MFDA Planning Committee Meeting – December 2, 2025

See full minutes.

A meeting of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority Planning Committee was held on December 2, 2025. The following members were present: Bernie Dardis, Mayor, City of West Fargo; Shelly Carlson, Mayor, City of Moorhead; Tony Grindberg, Cass County Commissioner; Rick Steen, Cass County Joint Water Resource District and Dr. Tim Mahoney, Mayor, City of Fargo.

Member(s) absent: Kevin Campbell, Clay County Commissioner.

1. CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Grindberg called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM. Roll call was taken, and a quorum was present.

2. APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 2025 MINUTES

MOTION PASSED

Mayor Dardis moved to approve the minutes from the August 2025 meeting and Mayor Carlson seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the motion carried.

3. APPROVE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA

MOTION PASSED

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

4. O&M TRANSITION FRAMEWORK

Mr. Benson introduced the O&M document and provided an overview of the process as the MFDA transitions to the operations and maintenance phase of the project. Following is the mission statement, executive director timeline and key tasks.  The document can be read in its entirety at www.fmdiversion.gov.

Mission of the MFDA during O&M:

The MFDA will conduct budgeting, inspections, maintenance, contracting, land/permit/environmental compliance, planning, and public outreach to ensure the FM Area Diversion Project (Project) is funded and maintained at a level that meets all MFDA, local, state, and federal requirements and is ready to provide flood protection to the benefited area in accordance with the water control manual.

Executive Director Planning Guidance for transition to O&M:

It’s my intent to lead the MFDA through the transition from Project construction to O&M.  This transition is ongoing and be complete by December 2027.  The transition will be an asynchronous operation as we work every day to ensure Project construction is complete by the end of September 2026 and at the same time plan for and transition to O&M.  We will also work in parallel to complete the Sheyenne River Mitigation Project (SRMP), other mitigation projects, and FEMA Physical Map Revision (PMR) complete by 2030.

Key Tasks:

• Ensure that the project is operationally ready so that we are prepared to operate for a flood in the spring of 2027.
• Move all MFDA Staff operations from the current administrative building to the new Authority Administrative Building (AAB) by the end of Fall 2026.
• Prepare 2027 cash budgets that serve as the transition budgets with both construction and O&M components.
• Execute necessary activities to have a maintenance levy in place to fund the O&M budget in 2028.
• Develop O&M plans for all components of the project to include the Local Flood Protection and Associated Infrastructure (LFPAI), the Southern Embankment and Associated Infrastructure (SEAI), the Diversion Channel and Associated Infrastructure (DCAI), and the Mitigation Features and Associated Infrastructure (MFAI).
• Develop and approve MFDA and local entity resolutions that outline the O&M assets, staffing/labor responsibilities, and fiscal responsibility.
• Complete the SRMP, other mitigation projects, and FEMA floodplain certification by 2030.

End State: By the spring of 2027 we will be prepared to operate the project to protect the area from a potential flood event.  By the end of 2027 we will be 90% staffed for O&M, have 90% of our required equipment on hand, have necessary agreements with partners regarding routine maintenance, mutual aid, or assistance, and have a 2028 budget prepared and fully funded through a maintenance levee.  By 2030 the SRMP, other mitigation projects and FEMA floodplain certification will be complete.

The O&M Transition Framework document can be read in its entirety at www.fmdiversion.gov.

5. OTHER BUSINESS

There was no other business to discuss.

6. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be January 6, 2026.

7. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 1:49 PM.