MFDA Finance Committee Meeting – May 21, 2025

See full minutes. 

A regular meeting of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority Finance Committee was held on May 21, 2025. Members present: Dr. Tim Mahoney, Mayor, City of Fargo; Bernie Dardis, Mayor, City of West Fargo; Dave Piepkorn, Fargo City Commissioner; Susan Thompson, Finance Director, City of Fargo; David Ebinger, Clay County Commissioner; Mike Redlinger, Administrator, City of Fargo; Mike Rietz, Assistant City Manager, City of Moorhead; Jake Gust, Cass County Joint Water Resource District and Brandy Madrigga, Cass County Finance Director.

Member(s) absent: Jim Kapitan, Cass County Commissioner; Shelly Carlson, Mayor, City of Moorhead and Tony Grindberg, Cass County Commissioner.

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 APRIL 2025 MEETING

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Piepkorn moved to approve the minutes from the April 2025 meeting and Ms. Madrigga seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the motion carried.

3. APPROVE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA

MOTION PASSED

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

4. APPROVAL OF BILLS

Ms. Thompson reported that the bills payable through May 14, 2025, total $2,136,581, and are payable to the usual vendors, with the Cass County Joint Water Resource District being the largest at $1,346,187.

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Piepkorn 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 April 30, 2025, are $338,999,457; liabilities total $767,370, and the grand total net position is $338,232,087.

MOTION PASSED

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

6. CASH BUDGET REPORT

Mr. Barthel reported that revenues for sales tax from the City of Fargo and Cass County have been received and recorded. A $22,876,000, Legacy draw has been received and $42,237,000 is the remaining balance. Overall, the budget continues to track well and is behind the spend rate to date. The operations budget continues to track on target and is also well below budget.

7. MOUs AND AGREEMENTS

Mr. Shockley provided an overview and summary of the following Agreements:

a. Heiden Family & MFDA

The purpose of this Temporary Construction Easement (TCE) between the Heiden Family and the Metro Flood Diversion Authority (Authority) is to allow the Authority and their contractor a temporary easement to access the Danielson property for the purpose of construction the Raymond Township Mobility Improvement.

b. MFDA Contractors & MFDA

The purpose of the Stockpile Access and Removal Release, Hold Harmless, and Indemnification Agreement serves as a three-party contract between the MFDA, CCJWRD and MFDA Contractors. The Authority has a stockpile of material that is currently on CCJWRD owned land. This agreement allows MFDA contractors that enter into the agreement to access and use the borrow material from the stockpile for MFDA projects.

c. CRWUD & MFDA

The purpose of the Water User Agreement is for the purpose of Cass Rural Water User District (CRWUD) to provide water to the MFDA’s Authority Administrative Building (AAB). The MFDA will construct the infrastructure necessary for the purposes of providing water service to the property and will become a CRWUD member.

d. RRVA (Developer), MFDA and Dispute Board Members

The Dispute Review Board Agreement (Technical) is an agreement between the MFDA, RRVA (Developer) and the P3 Collaborative LLC (Christopher Kane); Hafer Dispute Resolution, LLC (Randall F. Hafer); and a to be named third board member (collectively known as the Board Members). Per the Project Agreement between the MFDA and the Developer, Article 54 provides for the establishment and operation of a Technical Dispute Resolution Board to assist in resolving any dispute of a technical nature. This agreement includes Establishment of Board, Board Responsibilities, Hearings and Decisions, Provision of Documents to Board, Payment, and Miscellaneous.

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Piepkorn moved to approve all the agreements as presented and Ms. Thompson seconded the motion. On a roll call vote, the motion carried.

8. DA BOARD APPROVAL CONTRACTING ACTIONS

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

a. Task Order 23, Amendment 0 – Utility Relocation – Cass County Electric CO-Op, Inc., – $223,612

This work provides electric services to the Red River Structure and reroutes the electric line for SE-3 at County Road 81.

b. New Services Agreement – Videography & Communication Services – C Three Media – $161,960

This is a new services agreement to provide the MFDA both videography and communications services from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

c. Work Package 52D – Eagle Cemetery Flood Protection Project – Industrial Builders, Inc., $227,690

Recommendation of award.

MOTION PASSED

Mr. Piepkorn moved to approve all the contracting actions as presented and Ms. Thompson seconded the motion. On a roll call vote, the motion carried.

9. OTHER BUSINESS

There was no additional business to discuss.

10. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be on June 25, 2025.

11. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 4:19PM.