New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commission public meetings in 2020

Public Belt Railroad Commission

The Board of Commissioners will meet to review the November financial statement and consider a contract for railroad equipment. The meeting includes a proposed resolution to award a contract for the purchase and delivery of wheelsets.

• Resolution awarding a contract to Wheel Worx, LLC for as-needed purchase and delivery of wheelsets
• Contract amount not to exceed $1,500,000 for the full term
• Acceptance of the November financial statement

The Commission approved a contract for the as-needed purchase and delivery of wheelsets. The board also accepted the November financial statement and approved the previous month's meeting minutes.

• Approved contract to Wheel Worx, LLC for wheelsets not to exceed $1,500,000 (Unanimous)
• Accepted November financial statement (Unanimous)
• Approved November 2020 meeting minutes (Unanimous)

Public Belt Railroad Commission

The Commission approved two infrastructure contracts totaling over $2.5 million for the Cotton Warehouse yard and the Kingfish Rail Yard. The board also accepted the October financial statement and approved the previous month's meeting minutes.

• Approved $1,594,900 contract to STX Corp. for electric controlled hydraulic actuation switch machines (Unanimous)
• Approved $964,097.50 contract to Pointer Smith Contracting Corporation for Kingfish Rail Yard construction (Unanimous)
• Accepted October financial statement (Unanimous)
• Approved October 2020 meeting minutes (Unanimous)

Public Belt Railroad Commission

The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commission is meeting to review financial statements and consider two construction and equipment contracts. The meeting is being held virtually due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

• Proposed contract for STX Corp. for $1,594,900 for the Electric Controlled Hydraulic Actuation Switch Machines Project
• Proposed contract for Pointer Smith Contracting Corporation for $964,097.50 for the Construction of Kingfish Rail Yard in Jefferson Parish

Public Belt Railroad Commission

The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commission is meeting to review financial statements and employee benefit agreements. The board will also consider a lease agreement for property located on the Westbank of Jefferson Parish.

• Proposed lease agreement with National Maintenance & Repair of Louisiana, Inc. for property on the Westbank of Jefferson Parish
• Proposed resolution for annual employee benefits including health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Acceptance of the September financial statement

The Commission approved annual employee benefit agreements and a five-year lease for barge mooring operations in Jefferson Parish. The board also accepted the September financial statements and meeting minutes.

• Approved September 2020 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
• Accepted September consolidated financial statements (Unanimous)
• Approved resolution for employee health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance benefits (Unanimous)
• Approved five-year lease agreement with National Maintenance & Repair of Louisiana, Inc. for Westbank property in Jefferson Parish (Unanimous)

Public Belt Railroad Commission

The Board of Commissioners will review a briefing on the status of the Commission transition and approve August 2020 meeting minutes. The agenda also includes a resolution regarding the official newspaper for the commission.

• Resolution declaring The New Orleans Advocate as the Official Journal
• Briefing on Status of Commission Transition
• Approval of August 2020 meeting minutes

Public Belt Railroad Commission

The Commission approved a resolution naming The New Orleans Advocate as its official journal for legal notices effective October 1, 2020. The board also received a briefing on the transition of assets and operations from the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Corporation to the Commission.

• Approved August 2020 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
• Approved resolution declaring The New Orleans Advocate as the official journal (Unanimous)

Public Belt Railroad Commission

The Board approved a contract with NARSTCO, Inc. for steel ties to be used at Kingfish Yard. The Board also adopted Freight Tariff NOPB 9000-A, which updates business terms and rates. Both the Corporation and the Commission approved the new tariff.

• Approved $550,550 contract to NARSTCO, Inc. for 5,500 steel ties (Unanimous)
• Approved adoption of Freight Tariff NOPB 9000-A and cancellation of NOPB 9000 (Unanimous)
• Approved July 2020 meeting minutes (Unanimous)

Public Belt Railroad Commission

The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Corporation and Commission are meeting to discuss infrastructure contracts, the sale of surplus property, and the establishment of Commission bylaws and financial authorizations.

• Contract for 290 pieces of 80-foot 115-pound rail from Progress Rail Services Corporation for $333,210
• Sale of a part of Parcel D in the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Industrial Site Subdivision to St. Mary’s Dominican High School Corporation or affiliate
• Sale of surplus passenger car “City of Peru” and various locomotive parts for fair market value
• Adoption of Commission bylaws and designation of a registered agent
• Authorization for investment transactions and pledging of revenues for Port bonds

Public Belt Railroad Commission

The Board of Directors is meeting to review the Fiscal Year 2021 financial and operating plan. The agenda includes authorizing agreements for an upcoming $80 million bond indenture and several material supply contracts.

• Authorization of supplements to agreements related to an upcoming $80 million bond indenture
• Contract for granite ballast from Pontchartrain Materials Corporation, L.L.C. not to exceed $600,000
• Contract for limestone ballast from Pontchartrain Materials Corporation, L.L.C. not to exceed $1,530,000
• Contract for crushed concrete from Pontchartrain Materials Corporation, L.L.C. not to exceed $1,410,000
• Cooperative agreement with New Orleans Regional Transit Authority regarding Canal Street Ferry Terminal Project

The Board of Directors approved the Fiscal Year 2021 Financial and Operating Plan and ratified the contract renewal for CEO Brandy D. Christian. The Board also authorized multiple contracts with Pontchartrain Materials Corporation, L.L.C. for ballast and crushed concrete. Additionally, the Board approved a new agreement with the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority regarding the Canal Street Ferry Terminal Project.

