Board approves pump repairs, contractor invoices and temporary land appropriation for construction access

The South-of-Bishop levee-district board on July 13 approved several operational items: authorization to begin repair work on a damaged pump, payment of contractor invoices, and a temporary appropriation of land for construction access.

Project engineer Joe Pecceola reported that a 30-inch pump at Pump Station Number 1 had severe internal damage (the bell housing had come off) and that Bowling Marine provided a repair estimate of $205,435 to refurbish the unit. "We did get a cost estimate for, from Bowling Marine to do that for those repairs. The total amount is $205,435," Pecceola said. The board moved to authorize starting the repair process and the motion passed.

The board also approved payment of several invoices presented by engineers: Angellet Design recommended paying Confluence & Sons Construction invoice No. 1522 for $28,560 for B South slope repairs, and approved payment of Tidewater Dock's intracoastal floodwall power-repair invoice for $135,909.07 (insurance proceeds were reported as received). Both recommendations were moved and adopted.

Separately, the board considered a complex right-of-way issue on an A East tract with multiple successions and recommended appropriating the affected tracts for a temporary construction servitude (six or so tracts for roughly 6–12 months of use to move dirt). Legal counsel and staff described the process and the board voted, by roll call, to add the appropriation to the agenda and then approved the appropriation. Staff will send notices to property heirs and proceed with the temporary servitude appropriation as authorized.

The actions will allow repair work, continued levee and borrow-pit access, and payment to contractors to proceed under board authorization.