MFDA Board Meeting – August 27, 2026

See full minutes. 

A regular meeting of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority Board of Authority was held on August 27, 2026. The following members were present: Eric Gjerdevig, Mayor, City of West Fargo; Josh Boschee, Mayor, City of Fargo; Rick Steen, Manager, Cass County Joint Water Resource District; Jim Kapitan, Cass County Commissioner; Tony Grindberg, Cass County Commissioner; Kevin Campbell, Clay County Commissioner; David Ebinger, Clay County Commissioner; Lisa Borgen, Moorhead City Council; Chuck Hendrickson, Moorhead City Council and Chad Peterson, Fargo City Commission.

Member(s) absent: Duane Breitling, Cass County Commissioner; Shelly Carlson, Mayor, City of Moorhead; and Michelle Turnberg, Fargo City Commissioner.

 

1. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Boschee called the meeting to order at 3:30 PM. Roll call was taken, and a quorum was present.

 

2. APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE JULY 2026 BOARD OF AUTHORITY MEETING MOTION PASSED

Mr. Steen moved to approve the minutes from the July 2026 meeting and Mr. Ebinger seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the motion carried.

 

3. APPROVE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Campbell moved to approve the order of the agenda and Ms. Borgen seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the motion carried.

 

4. APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Steen moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented and Mr. Campbell seconded the motion. On a roll call vote, the motion carried.

 

5. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE

a. Bridge Completion Event

Mr. Benson reported that a ribbon cutting ceremony was held on the 52^nd Avenue bridge, the last of the 19 bridges that have been constructed. Mayor Boschee and commissioners also attended the ceremony.

b. Senator Hoeven Press Conference

Senator John Hoeven held a press conference at the Larry Richard farm regarding the Federal Crop Loss Insurance program. Since the current Federal Crop Loss Insurance program does not cover a man-made flood event, he highlighted our internal Crop Loss program that would provide additional coverage to ag producer(s) in the event the diversion needed to operate.

c. FEMA Meetings

FEMA staff were in Fargo for two days for meetings and a tour of the project. The Denver regional director for region 8 was also in attendance for a short period of time but she was able to go on the tour and was very impressed with the progress.

d. September 15 Board Retreat

Reminder that a Board Retreat will be held at the MFDA office (4784 Amber Valley Parkway South) beginning at noon on September 15. There will also be a tour of the southern areas and wrapping up by 5:30 PM.

e. Clay County Flood Funds

Steve Larson notified Mr. Benson that of the $9,000,000, the Minnesota Legislature set aside for flood mitigation projects, Clay County will receive $1,200,000; that will be matched by MFDA for a total of $2,400,000 in funding for Minnesota. It is anticipated that the full amount will be allocated to the Wolverton ring levee project.

 

6. GENERAL COUNSEL UPDATE

a. WIFIA Update

Mr. Shockley reported that the next draw is anticipated to be received by September 15 in the amount of $30,500,000. This is draw #3 of the loan.

 

7. PROJECT UPDATES

a. USACE Project Update

Ms. Williams provided the following USACE update:

1 Red River Structure (RRS)

Structure includes 3-50 ft. wide Tainter gates. Construction is 97% complete. Contract completion date is 20 August 2026. Final inspections ongoing. Turnover to Sponsors for OMRRR anticipated in early to mid-September 2026.

2 Reach SE-1B

91% complete. Grading ongoing. Contract completion date will be extended to early Sept 2026.

3 Reach SE-2B

98% complete. Seeding is ongoing. Contract completion date is 23 October 2026.

4 Reach SE-3

53% complete. Embankment construction is ongoing. County Road 81 paving was completed on 14 August. Contract completion date is 19 October 2026.

5 Reach SE-4

70% complete. Embankment, topsoiling ongoing. 160th (CR#2) up-and-over complete. Contract completion date is 15 October 2026.

6 Reach SE-5

50% complete. Hwy 75 reopened 31 July. Soil-cement placement is ongoing. Contract completion date is 31 October 2026.

7 Forest Mitigation

Three Contracts. Planting/maintenance is ongoing. Completion dates are December 2028.

8 Drain 27 Wetland Mitigation Project Plantings

Native plantings 5-year contract for wetland establishment. Completion date is 2 December 2027.

Operations, Maintenance, Repair, Replacement, Rehabilitation (OMRRR)

9 Wild Rice River Structure (WRRS)

Turnover to MFDA for OMRRR occurred 20 July 2026. OMRRR manual being developed.

10 Diversion Inlet Structure (DIS)

Turnover to MFDA occurred on 15 June 2026. OMRRR manual being developed.

11 OHB Reach 43-B Ring Levee

Turnover to MFDA occurred on 29 December 2025. Turf maintenance ongoing.

12 I-29 Raise

Turnover to MFDA occurred on 20 December 2025. Preparation of O&M documents is ongoing.

13 Drayton Dam Mitigation Project

Turnover to MFDA occurred on 28 Nov 2023. OMRRR manual coordination continues.

14 Reach SE-1

Turnover to MFDA occurred on 29 December 2022. OMRRR manual complete.

b. SWDCAI Project Update

Mr. Bakkegard provided an update of the construction map that shows the current work in progress, and the 30 and 60-day projected progress:

Progress Map Updates

•        Sheyenne River Aqueduct

•        Raymond N & S Inlets

•        Drain 14B Inlet

•        Channel Reaches 6, 7

30- to 60-Day Outlook

•        Red River Structure

•        AAB

•        SE-3, 4, 5

•        Drain 14C

•        Channel Reaches 8 – 13

c. Project Safety Update

Mr. Bakkegard reported that it was a good month with no recordable incidents and only a few near misses.

d. P3 Monthly Update

Mr. Bakkegard highlighted the O& M section in August monthly update.

OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE

RRVA continued general inspections throughout the ROW, Local Drainage inspections to ensure ditches and culverts are free from debris, and Interim Completion Element inspections. The Developer has stated its primary focus is areas that are submitted for Interim Completion.

There were two Certificates for Interim Completion issued to the Developer in July. One Certificate was issued to the Developer for BNSF Hillsboro Shoofly Removal on July 21st, and one Certificate was issued to the Developer for BNSF Prosper Shoofly Removal on July 21st. Issuance of Certificates Interim Completion prompts the commencement of all performance requirements in accordance with the Project Agreement. In the case of the BNSF shoofly removals, there are no O&M requirements beyond the 90-day Punch List period. The Developer will have to follow the requirements in the Temporary Construction Easements (TCE) to close the TCEs and turn the land over to the landowners.

The inspections for Drain 29 Inlet, Drain 30 Inlet, CR 20 Crossing, CR 32 Crossing, CR 4/31 Crossing and Roadway Improvements, Channel Reach 02, 170th Ave Crossing Drain 13 & 30, Berlin Township Drain Inlet, CR 10 Crossing, Diversion Outlet, Rush River Inlet, Lower Rush River Inlet Channel Reach 05, Channel Reach 01, and Channel Reach 14 are being recorded and managed in ‘Cityworks’, the Computerized Management and Maintenance System (CMMS). As items are noted during those inspections, RRVA initiates Service Requests and Work Orders within Cityworks to ensure that the items are being taken care of per the required timelines.

RRVA continued mowing and weed control operations within Reaches 1, 2, 5 and 14. They continued road grading when required throughout the month. We continue to monitor RRVA’s inspections and their inputs in Cityworks. Through RRVA’s inspections, they have been working on erosion and scour repair, removing debris and sedimentation and repairing culvert end sections. The Authority continues to remind the Developer that the entire project ROW is of concern and will be reported under Nonconformance if its efforts are not apparent on project wide matters.

The report can be viewed in its entirety on the website at www.fmdiversion.gov. Please reach out to Mr. Barthel should you have any questions.

e. Monthly Drone Video

A video highlighting the progress that has been achieved in August 2026 was viewed.

 

8. COMMUNICATIONS TEAM UPDATE

Ms. Wieser Willson provided the following communications update:

PR/Media Relations:

• July construction update
• BuildWitt video report
• Sheyenne River reroute
• Bridge completion ribbon cutting
• Hoeven press conference
• KMPS-TV interview

Newsletter:

• Environmental compliance
• 9% open rate
• 8% click rate
• Most popular Faces video to date
• Next issue: PMC

Outreach:

• FM Realtors
• Rotary Club
• NWS & FEMA Tour

 

9. LAND MANAGEMENT UPDATE

a. Property Acquisition Status Report

Mr. Fisher provided the following property acquisition status report:

Key Activities:

• In the last month, successfully closed 8 parcels / 5 owners in the UMA and City of Wolverton
• Continued negotiating settlement agreements for existing eminent domain actions
• To date, completed three (3) eminent domain trials in Cass County. No new trials in the last month.
• Completed site inspections and initial discovery hearing for the actions in Minnesota.
• Scheduled Commissioner Hearings for Minnesota actions.
• Negotiated many settlements since completing the first trial.
• 13 pending settlement offers with property owners.
• Closings are pending for:
• MN: 2 parcels / 1 owner/160 Flowage Easement Acres
• ND: 34 parcels / 12 owners/1,698 Flowage Easement Acres
• 22,0114 acres of flowage easements have been acquired, and 5,076 acres are outstanding
• Continued development of the MFDA’s post operation clean-up and restoration programs
• Continued development of the MFDA’s crop loss programs

Property Acquisition Progress:

• 4% completion in the Construction Footprint
• 8% completion in the UMA Footprint
• 3% of the parcels in the Southern Embankment have been acquired
• 8% of the parcels in the Upstream Mitigation Area have been acquired
• 8% of the Environmental Easements have been signed
• 100% completed: Stormwater Diversion Channel; Oxbow-Hickson-Bakke levee; in-town levees and the Drayton Dam mitigation

 

10. FINANCE UPDATE

a. Sales Tax Update

Mr. Steen reported that sale tax receipts from Cass County are up 14.8% from this time last year and the City of Fargo is up 7% from prior year.

 

11. OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business.

12. PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

 

13. CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION

*Closed Executive Session pursuant to N.D.C.C. 44-04-19.1 (2) and (9) to discuss negotiating strategy and to provide negotiating instructions to its General Counsel, Executive Director and Director of land regarding (1) a requested amendment to the ICE Advance Agreement between the MFDA, RRVA and ASN; and (2) to discuss negotiation strategy regarding the sale of the Horace Elevator.

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Grindberg moved to go into executive session, and Mr. Steen seconded the motion. On a roll call vote, a quorum retreated to the Red River Room at 3:58 PM.

A quorum returned to the Commission Chambers at 5:16 PM.

 

14.  NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be on September 24, 2026.

 15. ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Peterson moved to adjourn, and Mr. Grindberg seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the meeting adjourned at 5:18 PM.