New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commission public meetings in 2021
12 substantive meetings from 2021, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Public Belt Railroad Commission
The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commission will consider awarding a $921,109 contract for rail materials and authorizing a settlement agreement in a lawsuit with the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East. The meeting also includes approval of November financial statements and election of an officer.
- Contract award to A & K Railroad Materials, Inc. for 10 pieces of 1,600-foot 115-pound rail at $921,109.89
- Resolution to authorize CEO to enter into settlement in Orleans Levee District v. NOPB Railroad Commission
- Closed executive session to discuss the flood authority lawsuit
- Election for officer vacancy
The Commission approved a contract for rail materials and authorized a legal settlement. The board also accepted the November 2021 financial statement and elected a new Vice-Chairman.
- Approved $921,109.89 contract to A & K Railroad Materials, Inc. for rail on Huey P. Long Bridge (Unanimous)
- Authorized CEO to enter settlement agreement in Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East, Orleans Levee District v. New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commission (Unanimous)
- Accepted November 2021 financial statement (Unanimous)
- Appointed Vice-Chairman Charles H. Ponstein as Temporary Secretary for the meeting (Unanimous)
- Elected William H. Langenstein, III as Vice-Chairman through September 2022 (Unanimous)
- Approved November 2021 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
Public Belt Railroad Commission
The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commission is meeting to review October 2021 financial statements and meeting minutes. The board will consider a contract for bridge painting services.
- Proposed contract to Southern Road & Bridge, LLC for $5,446,600 for Huey P. Long Bridge Segment 8 Painting Project
The Commission approved a contract for bridge painting and accepted the October 2021 financial statement. The board also approved the meeting minutes from October 2021.
- Approved $5,446,600 contract to Southern Road & Bridge, LLC for Huey P. Long Bridge Segment 8 Painting Project (Unanimous)
- Accepted October 2021 financial statement (Unanimous)
- Approved October 2021 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
Public Belt Railroad Commission
The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commission is meeting to review financial statements and employee benefits. The board will consider a resolution authorizing the CEO to enter into annual agreements for health, dental, vision, and other insurance coverages.
- Approval of annual agreements for employee health, dental, vision, long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment, and life insurance
- Acceptance of the September 2021 Financial Statement
The Commission approved the September 2021 financial statement and authorized annual employee benefit agreements for health, dental, vision, and life insurance. The board also reviewed operational impacts caused by Hurricane Ida.
- Approved September 2021 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Accepted September 2021 financial statement (Unanimous)
- Approved resolution for employee health, dental, vision, LTD, AD&D, and life insurance agreements (Unanimous)
Public Belt Railroad Commission
The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commission will meet to review financial statements and discuss emergency measures. The session includes a briefing on the Chief Executive Officer's declaration of extreme public emergency regarding Hurricane Ida.
- Briefing on the CEO's Declaration of Extreme Public Emergency for Hurricane Ida impacts
- Acceptance of the August 2021 Financial Statement
The Commission approved the August 2021 meeting minutes and financial statement. The board received a briefing on a Declaration of Extreme Public Emergency issued by the CEO to mitigate impacts from Hurricane Ida.
- Approved August 2021 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Accepted August 2021 financial statement (Unanimous)
Public Belt Railroad Commission
The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commission holds a virtual regular board meeting to approve July financials, authorize up to $500,000 for re-railing services, ratify a freight tariff supplement, and discuss a settlement in a lawsuit with Zurich American Insurance. The meeting is conducted remotely due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- Consider approval of a resolution authorizing CEO to enter into contracts up to $500,000 for re-railing and related services for FY2022
- Consider approval of a resolution ratifying CEO's action in enacting Supplement 2 to Freight Tariff NOPB 9000-A
- Closed executive session to discuss Zurich American Insurance Co. v. New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Corp., Case No. 20-1412
- Consider approval of a resolution authorizing CEO to enter into a settlement agreement in the same lawsuit
The Commission approved a resolution allowing the CEO to contract up to $500,000 for emergency re-railing and railcar repair services for Fiscal Year 2022. The board also ratified a freight tariff amendment to adjust railcar length restrictions for charter train service. Additionally, a settlement agreement was approved regarding a lawsuit with Zurich American Insurance Company.
