FM Diversion Board Of Authority Meeting – March 24, 2022

A regular meeting of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority Board of Authority was held on March 24, 2022. The following members were present: Chad Peterson, Cass County Commissioner; Bernie Dardis, Mayor, City of West Fargo; Dr. Tim Mahoney, Mayor, City of Fargo; Shelly Carlson, Mayor, City of Moorhead; Chuck Hendrickson, Moorhead City Council; David Ebinger, Clay County Commissioner; John Strand, Fargo City Commissioner; Kevin Campbell, Clay County Commissioner; Mary Scherling, Cass County Commissioner; Rick Steen, Cass County Commissioner and Rodger Olson, Cass County Joint Water Resource District.

Members absent: Dave Piepkorn, Fargo City Commissioner and Larry Seljevold, Moorhead City Council.

1. CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Peterson called the meeting to order at 3:31 PM. Roll call was taken, and a quorum was present.

2. APPROVE MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 2022

MOTION PASSED

Mayor Carlson moved to approve the minutes from the February 2022 meeting and Mrs. Scherling seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the motion carried.

3. APPROVE ORDER OF AGENDA

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Ebinger moved to approve the order of the agenda as presented and Mayor Carlson seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the motion carried.

CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Campbell moved to approve the consent agenda and Mr. Hendrickson seconded the motion. On a roll call vote, the motion carried.

4. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT

Mr. Paulsen provided the following current events update:

Media Highlights & Events

• Kris Bakkegard and Jason Benson presented at the ND Transportation Conference on March 2, 2022
• John Shockley and Joel Paulsen presented at the P3 Conference on March 15, 2022
• Flowage Easement Public Meetings held March 14-16 and March 21 & 22, 2022
• Groundbreaking ceremony for DCAI tentatively scheduled for June 28, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.

Major Project Accomplishments

• Received the Water P3 Deal of the year award on March 3, 2022
• Received the IJ Global Award for Public Project of the Year on March 17, 2022

P3 Updates

• NTP1 issued on February 28, 2022
• Kickoff workshop held on February 22, 2022
• NTP2 is estimated for June 2022

USACE Updates

• On schedule to award Red River Structure project in March 2022
• Drain 27 bids received
• Drayton Dam and SEAI Reach SE-2A projects out for bid and due in April 2022
• Starting design of SEAI reaches SE-4 and SE-5 in Minnesota

5. GENERAL COUNSEL UPDATE

Mr. Shockley did not have anything new to report.

6. USACE SAFETY BRIEFING AND PROJECT UPDATE

Mr. Paulsen provided a brief update in the executive director report.

 7.PUBLIC OUTREACH UPDATE

Mr. Olson reported that the committee did not meet but five informational open houses were held for landowners with good turnout.

Ms. Willson provided the following update on the public outreach/communication efforts:

Recently Completed

Videos:

• Operations Video
• Construction Update
• Drone footage of first DIS gate deliveries

Website:

• Authority page updated
• Media kit added
• Discovery session for new site

PR: International awards release

Collateral Materials: DRB recruitment

Conferences/Meetings:

• P3 Conference & Expo
• Flowage Easement public meetings

Coming Soon

Videos: Land Agent profiles

Social Media: 2009 flood crest commemoration

Conferences/Speaking Engagements:

• P3 Water Summit panel presentation
• WTOC update
• NDSU classes

Research: Preliminary meetings with partners and NDSU for labor/housing study Message Map: Acquisition prices

Crisis Communications Plan: In final review

8. LAND MANAGEMENT UPDATES

Mrs. Scherling provided the following land activities and achievements update:

• Acquisitions
• Offer letters sent and negotiations starting for flowage easements on 361 parcels in UMA
• Continue working on acquiring Structures and Structure Sites in UMA, and Environmental

Monitoring Easements

• Acquired property interests on over 760 parcels (including those acquired via last resort eminent domain, and including split parcels)
• Appraisal Work
• Appraisals ongoing for Upstream Structures (farmsteads, rural residential, etc.)
• Phase 2 Flowage Easement Appraisals approved by CCJWRD and MCCJPA in February 2022
• Appraisal work will be started for SE-2B in April
• Other Key Focus Areas
• Five open house, informational meetings held for upstream property owners (March 14-22)
• Supporting current eminent domain actions and settlement solutions
• Relocations and farmstead re-establishment planning
• 2022 farmland lease agreements

MCCJPA Update

Mr. Campbell reported that a couple of flowage easements and differential payments were approved and farmland leases for 2022 are currently being reviewed. One appraisal and one housing relocation was approved, and one landowner was granted a haying license.

CCJWRD Update

Mr. Olson reported that one business re-establishment and one offer of just compensation were approved and the RIMP loan process continues to move forward. Mr. Olson stated that he would like to continue utilizing land trades whenever possible.

9. FINANCE UPDATE

Mayor Dardis reported that all the contracting actions that were presented were approved and that we remain in a strong financial position.

Mayor Dardis and Dr. Mahoney extended their gratitude to Mr. Costin for his years of service to the city and the finance committee and wished him well upon his retirement.

10. OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Paulsen reported that the talking points have been updated for this quarter.

11. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will April 28, 2022.

12. ADJOURNMENT

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Campbell moved to adjourn, and Mayor Carlson seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 4:01 PM.