the Legal Expense Summary that his total fees have always been well under the total limited amount of the yearly allotted contract and thanked the Board for agreeing to the new legal fee framework and conference attendance.

             There was no Oil & Gas Report.  

There was no Forester Report.

There was no Engineering Report.

There was no Legal Committee Report.

Mr. Walker reported that new equipment was purchased, being an excavator, gooseneck trailer, and a dump trailer.

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 Mr. Walker. The motion unanimously passed, and the meeting was adjourned.

President                                                                                                                  Executive Director