- Approved July 2021 financial statement (Unanimous)
- Approved resolution authorizing CEO to enter contracts up to $500,000 for FY2022 re-railing and related services (Unanimous)
- Approved resolution ratifying Supplement 2 to Freight Tariff NOPB 9000-A regarding railcar length restrictions (Unanimous)
- Approved resolution authorizing CEO to enter settlement agreement in Zurich American Insurance Company v. New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Corporation (Unanimous)
- Approved July 2021 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
Public Belt Railroad Commission
The Board of Commissioners will review the June 2021 financial statement and consider a resolution regarding auditor compliance. The meeting also includes a proposal for an engineering services contract.
- Acceptance of the June 2021 Financial Statement
- Resolution confirming compliance with Louisiana Legislative Auditor requirements
- Contract with Modjeski & Masters, Inc. for engineering services not to exceed $400,000 per year
The Board approved a contract for rail materials for the Kingfish Storage Yard and declared several parcels of land and equipment as surplus for sale. The meeting also included a report on railcar storage and locomotive updates.
- Approved $333,210 contract with Progress Rail Services Corporation for 290 pieces of rail (Unanimous)
- Approved declaring part of Parcel D in the Industrial Site Subdivision as surplus for sale to St. Mary’s Dominican High School Corporation (Unanimous)
- Approved declaring passenger car 'City of Peru' and various locomotive parts as surplus for sale at fair market value (Unanimous)
- Approved June 2020 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
Public Belt Railroad Commission
The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commission will consider several action items, including adopting the FY2022 financial and operating plan, increasing a contract with McCord Tie and Timber for cross ties, and adopting a multijurisdictional hazard mitigation plan. The meeting also includes approval of May 2021 minutes and a financial statement.
- Adoption of FY2022 Financial and Operating Plan
- Increase not-to-exceed cost for McCord Tie and Timber contract for cross ties
- Declaring The New Orleans Advocate as official journal for FY2022
- Adoption of 2021 Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
- Acceptance of May 2021 financial statement
The Commission unanimously approved the Fiscal Year 2022 Financial and Operating Plan and increased the spending limit for a rail tie purchase contract. The board also adopted a multijurisdictional hazard mitigation plan and designated The New Orleans Advocate as its official journal.
- Approved FY 2022 Financial and Operating Plan (Unanimous)
- Increased McCord Tie and Timber, Inc. contract not-to-exceed limit by $764,000 to a total of $1,364,000 (Unanimous)
- Adopted 2021 Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (Unanimous)
- Designated The New Orleans Advocate as Official Journal for FY 2022 (Unanimous)
- Accepted May 2021 financial statement (Unanimous)
- Approved May 2021 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
Public Belt Railroad Commission
The Board of Commissioners will meet to review the April 2021 financial statement and consider a resolution regarding surplus property. The proposed action would declare the passenger cars 'City of New Orleans' and 'Louisiana,' along with their accessory parts, as surplus and authorize the CEO to sell them for fair market value.
- Resolution to declare 'City of New Orleans' and 'Louisiana' passenger cars and accessories as surplus
- Authorization for the CEO to sell surplus property at fair market value
- Acceptance of the April 2021 financial statement
The Commission approved the sale of two 1927 passenger cars, the “City of New Orleans” and “Louisiana,” and their accessory parts. The board also accepted the April 2021 financial statement, which showed operating income exceeding the revised budget by $448,000 for the month.
- Approved April 2021 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Accepted April 2021 financial statement (Unanimous)
- Declared passenger cars “City of New Orleans” and “Louisiana” and accessory parts as surplus and authorized sale for fair market value (Unanimous)
Public Belt Railroad Commission
The Board of Commissioners will meet to conduct routine business, including the approval of previous minutes and the acceptance of a financial statement. The meeting is being held virtually due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- Approval of March 2021 meeting minutes
- Acceptance of the March 2021 financial statement
The Commission unanimously approved the meeting minutes from March 2021 and the financial statement for March 2021. The General Manager reported record high intermodal container volumes and the highest local switching volume in 12 months.