• Approved January, March, April, and May 2020 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Approved FY2021 Financial and Operating Plan (unanimous)
• Authorized CEO to enter supplements to the Revenue Pledge and Security Agreement for $80 million bond indenture (unanimous)
• Awarded granite ballast contract to Pontchartrain Materials Corporation, L.L.C. up to $600,000 (unanimous)
• Awarded limestone ballast contract to Pontchartrain Materials Corporation, L.L.C. up to $1,530,000 (unanimous)
• Awarded crushed concrete contract to Pontchartrag Materials Corporation, L.L.C. up to $1,410,000 (unanimous)
• Designated The New Orleans Advocate as the official journal for FY2021 (unanimous)
• Authorized new agreement with RTA regarding Canal Street Ferry Terminal Project (unanimous)

Public Belt Railroad Commission

The Board of Directors will meet virtually to review several action items. These include a potential fuel contract and an agreement regarding the Manson Ditch Project.

• Contract with Retif Oil & Fuel, L.L.C. for diesel purchase not to exceed $2,850,000
• Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with Jefferson Parish for the Manson Ditch Project

The Board of Directors approved a contract for diesel fuel delivery and authorized a cooperative agreement with Jefferson Parish for the Manson Ditch Project. The board also reviewed reports on transportation operations, maintenance productivity, and COVID-19 impacts on staff.

• Approved contract to Retif Oil & Fuel, L.L.C. for diesel fuel up to $2,850,000 (unanimous)
• Approved resolution for CEO to enter Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with Jefferson Parish regarding Manson Ditch Project (unanimous)

Public Belt Railroad Commission

The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Corporation Board will meet virtually on April 23, 2020, due to the COVID-19 emergency. Action items include authorizing a $7.3 million federal CRISI grant for the New Orleans Gateway Rail Fluidity and Capacity Improvement Project, declaring 15 locomotives surplus for sale, and approving contracts for janitorial services (up to $150,000), trash disposal (up to $150,000), and engineering services (up to $500,000 per contract). The board will also consider a lease amendment for property near Iris Avenue and Hoey's Canal in Jefferson Parish and a bond-related resolution.

• Consider approval of a resolution to accept a $7,297,421 CRISI grant from the Federal Rail Administration for the New Orleans Gateway Rail Fluidity and Capacity Improvement Project
• Consider approval of a resolution to declare 15 locomotives surplus and sell them for fair market value
• Consider approval of a contract with MesaLain Consulting Group LLC for janitorial services, not to exceed $150,000 for one year with two one-year renewal options
• Consider approval of a contract with BFI Waste Services LLC (Republic Services) for trash disposal, not to exceed $150,000 for one year with two one-year renewal options
• Consider approval of contracts with Hardesty & Hanover LLC and Linfield, Hunter & Junius, Inc. for as-needed engineering services, not to exceed $500,000 per contract for two years

The Board of Directors approved several resolutions, including accepting a federal CRISI grant to fund the New Orleans Gateway Rail Fluidity and Capacity Improvement Project. The Board also authorized various service contracts and the sale of surplus locomotives.

• Approved resolution for bond-related revenue pledge supplements (Unanimous)
• Approved lease amendment for property near Iris Avenue and Hoey’s Canal (Unanimous)
• Approved MesaLain Consulting Group contract for janitorial services up to $150,000 (Unanimous)
• Approved Republic Services contract for trash disposal up to $150,000 (Unanimous)
• Approved engineering service contracts with Hardesty & Hanover and Linfield, Hunter & Junius up to $500,000 each (Unanimous)
• Approved acceptance of $7,297,421 federal CRISI grant for rail projects (Unanimous)
• Approved declaration of 15 locomotives as surplus property for sale (Unanimous)

Public Belt Railroad Commission

The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Board will meet virtually on March 26, 2020 due to COVID-19. They will consider ratifying the CEO's emergency declaration and approving $1,496,097 in insurance renewals. The meeting is livestreamed via Zoom with public chat comments accepted.

• Ratify CEO's emergency declaration for COVID-19
• Approve $1,496,097 in property, casualty, and cyber insurance renewals through Arthur J Gallagher
• Meeting held virtually due to COVID-19 public health emergency

The Board of Directors approved a resolution to ratify the CEO's COVID-19 emergency declaration, amended to include an expiration of authority. The Board also authorized the renewal of various property and casualty insurance policies.

• Approved amended resolution ratifying CEO's COVID-19 emergency declaration (unanimous)
• Approved renewal of property and casualty insurance policies at a cost of $1,496,097 (unanimous)

Public Belt Railroad Commission

The Board of Directors will meet to conduct regular business including the approval of December 2019 minutes and financial statements. The agenda also includes a report from the General Manager.

• Approval of December 2019 Public Meeting Minutes
• Acceptance of December 2019 Financial Statement
• Report by the General Manager

The Board of Directors approved the December 2019 public meeting minutes and accepted the December 2019 financial statement. The General Manager reported on rail operations, including switching volumes and locomotive fleet status. No other substantive actions were taken.

• Approved December 2019 public meeting minutes (Unanimous)
• Accepted December 2019 financial statement (Unanimous)