Rapides Parish Police Jury

JUNE 17, 2021

1. Motion to discuss and make a selection for proposed projects for Round 1 funding under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for Hurricane Laura.
2. Motion to authorize the Parish President to submit an application for the Round 1 funding under the Hazard Mitigation Program for Hurricane Laura and sign all necessary documents.
3. Motion to authorize to purchase vehicle for Rapides Parish Sales Tax Office, off City of Alexandria Bid #2291 and delete/trade in two vehicles bearing Asset#10100 (2007 Ford Taurus) and #10099 (2007 Ford Taurus) against the purchase, as requested by Department Head and Purchasing Agent.

BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT

Laurel Smith, Secretary

There were present Craig Smith, President, Oliver “Ollie” Overton, Jr., Joe Bishop, Theodore Fountaine, Jr., Rusty Wilder and Doris Perry.

Absent were: Davron “Bubba” Moreau, Sean McGlothlin and Mr. David Johnson

Also present were Ms. Theresa Pacholik, Treasurer; Mr. Greg Jones, Legal Counsel; and Ms. Laurel Smith, Secretary.

The invocation was given by Mr. Matt Johns, Director of Rapides Area Planning Commission.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Ollie Overton.

The Police Jury of the Parish of Rapides, State of Louisiana, was duly convened as the governing authority of said Parish by Hon. Craig Smith, President, who welcomed all present and then stated that the Police Jury was ready for the transaction of business. JUNE 18, 2021

The President asked if there was any public comment on any agenda item, to which there was no response.

The first item was a motion to discuss and make a selection for proposed projects for Round 1 funding under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for Hurricane Laura.

Mr. Craig Smith, President, stated there were a couple of projects that were submitted. At this time, he recognized Mr. Matt Johns, Director, Rapides Area Planning Commission.

Mr. Johns stated the first round of monies that is coming is $2,054,418. Notice was received that Governor John Bel Edwards signed off on more monies. In total we will get $4,800,000 of mitigation funds. We need to get applications in by June 28th to get started. There are a couple of projects and you will need to pick one. He further stated there are three projects that were submitted. The first one is from the City of Alexandria to build a wall around the Prescott Drive Electrical Substation. This wall system is a $1,600,000.00 project. 75% would be federal funds and the city would have to match with 25% or $400,000.00. The second project is from the City of Pineville. They had about sixty-five properties that flooded inside the city limits after Hurricane Delta and they wanted consideration to use funds to elevate or buy out the properties that qualified out of the sixty-five.

In going through the projects in the comprehensive resiliency plan, these requests have been submitted in the past and were not awarded yet. Martin Park, which had drainage improvements, a pump station and a couple of walls and a retention pond. It turns out you cannot dig a retention pond because at two feet it hit the water table. Without the retention pond, it would not work. The City of Alexandria has got something going on that will alleviate some of that. That project is out. What did remain under the resiliency program is what you have of the map in front of you, drainage improvements in Cloverdale/Ball Lane area, with a retention pond on the south side of Highway 28 West. All of the drainage improvements will allow the water to flow out of that area where there is constant flooding and rather than shooting it across and down the stream to the next set of homes, a retention pond will retain some of the water, so it doesn’t flow down as fast. Also, there is back water flooding of Flat Bayou and Pecan Bayou and that retention pond could provide some protection for those residents. This morning, we had new information, it is not in writing, but we believe there will not be a 25% match requirement on these funds. That makes the elevations and buy outs of homes, much more powerful, because people will not have to come up with a 25% match to elevate or take a 25% reduction on payment for their home if it’s in acquisition. Your participation will go way up when its 100% funded. So, Rapides Area Planning Commission’s recommendation, because we believe the 25% match will not be required for this first round of funding, is to pursue parish wide elevations and buy outs as far as we can make these dollars go with this $2,054,418 and then push the capital projects through for consideration under Round 2 funding, which President Smith mentioned at 4.88 million. So, it is not what the mandate told us the 4.88 it is in addition to the 2 million you have on Round 1. It is going to be a significant amount of money that we need to plan for. With both capital JUNE 18, 2021

improvements, we are recommending that you push for Round 2 and work with elevations now.

Mr. Craig Smith questioned if the four million is in addition and it will be six million, to which Mr. Johns stated yes.

Mr. Smith stated we can help a lot more people and still have enough money to do the Cloverdale/Ball project. Mr. Smith explained the Cloverdale/Ball project and about the retention pond. This can be done as Round 2 and Gravity Drainage District No. 2 has agreed to help. It will help tremendously alleviate a lot of the drainage.

Discussion ensued.

Mr. Smith stated with the Governor signing off on additional funding yesterday, we go from a little over 2 million to about 6.8 million dollars. We can do these two projects in full and then add more projects. We will have additional monies in Round 2.

Discussion ensued.

On motion by Mr. Ollie Overton, seconded by Mr. Joe Bishop, to authorize Round 1 funding under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for Hurricane Laura project be used for parish wide elevation or buy out of residential properties that continue flooding from major storm events, as recommended by the Rapides Area Planning Commission. On vote the motion carried.

On motion by Mr. Ollie Overton, seconded by Mr. Joe Bishop, to authorize the Parish President to submit an application for the Round 1 funding under the Hazard Mitigation Program for Hurricane Laura and sign all necessary documents. On vote the motion carried.

On motion by Mr. Joe Bishop, seconded by Mr. Ollie Overton, to authorize to purchase vehicle for Rapides Parish Sales Tax Office, off City of Alexandria Bid #2291 and delete/trade in two vehicles bearing Asset #10100 (2007 Ford Taurus) and #10099 (2007 Ford Taurus) against the purchase, as requested by Department Head and Purchasing Agent. On vote the motion carried.

On motion by Mr. Joe Bishop, seconded by Mr. Ollie Overton, there being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:46 p.m.