- Approved March 2021 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Accepted March 2021 financial statement (Unanimous)
Public Belt Railroad Commission
The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commission will consider several action items at its March 2021 regular meeting, including renewing a contract with Omega Industries for concrete grade crossing panels at up to $115,000 per year, adopting a tariff supplement, and declaring two passenger cars surplus for sale. The meeting will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- Consider approval of resolution to exercise remaining renewal options with Omega Industries, Inc. for concrete grade crossing panels, cost not to exceed $115,000 per year
- Consider approval of resolution adopting Supplement 1 to Freight Tariff NOPB 9000-A
- Consider approval of resolution declaring passenger cars 'City of New Orleans' and 'Louisiana' and accessories as surplus, authorizing sale at fair market value
- Consider approval of resolution adopting prior resolutions of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Corporation and ratifying actions by the CEO
- Election for board officer vacancy
The Commission approved a contract renewal for concrete grade crossing panels and adopted a supplement to the freight tariff for military trains. The board also ratified previous resolutions from the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Corporation and elected a new Secretary-Treasurer.
- Approved February 2021 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Accepted February 2021 financial statement (Unanimous)
- Approved renewal options for Omega Industries, Inc. concrete grade crossing panels contract, not to exceed $115,000 per year (Unanimous)
- Approved Supplement 1 to Freight Tariff NOPB 9000-A regarding non-dimensional military trains (Unanimous)
- Tabled resolution to declare passenger cars 'City of New Orleans' and 'Louisiana' as surplus (Unanimous)
- Approved adoption and ratification of prior resolutions of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Corporation (Unanimous)
- Elected Darryl D. Berger as Secretary-Treasurer (Unanimous)
Public Belt Railroad Commission
The Public Belt Railroad Commission will consider renewing insurance policies at up to $1.7M, awarding a $165,000 contract to Coastal Contractors for Huey P. Long Bridge repairs, and authorizing a resolution to support the Port's $30 million bond issuance.
- Acceptance of January 2021 financial statement
- Resolution to renew general liability, property, cyber, and other insurance at cost not to exceed $1,709,906 through Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Services
- Resolution to enter supplements to subordinate revenue pledge for Port's $30 million bond issuance
- Resolution awarding $165,000 contract to Coastal Contractors, LLC for Huey P. Long Bridge girder repair
The Commission approved several financial and operational resolutions, including insurance renewals and a bridge repair contract. It also accepted the January 2021 financial statement and authorized revenue pledges for a $30 million indenture.
- Approved January 2021 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Accepted January 2021 financial statement (Unanimous)
- Approved insurance renewals for general liability and other coverages not to exceed $1,709,906 (Unanimous)
- Approved resolution to enter supplements to the Subordinate Revenue Pledge for a $30 million indenture (Unanimous)
- Awarded $165,000 contract to Coastal Contractors, LLC to repair a girder on the Huey P. Long Bridge (Unanimous)
Public Belt Railroad Commission
The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commission is meeting to review financial statements and operating plans. The board will consider authorizing the CEO to renew a service agreement for grade crossing protection and hydraulic switches.
- Proposed renewal of agreement with C.D.L. Electric Company, Inc. for a cost not to exceed $275,000 per year
- Proposed amendment to the Financial and Operating Plan for Fiscal Year 2021
- Acceptance of the December 2020 Financial Statement
The Commission approved an amended Fiscal Year 2021 financial plan to account for COVID-19 pandemic revenue losses. It also authorized the renewal of a contract for grade crossing and hydraulic switch services. The December 2020 meeting minutes and financial statements were accepted.
- Approved December 2020 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Accepted December financial statement (Unanimous)
- Approved amended FY 2021 Financial and Operating Plan reducing revenue projections by $3M and expenses by $2.1M (Unanimous)
- Approved renewal of two one-year options for C.D.L. Electric Company, Inc. for grade crossing and hydraulic switch services, not to exceed $275,000 per year (Unanimous)