Caddo Levee District

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

 

 

OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF

CADDO LEVEE DISTRICT

AT REGULAR MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY 9, 2023

 

 

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At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District held at 10:00 a.m., February 9, 2023, at 1320 Grimmett Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana, the following were present: Patrick Harrison, Kandi Moore, Carolyn C. Prator, Jackie Baker, Willie Walker, and Gary Procell. James T. Sims was unable to be attend.

 

Ronald F. Lattier, Law Offices of Ronald F. Lattier; Marshall Jones, Jones & Odom, LLP; Robert Tomasek P.E., LA Department of Transportation and Development; John Barr, Regional Director, Senator John Kennedy’s Office, Mark Jusselin, Integrity Inc.; Kyle Nardini, Goldman Equipment LLC; Ted White, Goldman Equipment LLC; Ali M. Mustapha P.E., Executive Director; Penny Adams, Assistant Executive Director; and Sam Brimer, Forester 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 January 12, 2023, meeting had been emailed for review and asked for a motion to approve. Mrs. Prator made a motion, with a second by Mr. Procell, to approve the minutes from the January 2023 meeting. The motion unanimously passed.

 

 Mr. Harrison discussed the monthly financial reports and reported that the operating expenses were consistent with the monthly averages for this time of year.  Also, he explained that the monthly revenues have continued to improve from oil and gas royalties.  

 

The Board reviewed payments and invoices for the month of January 2023 and subsequent bills for the month of December 2022. Mr. Procell made a motion, with a second by Mr. Baker, to ratify payment of the invoices for the month of January 2023 and subsequent bills for the month of December 2022. The motion unanimously passed.

 

The Board unanimously approved the following resolution, with a motion by Mrs. Prator and a second by Mr. Walker, to accept the completion of the Black Bayou Slide Repair Project:

WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District’s Executive Director, Ali M. Mustapha, P.E., has advised that the project under contract with David Lawler Construction, Inc., entitled “Black Bayou Slide Repair” in Caddo Parish, is completed in accordance with plans and specifications,

 

             WHEREAS, the Design Engineer authorized by the Executive Director of the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District conducted a final inspection of the Project on November 22, 2022 and determined that the Project has been completed in accordance with the plans and specifications and is satisfactory,

 

             NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District, in legal session convened, that this project is hereby accepted upon the advice and recommendation of its advisors.

 

The Board discussed and unanimously approved with a motion by Mr. Procell and a second by Mr. Walker a new Certificate of Deposit to be held by Home Federal Bank. The Executive Director was authorized to transfer the funds from the District’s Checking account to Home Federal Banks for the new 12-month Certificate of Deposit. 

 

The Board discussed and unanimously approved with a motion by Mrs. Prator and a second by Mr. Procell a new Certificate of Deposit to be held by Home Federal Bank. The Executive Director was authorized to transfer the funds from the District’s Money Market account with Home Federal Bank to a new 12-month Certificate of Deposit to held by Home Federal Bank. 

 

The Board discussed and unanimously approved with a motion by Mr. Walker and a second by Mr. Procell a new Certificate of Deposit to be held by Home Federal Bank. The Executive Director was authorized to transfer the funds from the District’s Money Market account with Home Federal Bank to another new 9-month Certificate of Deposit to held by Home Federal Bank. 

 

The Board opened sealed bids received for the advertisement for bids to purchase a Farm Type Cab Tractor. The only bid submitted was as follows:

                          Goldman Equipment LLC                    $124,683.72 each        

 

            Mrs. Prator made a motion, with a second by Mr. Walker, for the following resolution accepting Goldman Equipment LLC as the apparent low bidder.  The motion unanimously passed.

 

BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District, in legal session convened, that the bid from Goldman Equipment LLC, in the amount of $124,683.72 for the 6140M Farm Type Cab Tractor be accepted as the lowest responsible and responsive bidder who bid in accordance with plans and specifications, subject to the examination and approval by the Board’s Executive Director.

 

The Board unanimously passed the following resolution to approve a request by ACRE Energy Company, LLC to nominate a tract of land located in Section 24, T19N, R15W containing 178.71 acres for an oil and gas lease with a motion by Mr. Procell and a second by Mr. Walker:

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District has received a letter dated January 3, 2023, from Roy Moore stating that Acre Energy Company, LLC is interested in acquiring an oil and gas lease covering land in Section 24, T19N, R15W, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, said lands being described as:

 

