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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF CADDO LEVEE DISTRICT AT REGULAR MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 10, 2022 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -
At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District held at 10:00 a.m., November 10, 2022, at 1320 Grimmett Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana, the following members were present: Patrick Harrison, Jackie Baker, James T. Sims, Willie Walker, and Gary Procell. Mrs. Kandi Moore and Mrs. Carolyn C. Prator were unable to attend.
Ronald F. Lattier, Law Offices of Ronald F. Lattier; Robert Tomasek, P.E., LA Department of Transportation; German Velazquez, P.E., LA. Department of Transportation and Development; Ali M. Mustapha, P.E., Executive Director; Penny Adams, Assistant Executive Director 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 October 13, 2022, meeting had been emailed for review and asked for a motion to approve. Mr. Sims made a motion, with a second by Mr. Procell, to approve the minutes from the October 2022 meeting. The motion unanimously passed.
President Harrison discussed the monthly financial reports, and he reported that the district’s operating expenses were in line with monthly averages for this time of year. Mr. Sims commended the Board and the staff for the efforts through the past 3 years during the COVID Pandemic in management of the District’ budget to insure financial stability.
The Board reviewed payments and invoices for the month of October 2022 and subsequent bills for the month of September 2022. Mr. Sims made a motion, with a second by Mr. Baker, to ratify payment of the invoices for the month of October 2022 and subsequent bills for the month of September 2022. The motion unanimously passed.
The Board unanimously approved the request from Price Bundy to advertise for grazing purposes: Tract #1 - 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, both in Caddo Parish, Louisiana with a motion by Mr. Procell and a second by Mr. Walker.
The Board unanimously approved the request from Jake Byrd to advertise for grazing purposes: Tract #2 - 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, both in Caddo Parish, Louisiana with a motion by Mr. Procell and a second by Mr. Walker.
The Board unanimously approved the request from Jeff Taylor to advertise for grazing purposes: Tract #3 - 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 with a motion by Mr. Procell and a second by Mr. Walker.
The Board unanimously approved the lease agreement with the Caddo Parish Commission for land use for Robert Nance Park located in the town of Hosston, in North Caddo Parish, for 3-years, starting November 1, 2022, through November 30, 2025 with a motion from Mr. Sims and a second by Mr. Walker.
The Board unanimously approved the lease renewal agreement with the Caddo Parish Commission for land use for the Noah Tyson Park located in Rodessa, in North Caddo Parish, for 3-years, starting December 1, 2022, through November 30, 2025 with a motion from Mr. Walker and a second by Mr. Baker.
The Board considered the renewal of contract for professional/legal services with Ronald F. Lattier. The Board unanimously approved the following resolution to approve the professional legal services contract for Mr. Ronald F. Lattier of The Law Offices of Ronald F. Lattier for December 1, 2022, through November 30, 2023, with a motion by Mr. Sims and a second by Mr. Procell:
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District is presently engaged in extensive and continuing operations in conjunction with various State, Parish, City and Federal Agencies relating to drainage and flood control programs in Caddo Parish, Louisiana; and,
WHEREAS, the Caddo Levee District is financially involved in numerous legal matters arising out of these operations and required legal advice and assistance during regular and special meetings and at various other times regarding these matters; and,
WHEREAS, abstracts of title to lands either belonging to the Caddo Levee District or involved in its projects, from time to time need examining; and,
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that said Board will be occasionally involved in lawsuits and the resolution of these suits require special legal counsel; and,
WHEREAS, the District Attorney of Caddo Parish, the Board's legally designated counsel, is involved in extensive prosecution of criminal matters in Caddo Parish, and does not have a sufficiently large staff to adequately handle the legal affairs of the Board; and,
WHEREAS, by the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District that in view of the real and urgent necessity of present and future special legal counsel, that The Law Offices of Ronald F. Lattier be retained as Special Counsel for one year beginning December 1, 2022 and ending November 30, 2023, at a stipulated fee in accordance with professional service contract submitted herewith, subject, however, to the approval of the proper officials of the State of Louisiana, at a rate as follows:
A fee of $175.00 per hour for attorneys having experience of ten years or more in the practice of law.
A fee of $150.00 per hour for attorneys having experience of five to ten years in the practice of law, $125.00 per hour for attorneys having experience of three to five years in the practice of law, $100.00 per hour for attorneys having experience of less than three years in the practice of law, $45.00 per hour for paralegal services, and $25.00 per hour for law clerk services.
Notwithstanding the foregoing fee schedule, State will pay a fee of $100 per hour for all approved non-local (more than 30 miles one way) automobile travel by attorneys.
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District, pursuant to La. R.S. 42.262, does hereby retain and employ The Law Offices of Ronald F. Lattier as special counsel; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the President or Vice President of the Board is especially authorized to enter into, on behalf of the Board, the said Professional Service Contract submitted herewith.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution and proposed contract described herein be submitted to the Attorney General for the State of Louisiana for approval.
