Land Management Committee Meeting – July 24, 2024

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A meeting of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority Land Management Committee was held on July 24, 2024. The following members were present: Mary Scherling, Cass County Commissioner; Nathan Boerboom, Fargo Division Engineer; Matt Stamness, Cass County Engineer; Michelle Turnberg, Fargo City Commissioner; Brenda Derrig, Assistant Administrator, City of Fargo; Jenny Mongeau, Clay County Commissioner; Kevin Campbell, Clay County Commissioner; Chuck Hendrickson, Moorhead City Council and Duane Breitling, Cass County Commissioner.

Member(s) absent: Bob Zimmerman, Moorhead City Engineer, and Rodger Olson, Cass County Joint Water Resource District.

1. INTRODUCTION

Mrs. Scherling called the meeting to order at 3:00 PM. Roll call was taken, and a quorum was present.

2. APPROVE MEETING MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 2024 MEETING

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Hendrickson moved to approve the minutes from June 26, 2024, and Mr. Stamness seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the motion carried.

3. APPROVE ORDER OF AGENDA

MOTION PASSED

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

4. & 5.   OINs 7249, 7247 AND 7248 EXCESS LAND RECOMMENDATIONS

Ms. Smith introduced the above-referenced OINs and asked for approval to sell the parcels per the Excess Lands Policy.

OIN 7249: The Metro Flood Diversion Authority (MFDA) Co-Executive Directors recommended that OIN

7249 be declared as Excess Land on April 17th, 2024. The MFDA Land Management Committee, Cass County Joint Water Resources District (CCJWRD) Board, and MFDA Board approved the recommendation on April 24th and 25th, 2024. Since that approval, staff have been working to notify the appropriate parties as outlined in the Policy of the Disposition and Management of Comprehensive Project Lands (Policy). With no interest from the Member Entities or Prior Owner, we notified the Adjacent Owners, as noted in section 5.4 of the Policy. To date we have received an intent to purchase from all notified parties and we have prepared a map exhibit depicting our recommended approach for splitting and selling OIN 7249 to the Adjacent Owners.

OINs 7347 AND 7248: The Metro Flood Diversion Authority (MFDA) Co-Executive Directors recommended that OINs 7247 and 7248 be declared as Excess Land on April 17th, 2024. The MFDA Land Management Committee, Cass County Joint Water Resources District (CCJWRD) Board, and MFDA Board approved the recommendation on April 24th and 25th, 2024. Since that approval, staff have been working to notify the appropriate parties as outlined in the Policy of the Disposition and Management of Comprehensive Project Lands (Policy). With no interest from the Member Entities or Prior Owner, we notified the Adjacent Owners, as noted in section 5.4 of the Policy. To date we have received an intent to purchase from all notified parties. Additionally, we have received interest from one property owner to purchase all of 7248 and the entire 7247 corridor.

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Breitling moved to approve the sale of OINs 7249, 7247 and 7248 per the Excess Land Policy and Mr. Campbell seconded the motion. On a roll call vote, the motion carried.

6. OINs 7234A AND 7234B VARIANCE TO THE EXCESS LAND POLICY

The MFDA Land Management Committee, at its June 28th meeting recommended development of a variance to the Policy of Disposition and Management of Comprehensive Project Lands (Policy) to use a public sale for disposal of specific parcels associated with the old elevator and abandoned railroad corridor in Horace, ND. This variance to the Policy means that the potential sale will bypass the sequential notification to the Member Entities, Prior Owners, and Adjacent Owners, and start with a public sale.

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Breitling moved to approve the disposal of OINs 7234A and 7234B per the variance to the Excess Land Policy and Mr. Stamness seconded the motion. On a roll call vote, the motion carried.

7. OIN 858 EXCESS LAND RECOMMENDATION

Excess land was purchased in the upstream mitigation area. The former owner desired a full-take buyout of the property. The former buildings on the parcel have been demoed and the site has been restored. Per the Policy, the Co-Executive Directors have declared these lands as Excess Land.

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Stamness moved to approve OIN 858 (11.79 acres), subject to a flowage easement, to begin the process to dispose of the excess land per the policy on the Disposition and Management of Comprehensive Project Lands and Mr. Breitling seconded the motion. On a roll call vote, the motion carried.

8. OTHER BUSINESS

There was no additional business to discuss.

9. NEXT MEETING

To be determined.

10. ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Breitling moved to adjourn, and Mr. Campbell seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 3:29 PM.