A certain tract or parcel of land situated in Section 24, Township 19 North, Range 15, West, Caddo Parish, Louisiana belonging to and not presently under mineral lease from the Caddo Levee District being more particularly described as follows:  All of Section 24, Township 18 North, Range 15 West lying North and East of the traverse line of Soda Lake, containing approximately 178.71 acres, more or less, situated in Caddo Parish, Louisiana.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District, in legal session convened, that it does hereby authorize the Louisiana State Mineral and Energy Board and the Office of Mineral Resources to accept nominations, advertise for bids for oil, gas and mineral leases on the above described tract, accept bids, and award oil, gas and mineral leases on the above described property on behalf of the Caddo Levee District in the manner prescribed by law for minerals from the surface of the ground to 100 feet below the stratigraphic equivalent of the deepest producing interval underlying the leased premises or any portion thereof which may be included in a producing unit at the end of the primary term of such lease. In case a well is drilling when the primary term ends, the determining date shall be the date when such well is completed as a producer or a dry hole.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any Lessee of the above-described lands shall comply with the following requirements of the Lessor:

 

1.          The fair market value shall be paid to Lessor for all merchantable timber removed or destroyed in conducting operations on the above-described tract.

 

2.          At the end of the primary term of the lease, Lessee shall release all depths one hundred feet (100') below the stratigraphic equivalent of the deepest producing interval in any well drilled on the leased premises or on any unit containing all or any portion thereof. Said release shall be in written and recordable form. In the event that a well is drilling at the end of the primary term on the leased premises or on a unit containing all or part of the leased premises, the herein required release shall be provided to Lessor when such well is completed either as a producer or a dry hole.

 

3.          The Caddo Levee District will accept the following minimum percentages for the submitted acreage above: No less than 25% royalty revenue from production.

 

4.          The Caddo Levee District requests the primary term of the lease to be no more than thirty-six (36) months from date of execution of the lease.

 

5.          The Caddo Levee District requires that the royalty to be paid shall be “cost-free”.

 

The Board unanimously approved the renewal of the following campsite permits: Ronald Coil, Carl George, and Donald Howe with a motion by Mr. Procell and a second by Mr. Walker.

 

            There was no President Report.

 

            Mr. Mustapha reported that registration of the Commissioners to attend the RRVA Annual Convention registrations have been completed.

 

            Mr. Mustapha reported that USACE-Vicksburg District has scheduled the Periodic Inspection (Inspection) of Twelve Mile Bayou, Black Bayou-Pine Island, Cherokee Park, and West Agurs  levee segments in late January.  However, the wet weather conditions have delayed the inspection until late February or early March.  This inspection will include all the District Levee Crossing drainage structures, flood gates and the West Agurs Pump Station.  Red River Levee North and South Segments were inspected last year.

 

           Mr. Mustapha reported the rainy weather in the last 10 days has delayed the competition of the two (2) culverts rehabilitation and repairs on Twelve Mile Bayou Levee (Lardo and Bubba’s flood control structures.

 

           Mr. Mustapha reported that the Design Engineer (CSRS) for the New West Agurs Pump Station has requested additional compensation (approximately $13,000.00) for re-designing some elements of the project, updating the plans, the specifications, and the bid document.  We anticipate that completing the design by the end of February and advertising the project for bids during March.

 

           He also reported that he has contacted Kevin Bryan Architect and requested that an Architect perform a detailed inspection of the office building exterior to determine the scope of the needed maintenance work to allow the District to solicit quotes from building contractors to perform the repairs.  Mr. Bryan’s initial assessment indicates that the exterior stucco appears to be severely damage, and this will require extensive testing and investigations to recommend the proper repairs.

 

           Also, Mr. Mustapha reported that only one (1) proposal was received in response to the RFQ advertisement for the Red River Feasibility Navigation Study (Shreveport to Texarkana).  The Selection Committee reviewed the proposal and voted to proceed with hiring Freese and Nichols to provide the services and authorized the Arkansas Department of Agriculture to negotiate and sign a contract agreement with Freese and Nichols for the Study. 

 

             There was no Legal Counsel Report.

 

             Marshall Jones reported that the crude oil and gas have not changed much lately and may continue the trend in until the global market changes.  The district’s revenues from natural resources may remain steady for the remainder of 2023.

 

Sam Brimer reported that the field crews continue to work on trimming tree limbs and routine maintenance of equipment in preparation for the mowing season.

 

Robert Tomesak, P.E., DOTD reported that the Department will be holding a project design kickoff meeting on February 16 in Vivian for the local stakeholders for the Black Bayou Dam and Spillway Replacement located on LA Highway 2.  This project was funded thru the Louisiana Watershed Initiative (LWI). Freese & Nichols was selected by DOTD to provide the design services on the project.   

 

There was no Personnel Committee Report.

 

There was no Legal Committee Report.

 

There was no Recreation Committee Report

 

The Equipment Committee report was provided with the opening of the Farm Cab Tractor bids.

 

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

 

 

 

President                                                                                                 Executive Director

 

 

Minutes - February

 

 

                              

Minutes