MFDA Finance Committee Meeting – February 25, 2026

See full minutes.

A regular meeting of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority Finance Committee was held on February 25, 2026. Members present: Bernie Dardis, Mayor, City of West Fargo; Dave Piepkorn, Fargo City Commissioner; Susan Thompson, Finance Director, City of Fargo; Mike Redlinger, Administrator, City of Fargo; Tony Grindberg, Cass County Commissioner; Dr. Tim Mahoney, Mayor, City of Fargo and Lori Johnson, Clay County Auditor/Treasurer.

Member(s) absent: Rick Steen, Cass County Joint Water Resource District; Jim Kapitan, Cass County Commissioner; Mike Rietz, Assistant City Manager, City of Moorhead; Sarah Heinle, Cass County Finance Director and Shelly Carlson, Mayor, City of Moorhead.

1. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Dardis called the meeting to order at 4:00 PM. Roll call was taken, and a quorum was present.

2. APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY 2026 MEETING

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Piepkorn moved to approve the minutes from the January 2026 meeting and Ms. Thompson seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the motion carried.

3. APPROVE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA

MOTION PASSED

Mayor Mahoney moved to approve the order of the agenda and Mr. Grindberg seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the motion carried.

4. APPROVAL OF BILLS

Ms. Thompson reported that the bills payable through February 17, 2026, total $1,241,170. Ms. Thompson noted that the bills were primarily project-related versus land-related.

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Piepkorn moved to approve the bills as presented and Mr. Grindberg seconded the motion. On a roll call vote, the motion carried.

5. FINANCIAL REPORT

Ms. Thompson reported the total assets as of January 31, 2026, are $222,830,721; liabilities total $147,316, and the total net cash position is $222,683,405. Ms. Thompson also noted that the sales tax receipts are from November 2025.

MOTION PASSED,

Ms. Thompson moved to approve the financial report as presented and Mr. Redlinger seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the motion carried.

6. CASH BUDGET REPORT

Mr. Barthel reported that sales tax receipts received through November 30, 2025, total $6,619,000; $4,347,000, was received from the City of Fargo and $2,272,000, was received from Cass County. Expenses totaled $47,740,591, with $43,155,814, paid to the developer for milestone payments. Additional expenses in lands and property are forthcoming with the pending settlements. The administrative budget continues to track under budget and there are no issues.

7. DA BOARD APPROVAL CONTRACTING ACTIONS

Mr. Bakkegard provided an overview and summary of the following contracting actions:     

a. Task Order 03 – Amendment 0 – JT Lawn Services & Landscaping, LLC – $358,783

2026 mowing and weed control services for MFDA property.

b. Work Package 52F – North Pleasant Cemetery Flood Protection Award Recommendation – $348,352

The contract for Work Package 52F North Pleasant Cemetery project, Cass County, North Dakota, was publicly advertised, and five bids were received at the virtual public bid opening held on February 12, 2026, at 1:00 pm.

The following bids were received:

1. Dirt Dynamics – $451,515
2. Industrial Builders Inc., – $408,920
3. LinnCo – $546,072
4. Meyer Contracting – $612,337
5. Schmidt & Sons Construction – $348,352

The engineer’s estimate for the project was: $390,000.

Jacobs (PMC), HMG LLC (EOR), and the Authority’s legal counsel have reviewed and evaluated the bid documents and recommend the Metro Flood Diversion Authority award the contract for WP52F to Schmidt & Sons Construction in the amount of $348,352, as the lowest responsive bidder.

MOTION PASSED

Mayor Mahoney moved to approve contracting actions a. & b., as presented, and Mr. Piepkorn seconded the motion. On a roll call vote, the motion carried.

8. OTHER BUSINESS

a. WIFIA SUBMITTAL

Mr. Barthel reported that the first WIFIA draw in the amount of $47,500,000, has been submitted and approved. It is anticipated that if the requests are submitted no later than the 1^st of the month, the MFDA will receive the draw by the 15^th of the month in which the request was submitted

9. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be on March 25, 2026.

10. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 4:13 PM.