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OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF

CADDO LEVEE DISTRICT

AT REGULAR MEETING HELD ON MAY 11, 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., May 11, 2023, at 1320 Grimmett Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana, the following were present: Patrick Harrison, Kandi Moore, James T. Sims, Carolyn Prator, Jackie Baker, Willie Walker, and Gary Procell.

 

Ronald F. Lattier, Law Offices of Ronald F. Lattier; Phillip Sturdivant, P.E., LA Department of Transportation; German Velazquez, P.E., LA Department of Transportation and Development; John Barr, Regional Director, Senator John Kennedy’s Office; Mark Jusselin, Integrity, Inc.; Ali M. Mustapha P.E., Executive Director; and 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 April 13, 2023, meeting had been emailed for review and asked for a motion to approve. Mrs. Moore made a motion, with a second by Mr. Walker, to approve the minutes from the April 2023 meeting. The motion unanimously passed.

 

Mrs. Moore discussed the monthly financial reports and reported that the operating expenses were consistent with the monthly averages for this time of year.  Also, she explained that the monthly revenues were derived from oil and gas royalties. 

 

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

 

             The Board opened the meeting to public hearing to discuss the millage rate of Caddo Levee District for 2023 with a motion by Mrs. Moore and a second by Mr. Sims. The Board discussed the millage rate and reviewed the details. There were no public comments.  The public hearing was closed with a motion by Mr. Procell and a second by Mr. Walker.

 

             The Board unanimously passed the following resolution to set the millage rate for 2023 at zero:   

             BE IT RESOLVED, that the following millage(s) are hereby levied on the 2023 tax roll on all property subject to taxation by Caddo Levee District:

MILLAGE

 

             Caddo Levee District                                                       0.00 mills

                                                   

             BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the proper administrative officials of the Parish of Caddo, State of Louisiana, be and they are hereby empowered, authorized, and directed to spread said taxes, as hereinabove set forth, upon the assessment roll of said Parish for the year 2023, and to make the collection of the taxes imposed for and on behalf of the taxing authority, according to law, and that the taxes herein levied shall become a permanent lien and privilege on all property subject to taxation as herein set forth, and collection thereof shall be enforceable in the manner provided by law.

 

             The foregoing resolution was read in full; the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the resolution was adopted by the following votes:

 

             YEAS: 7

             NAYS: 0

             ABSTAINED: 0

             ABSENT: 0

            

The Board discussed the renewal of the one (1) CD currently held by Home Federal Bank. The Board agreed to renew the CD for a 24-month term at a rate of 4.25% with a motion by Mr. Sims and a second by Mr. Walker. The motion unanimously passed.

 

The Board discussed the renewal of the one (1) CD also currently held by Home Federal Bank. The Board agreed to renew the CD for a 24-month term at a rate of 4.25% with a motion by Mrs. Moore and a second by Mr. Sims. The motion unanimously passed.

 

The Board discussed the renewal of the one (1) CD currently held by First Horizon Bank. The Board agreed to renew the CD for a 24-month term at a rate of 4.50% with a motion by Mr. Sims and a second by Mr. Walker. The motion unanimously passed.

 

President Harrison reported that, he and three (3) Commissioners, attended the Association of Levee Board of Louisiana (ALBL) Annual Workshop in Baton Rouge, LA on April 26-28, 2023. Mr. Harrison reported that the workshop was well attended, and the program included valuable and relevant information, and everyone enjoyed the meeting.

 

Mr. Harrison also reminded the Board that they are required to file the Louisiana Board of Ethics annual Tier 2.1 Personal Financial Disclosure Statement by May 15, 2022. Forms were distributed to all Commissioners at the April 13 Board Meeting.

              

Mr. Mustapha reported that the recent heavy rainstorms did not cause any major flooding within the district because the water surface elevations of the Red River and Twelve Mile Bayou were below the flood stage elevations, and this did not require operating W. Agurs Pumps to prevent Backwater flooding. These heavy rainstorms may cause localized street flooding and flooding of the low laying areas and may result in high water surface elevations of Cross, Wallace, and Caddo Lakes later this week.

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Mr. Mustapha reported that he has received on May 8, 2023, a permit request from Louisiana State University-Shreveport (LSU-S) for the construction of a large drainage box culvert at the C-6 Lateral for a roadway to connect the LSU-S’ apartments to the main campus.  The request was submitted to the City of Shreveport for review and approval to ensure.  The permit will be issued upon approval of the project by the City of Shreveport and submission of maintenance and operation plan of the box culvert.

 

Mr. Mustapha reported that he has asked Mr. Kevin Bryan, AIA, to proceed with the planning and the design plans for repairing the exterior damage of the Board’s office building.  Also, he asked Mr. Bryan to consider the use of architectural products other than stucco for the repairs. Mr. Bryan agreed and will start working on the plans and specifications and provide the district with probable construction cost estimates.

 

Mr. Mustapha reported that he is working on preparing a project for bids for rehabilitation and repairing of several large size corrugated metal culverts penetrating the levee system.  The culverts have been assessed by CCTV and field survey and it was determined that rehabilitation by slip-ling will be the most appropriate repairs method.  These culverts are 60-inches in diameter.

 

Mr. Mustapha reported that after completing the review and evaluation of all the quotes received for the purchase of the new Compact Tract Loader (Skid Steer) under the State’s Government Contract.  He has issued a purchase order to Goldman Equipment, LLC to purchase a John Deere 33G Compact Tract Loader “Skid Steer”.

 

Mr. Mustapha reported that he had completed the construction contract for the New West Agurs Pump Station project and sent it to David Lawler Construction, Inc. for execution last month.  Mr. Lawler has executed the Contact and upon signature by the Board’s President, Mr. Lawler will record the contact with Caddo Clerk of court.  Also, he reported that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with DOTD -District 4 to provide construction inspection services has been executed.

 

Mr. Mustapha reported that he was contacted by a company that is planning to install a solar Energy panel farm on North Caddo west of LA Hwy 1 between Blanchard and Mooringsport.  The company is currently leasing properties for the project and is interested in CLD’s 80-acre tract of land that is located in the area of interest.  He advised the company’s representative to send the district an official request for approval by the board and upon approval of the request, the board will issue a resolution which the company will be required deliver to the State’s Department of Natural Resources-Office of Conservation and request advertisement of the subject tract for bids for Solar Energy production lease. 

 

             There was no Legal Counsel Report.

            

Mr. Marshall Jones was unable to attend the meeting, and Mr. Harrison reported that he has advised via an email that the Oil and Gas national commodity price will continue to decline during the summer and may improve later in the year depending on the demand and the global market changes.

            

There was no Forester Report.

 

Phillip Sturdivant and German Velazquez, with DOTD, reported that he is the assistant DOTD’s -District 4 Assistant Administrator for Engineering and Mr. Velazquez, P.E., will be handing Robert’s Tomasek’s responsibilities in assisting Caddo Levee District and the other Levee Districts located in DOTD District-4.

 

There was no Personnel Committee Report.

 

There was no Legal Committee Report.

 

There was no Equipment Committee Report.

 

There was no Recreation Committee Report.

 

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.

 

 

 

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