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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF CADDO LEVEE DISTRICT AT REGULAR MEETING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF CADDO LEVEE DISTRICT AT REGULAR MEETING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2023
At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District held at 10:00 a.m., September 14th, 2023, at 1320 Grimmett Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana, the following were present: Patrick Harrison, James T. Sims, Jackie Baker, Carolyn C. Prator, Willie Walker, and Gary Procell. Kandi Moore was unable to attend.
Ronald F. Lattier, Law Offices of Ronald F. Lattier; Marshall Jones, Jones & Odom, LLP; Phillip Sturdivant, P.E., LA Department of Transportation and Development; Josh Monroe, P.E., Department of Transportation and Development; John Barr, Regional Director, Senator John Kennedy’s Office; 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 August 10th, 2023, meeting had been emailed for review and asked for a motion to approve. Mr. Sims made a motion, with a second by Mr. Walker, to approve the minutes from the August 2023 meeting. The motion unanimously passed.
President Harrison discussed the August 2023 monthly financial reports. He explained that the operating expenses for August were higher than previous months due to higher fuel cost and equipment maintenance / repairs cost during the busy mowing season. Also, he explained that the payments for the purchased two new tractors and the maintenance projects resulted in higher monthly expenses. Also, he reported that the income from royalties was adequate to cover all the monthly expenses.
The Board reviewed payments and invoices for the month of August 2023 and subsequent bills for the month of July 2023. Mr. Procell made a motion, with a second by Mr. Walker, to ratify payment of the invoices for the month of August 2023 and subsequent bills for the month of July 2023. The motion unanimously passed.
The Board unanimously approved the attendance of the Executive Director, Commissioners, and Board Legal Counsel at the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana to be held on December 6-7, 2023, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a motion by Mr. Sims and a second by Mr. Baker.
The Board unanimously approved the transfer of Campsite Permit from Milton Byerley to Richard Byerley for approximately one (1) acre known as Lot# 78 located in Section 26, T21N, R16W, Caddo Parish, Louisiana with a motion by Mrs. Prator and a second by Mr. Procell.
Marshall Jones reported that commodity prices for crude oil has continued to rise in the last 30 days and natural gas prices are typically low during the summer and fall low demand seasons and may increase during the winter assuming the global market demand is high.
There was no President Report.
Mr. Mustapha reported that the auditor, Mrs. Lenora Krielow, CPA, had completed the 2022-2023 Annual Financial Audit for the District fiscal year and has submitted the audit report to the State’s Legislative Auditor for approval prior to its release. Once the Audit is approved, Mr. Mustapha will email it to the Board members. The draft report that was submitted indicates that there are NO Findings. The Auditor, Mrs. Krielow, will present the approved audit report to the Board and answer any questions by ZOOM at the October or November meeting.
Mr. Mustapha also reported that Mr. Kevin Bryan, AIA, has completed the design of the exterior walls of the Office Building rehabilitation and repairs. The estimated cost of the repairs is approximately $175,000.00 to $200,000.00. Mr. Bryan will be soliciting quotes from three (3) qualified building contractors to perform the necessary repairs.
Mr. Mustapha reported that the field survey needed to prepare design plans to replace the damaged paved concrete panels of the C-8 Canal between Youree Drive and Sand Beach Bayou (Broadmoor Lateral Ditch) is complete. The Engineer will be starting the design services later this month. Also, he reported that the Rehabilitation project of the Ring Levee 60” corrugated Metal culvert is complete and the repair of a levee slide on W. Agurs Levee segment between N. Market and N. Hearne has been completed. The repairs of a larger slide on the same Levee segment of West Agurs levee will start later this month. The cost to repair this slide is approximately $112,000.00 to $200,000.00.
Mr. Mustapha reported that after evaluation of the conditions and the driven mileage of the field’s crew vehicles and discussions with the Equipment Committee Chairman, Mr. Walker, it was decided to purchase under the State bid procurement contract two (2) new trucks (an F-350 crew truck and an F-450 truck). The anticipated delivery time for both vehicles is 180 days (6 months).
Mr. Mustapha also reported that he received a notice from a contractor, Elm Springs, Inc., that was awarded a bid by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources to plug and abandon four (4) organ wells located in SE1/4 of Section 11-T20N-R16W on Caddo Levee District’s property.
There was no Legal Counsel Report.
Sam Brimer, Forester, reported that the district’s field crews continue to take advantage of the dry weather and have been busy clearing tree damage from the June storm and mowing overgrown ditches.
Phillip Sturdivant, with DOTD, reported that Mr. Josh Monroe, P.E., is the new District’s Water Resource District Engineer, the position vacated by Mr. Robert Tomasek, P.E. Mr. Monroe will represent DOTD at the Board meetings. The Board welcomed Mr. Monroe.
President Harrison requested the Board consider amending the agenda by moving agenda item #15 (Personnel Committee Report) to the end of the agenda after Item #19 (Other Business to bring before the Board). The Board unanimously approved amending the agenda with a motion by Mr. Walker and a second by Mr. Sims.
There was no Legal Committee Report.
The Equipment Committee reported that the equipment which was purchased (two new 6140M John Deere Tractors, John Deere skid steer, and attachments) all have been delivered and placed in service.
Mrs. Mustapha reported on behalf of the Recreation Committee that the Red River Waterway Commission has retained a design engineer to provide design service for the planned Boat Launch to be located South of the Twelve Mile Bayou Levee, East of the Bayou crossing of I-49. This new boat launch will provide recreational service for Caddo residents. Mr. Mustapha is assisting the design engineer in the selection of the access route over the Twelve Mile Bayou Levee Segment.
Mr. Sims on behalf of the Personnel Committee made a motion, with a second by Mrs. Prator, to enter an Executive Session to discuss personnel matters. The motion unanimously passed.
After the discussion of the Personnel matters, Mr. Sims made a motion, with a second by Mr. Walker, to exit the Executive Session. The motion unanimously passed.
Mr. Harrison reported that the Personnel Committee discussed with the Board future personnel matters and decided to continue working on the matters and keep the Board informed.
With no further business to be brought before the Board, Mr. Sims made a motion to adjourn, with a second by Mr. Baker. The motion unanimously passed, and the meeting was adjourned.
President Executive Director
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