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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF CADDO LEVEE DISTRICT AT REGULAR MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 12, 2023 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ---- -- -- -
At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District held at 10:00 a.m., October 12, 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, E.I., 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 September 14, 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 September 2023 meeting. The motion unanimously passed.
President Harrison presented and discussed the September 2023 monthly financial statements and explained that the operating expenses are typical and consistent with the normal monthly expenses for the summer months (fuel cost, equipment maintenance and repairs). Also, he explained that the expenses included payments for the skid steer which was purchased recently and the on-going flood control and maintenance/repairs projects. Also, he added that the monthly revenues were adequate to cover all the operation and maintenance expenses for the month.
The Board reviewed payments and invoices for the month of September 2023 and subsequent bills for the month of August 2023. Mr. Walker made a motion, with a second by Mr. Baker, to ratify payment of the invoices for the month of September 2023 and subsequent bills for the month of August 2023. The motion unanimously passed.
The Board discussed and unanimously approved with a motion by Mr. Procell and a second by Walker the renewal of Certificate of Deposit currently held by Home Federal Bank and maturing on October 17, 2023, for a 24 - months term at the rate of 4%.
The Board considered and unanimously approved the request for re-scheduling of the November monthly Board meeting from November 9, 2023, to Thursday, November 16th, 2023, with a motion by Mrs. Prator and a second by Mr. Baker.
The Board unanimously approved the following resolution to renew the land use lease / permit with the Caddo Parish Commission for Horace Downs Park located at Caddo Lake Dam in Section 21, T20N, R15W, with a motion by Mr. Sims and a second by Mr. Baker:
BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District, in legal session convened, that it does hereby agree to renew the lease held by Caddo Parish Commission for Horace Downs Park at the following described property:
From Northeast corner of Section 21, Township 20 North, Range 15 West, of Caddo Parish, Louisiana, proceed South 0° 21' East, a distance of 1105.8 feet; thence North 76° 11' West, a distance of 225.75 feet to the axis of the dam; thence South 14° 16' 34" West, a distance of 3725.50 feet to P.B.M. #1; thence continue on centerline axis South 14° 16' 34" West, a distance of 36 feet to the point of beginning.
From the point of beginning, proceed South 55° 03' East, a distance of 116.2 feet; thence North 84° 27' East, a distance of 430.6 feet; thence North 31° 21' East, a distance of 197.3 feet; thence North 46° 44' West, a distance of 361.2 feet; thence South 88° 21' West, a distance of 281.2 feet; thence South 32° 28' West, a distance of 359.8 feet; thence South 54° 16' East, a distance of 136.6 feet to the point of beginning; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this lease shall be for a term of three (3) years commencing on the first day of August 2023, and ending at midnight on July 31, 2026; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners of the Caddo Levee District does hereby authorize the President to execute this lease on behalf of Caddo Levee District.
President Harrison reported that the Personnel Committee has started interviewing for the Executive Director position and will have provide the Board with recommendations at the November 2023 meeting.
Mr. Mustapha reported that the auditor, Mrs. Lenora Krielow, CPA, had a scheduled conflict with the October Board meeting date and is planning to present the 2022-2023 Annual Audit Financial Report to the Board and answer questions at the November Meeting. She will be attending via ZOOM or a voice teleconference.
Mr. Mustapha reported that the contractor (Testament Construction) that was awarded the USACE PL 84-99 (Public Assistance Program) funded project to repair the two (2) slides on West Agurs Levee (Twelve Mile Bayou @ Cadillac Street and Twelve Bayou Mile Bayou and LA 538 Highway under I-220) has completed construction of the Cadillac Street site and is working on the LA 538 site. The total cost for the project is more than 2.5 million dollars and should be complete by mid-November.
Mr. Mustapha reported that the repairs on a slide at West Agurs levee was completed in September and a contractor has been retained and is currently working on the repairing a second larger slide on West Agurs Levee Segment between N. Market and N. Hearne behind the new Amazon Distribution Center. The anticipated cost to repair this slide is approximately $130,000.00 and should be completed before the end of October.
Mr. Mustapha reported that construction on the new West Agurs Pump Station Project is progressing well, the concrete superstructure is complete, the steel framing and force main piping system should be completed later this month weather permitting. Delivery of the electrical control panels and the mechanical equipment may delay competition of the project.
There was no Legal Counsel Report.
Marshall Jones reported that the crude oil prices have risen slightly in the past 30 days and the natural gas has improved and is expected to rise in the Fall and Winter seasons if the demand is high. Also, Mr. Jones reported that he is working with Mr. Mustapha on preparing an agreement with a new local company, PermCap LLC, to access Two (2) orphan wells located on CLD property to plug and abandon the wells for a Carbon Capturing project.
There was no Engineer’s Report.
Sam Brimer, Forester, reported that the district’s field crews continue working on cleaning and spraying ditches as needed.
There was no Equipment Committee Report.
Mr. Mustapha reported on behalf of the Recreation Committee that the Red River Waterway Commission has purchased a property in North Caddo located on LA1, approximately three (3) North of LA 173 along the West property line of Caddo Levee District’s Soda Lake property leased to LA Wildlife and Fisheries. The Red River Waterway Commission purchased the property for use to mitigate the Red River Waterway Navigation project and is planning to construct a recreational project on the property that includes walking/jogging and biking trails The project will be a joint project with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
With no further business to be brought before the Board, Mr. Sims made a motion to adjourn, with a second by Mr. Procell. The motion unanimously passed, and the meeting was adjourned.
President Executive Director |
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Minutes - October
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