The resolution having been submitted to a vote; the vote thereon was as follows:
YEAS: 5 ABSENT: 2 NAYS: 0 NOT VOTING: 0
The Board considered the renewal of contract for professional/legal services with J. Marshall Jones, Jr. The Board unanimously approved the following resolution to approve the professional legal services contract for J. Marshall Jones, Jr. of Jones & Odom, LLP for December 1, 2022 through November 30, 2023, with a motion by Mr. Procell and a second by Mr. Walker:
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District is presently engaged in extensive and continuing operations in conjunction with various State, Parish, City and Federal Agencies relating to drainage and flood control programs in Caddo Parish, Louisiana; and,
WHEREAS, the Caddo Levee District is financially involved in numerous legal matters arising out of these operations and required legal advice and assistance during regular and special meetings and at various other times regarding these matters; and,
WHEREAS, abstracts of title to lands either belonging to the Caddo Levee District or involved in its projects, from time to time need examining; and,
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that said Board will be occasionally involved in lawsuits and the resolution of these suits require special legal counsel; and,
WHEREAS, the District Attorney of Caddo Parish, the Board's legally designated counsel, is involved in extensive prosecution of criminal matters in Caddo Parish, and does not have a sufficiently large staff to adequately handle the legal affairs of the Board; and,
WHEREAS, by the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District that in view of the real and urgent necessity of present and future special legal counsel, that Jones & Odom, L.L.P. be retained as Special Counsel for one year beginning December 1, 2022 and ending November 30, 2023, at a stipulated fee in accordance with professional service contract submitted herewith, subject, however, to the approval of the proper officials of the State of Louisiana at a rate as follows:
A fee of $175.00 per hour for attorneys having experience of ten years or more in the practice of law.
A fee of $150.00 per hour for attorneys having experience of five to ten years in the practice of law, $125.00 per hour for attorneys having experience of three to five years in the practice of law, $100.00 per hour for attorneys having experience of less than three years in the practice of law, $45.00 per hour for paralegal services, and $25.00 per hour for law clerk services.
Notwithstanding the foregoing fee schedule, State will pay a fee of $100 per hour for all approved non-local (more than 30 miles one way) automobile travel by attorneys.
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District, pursuant to La. R.S. 42.262, does hereby retain and employ Jones & Odon, L.L.P. as special counsel; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the President or Vice President of the Board is especially authorized to enter into, on behalf of the Board, the said Professional Service Contract submitted herewith.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution and proposed contract described herein be submitted to the Attorney General for the State of Louisiana for approval.
The resolution having been submitted to a vote; the vote thereon was as follows:
YEAS: 5 ABSENT: 2 NAYS: 0 NOT VOTING: 0
There was no Oil & Gas Report.
There was no President’s Report.
Mr. Mustapha reported that twenty-nine (29) permit requests have been received, reviewed, and processed by Caddo Levee District in 2022. Also, he reported that the Shiftail Canal Panel Repairs Project that was awarded to Beaty Logging Co., at the September Board meeting has been completed. There was an overrun in the project’s cost by $32,733.00. The final inspection was performed by DOTD’s inspector and the design engineer. A notice of project competition was issued to the contract and upon receipt of the Lien – Free -Certificate, the final payment will be processed and the proect will be accepted and closed.
Also, Mr. Mustapha reported that construction has started on the Black Bayou Slide Repair Project and is progressing well and we anticipate that the project will be completed before the end of November, weather permitting. Also, he reported the rehabilitation and repairs by slip-ling to the Dixie Garden 30-inch culvert has been completed and we are planning to repair two (2) other culverts with the same rehabilitation method on WAgurs Levee Segment located at the end of Thomas Street. Also, he reported that replacement of the flow gauges at W Agurs Pump Station and at Cash Point Flood Control structure has been completed. Also, he reported that he is coordinating with the Design Engineer revising the plans and the specifications for the new pump station project and preparing the re-bid package.
Mr. Mustapha also discussed the need to purchase 2 additional tractors to replace 2 older tractors that require extensive maintenance. He will be working with Goldman Equipment to purchase under the State Contract.
Ronald Lattier, Board Legal Counsel expressed his gratitude to the Board for renewing his legal contract and reported that the Caddo Levee District had no pending legal issues.
There was no Forester’s Report.
There was no Personnel Committee Report.
There was no Legal Committee Report.
The Equipment Committee briefly discussed the need for the purchase of 2 new tractor for the upcoming mowing season in 2023.
Recreation Committee Report: A lease agreement with the Caddo Parish Commission was presented to the Board for approval and execution for the use of a portion of a District’s property for Robert Nance’s Park expansion in the town of Hosston in North Caddo.
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 |
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NOVEMBER 9, 2023
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING CADDO LEVEE DISTRICT MEETING ON NOVEMBER 10, 2023 10:00 A.M. 1320 GRIMMETT DRIVE SHREVEPORT, LA 71107
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Minutes - November 10, 2022
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Regular Business Hours : Monday thru Friday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm |
