MFDA Finance Committee Meeting – March 25, 2026

See full minutes.

A regular meeting of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority Finance Committee was held on March 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; 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 Lori Johnson, Clay County Auditor/Treasurer.

Member(s) absent: Dr. Tim Mahoney, Mayor, City of Fargo 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 FEBRUARY 2026 MEETING

MOTION PASSED

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

 

3. APPROVE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Steen moved to approve the order of the agenda and Mr. Piepkorn seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the motion carried.

 

4. APPROVAL OF BILLS

Ms. Thompson reported that the bills payable through March 17, 2026, total $1,298,778.

MOTION PASSED

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

 

5. FINANCIAL REPORT

Ms. Thompson reported the total assets as of February 28, 2026, are $219,679,144; liabilities total $128,115, and the total net cash position is $219,551,029.

MOTION PASSED,

Mr. Piepkorn moved to approve the financial report as presented and Mr. Kapitan seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the motion carried.

 

6. CASH BUDGET REPORT

Mr. Benson provided the February 2026 cash budget report and indicated that sales tax receipts came in slightly higher than projected. The first WIFIA draw for $47,500,000, has been received and will be reflected next month. $52,098,727, has been paid in milestone payments and it is anticipated that there will be an uptick in payments in the next few months as they complete the ICEs.

 

7. DA BOARD APPROVAL CONTRACTING ACTIONS

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

a. Task Order 2 – Amendment 0 – Consulting Services – AE2S, LLC., – $2,720,400

This task order will replace Task Order 01 and provides a scope of services and budget out to December 31, This task order will be effective after the MSA is amended to extend the MSA’s period of performance out to December 31, 2028.

b. Master Service Agreement – Amendment 1 – Property Structure Mitigation Services – Braun Intertec Corporation – $0

Extend the MSA an additional two years with an expiration date of December 31, 2027.

 c. Task Order 30 – Amendment 0 – Oxbow Substation – Cass County Electric Cooperative, Inc., – $574,000

Construction to connect into the new Oxbow Substation.

d. Work Package 52E – Clara Cemetery Flood Protection Project – Recommendation of Award – $824,559

The contract for Work Package 52E Clara Cemetery Flood Protection Project, Clay County, Minnesota, was publicly advertised, and eight bids were received at the virtual public bid opening on March 12, 2026. One bid that was received was non-compliant and the envelope was not opened.

The following bids were received:

1. Border States Paving Inc., in the amount of $1,203,744
2. Comstock Construction Inc., in the amount of $864,400
3. Dirt Dynamics, in the amount of $824,559
4. Industrial Builders Inc., in the amount of $936,986
5. Key Contracting, in the amount of $1,023,942
6. LinnCo Company – Void
7. Park Construction Company, in the amount of $1,378,912
8. Schmidt & Sons Construction Co., in the amount of $874,941

The Engineers Estimate for the project was $1,270,000. Jacobs (PMC), HMG LLC (EOR), and the Authority’s legal counsel has reviewed and evaluated the bid documents and recommend the MFDA award the contract to Dirt Dynamics in the amount of $824,559, as the lowest responsive bidder.

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Steen moved to approve contracting actions a., b., c., & d., as presented and Mr. Kapitan seconded the motion. On a roll call vote, the motion carried.

 

8. MOUs AND AGREEMENTS

a. Clay County & MFDA Permit & License Agreement – SE-4; SE-5 and Clara Cemetery Protection Project

Mr. Shockley provided an overview and summary of the above-referenced permit & license agreement. The Permit and License Agreement by and between the Metro Flood Diversion Authority and Clay County, MN, grants and conveys to the Authority a non-exclusive, revocable permit and license for purposes of construction, operating and maintain the Comprehensive project in, on, over, across and through the property identified in Exhibit 1 of the agreement. The property within the agreement includes the portions of County Road 59 where it interacts with SE-4; County Road 59 where it interacts with the Clara Cemetery protection project; County Road 2 where it interacts with SE-4; and County Road 50 where it interacts with SE-5.

MOTION PASSED

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

 

8. OTHER BUSINESS

 

9. SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT PROJECT UPDATES

Mr. Bakkegard provided the following settlement agreement project updates.

This memorandum serves as an update for the construction projects required by the Settlement Agreement by and between the Metro Flood Diversion Authority (MFDA), Richland-Wilkin Joint Powers Authority (RWJPA), Buffalo-Red River Watershed District (BRRWD), the City of Wolverton, Minnesota (Wolverton) and the City of Comstock, Minnesota (Comstock) (the “Settlement Agreement”). The Settlement Agreement became effective on February 1, 2021. Per the terms and conditions of the Settlement Agreement, the MFDA is responsible for providing the funds to design, construct, operate and maintain the projects that follow within this memorandum.

Georgetown Flood Protection Project

The MFDA and BRRWD entered a MOU for the Georgetown Flood Protection Project in May 2022 to further define the project and roles and responsibilities. The Georgetown Flood Protection Project is being administered and constructed by the BRRWD. BRRWD and the MFDA have bi-weekly coordination meetings to discuss the status and development of the project. BRRWD is working toward property acquisition, permits, design plans, and other coordination for the project. BRRWD has indicated that construction for the project will begin in 2027.

Wolverton Flood Protection Project

The MFDA and BRRWD entered a MOU for the Wolverton Flood Protection Project in May 2022 to further define the project and roles and responsibilities. The Wolverton Flood Protection Project is being administered and constructed by the BRRWD. BRRWD and the MFDA have bi-weekly coordination meetings to discuss the status and development of the project. BRRWD is working toward property acquisition, permits, design plans, and other coordination for the project. BRRWD has indicated that construction for the project will begin in 2026. Completion of this project will reduce the number of flowage easement acquisition required in Wilkin County, Minnesota.

Christine Flood Protection Project

The MFDA and the City of Christine entered a MOU for the Christine Flood Protection Project in March 2022 to further define the project alignment and roles and responsibilities. The Christine Flood Protection Project is being administered and constructed by the City of Christine. The City of Christine and the MFDA have monthly coordination meetings to discuss the status and development of the project. The City of Christine is working toward property acquisition, permits, design plans, and other coordination for the project. The City has indicated that construction for the project will begin in 2026 pending permitting and property acquisition and will take a minimum of two years to construct. Completion of this project will reduce the number of flowage easement acquisition required in Richland County, North Dakota.

Comstock Lagoon & Flood Control Projects & Coordination with Clay County for the Hwy. 2 Project

The MFDA and the City of Comstock entered a MOU for the Comstock Lagoon Project and the Comstock Flood Control Project in November 2021 to further define the project and roles and responsibilities. The Comstock Lagoon Project is being administered and constructed by the City of Comstock. The City of Comstock has completed design and permitting for the project and will be closing on the property acquisitions in March 2026. The city has indicated that construction for the project will begin in 2026 and will take a minimum of two years to construct. As part of the MOU, it was determined that a Flood Control project is not needed at this time for the City of Comstock. The Clay County Highway 2 Project is being administered by Clay County. Construction for this project began in 2025 and will be completed in 2026.

Cemetery Protection Projects

The MFDA in cooperation with the USACE completed the Cemetery Protection Plan in February 2022. As part of this plan, it was determined that there are six cemeteries with increased flood water impacts and two cemeteries with viewshed impacts. The impacted cemeteries and their proposed protection projects are identified below:

Clara Cemetery

The MFDA and the Comstock Lutheran Church entered into an agreement in August 2024 for the Clara Cemetery Flood Protection Project which consists of protecting the cemetery with a levee. The MFDA is responsible for design, construction and maintenance of the project. The project is currently out for bid and is planned to be awarded to the successful bidder in April 2026. Construction for the project is to begin after Memorial Day on June 1, 2026, and will be completed in 2026. A turf and tree establishment period will remain in effect up to one year after the project is constructed.

Eagle Cemetery

The MFDA and Eagle Valley Evangelical Free Church entered into an agreement in February 2024 for the Eagle Cemetery Flood Protection Project which consists of adding fill to the cemetery to raise its elevation out of the floodplain. This project was constructed during the 2025 construction season. A turf and tree establishment period will remain in effect until October 2026 at which time the project will be complete and closed out.

North Pleasant Cemetery

The MFDA and the North Pleasant Cemetery Association entered into an agreement in September 2024 for the North Pleasant Cemetery Flood Protection Project which consists of protecting the cemetery with a levee. The MFDA is responsible for design, construction and maintenance of the project. The project was bid and awarded to the successful bidder at the February 2026 MFDA Board meeting. Construction for the project is to begin after Memorial Day on June 1, 2026, and will be completed in 2026. A turf and tree establishment period will remain in effect up to one year after the project is constructed.

Hemnes Cemetery

The Hemnes Cemetery mitigation project consists of the purchase of a flowage easement across a portion of the cemetery property that is near the bank of the Red River. Once the flowage easement is in place, this will serve as the mitigation and agreement for the Hemnes Cemetery. The flowage easement has not yet been acquired.

Roen Cemetery

The Roen Cemetery mitigation project consists of the purchase of a flowage easement on the cemetery property and the placement of a historic plaque. The MCCJPA has purchased the flowage easement across the property. The USACE is coordinating with MN SHPO on approval of the historic plaque and will place the plaque once it is complete.

Salem (Wolverton) Cemetery

The MFDA and the Salem Cemetery Association entered into an agreement in June 2023, regarding project impacts and potential mitigation for the Salem (Wolverton) Cemetery. It was agreed that the Wolverton Flood Protection Project as it is proposed will protect the Salem (Wolverton) Cemetery from flood water impacts and therefore a separate project would not be required.

St. Benedicts Cemetery

The St. Benedicts Cemetery only has a viewshed impact due to the location and proximity to the southern embankment. The USACE has determined in coordination with ND SHPO that mitigation for the viewshed impact would include a wildflower seed mix at the embankment at this location and providing a historic marker at the cemetery. The USACE will complete the landscaping and placement of the historic marker. Lower Wild Rice and Red River Cemetery

The Lower Wild Rice and Red River Cemetery only has a viewshed impact due to the location and proximity to the southern embankment and the Red River Structure. The USACE has determined in coordination with ND SHPO that mitigation for the viewshed impact would planting trees at the southern end of the project to make the structure less of an obvious presence along with placing a historic marker at the cemetery. The USACE will complete the landscaping and placement of the historic marker.

 

10. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be on April 22, 2026.

 

11. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 4:24 PM.