MFDA Planning Committee Meeting – July 9, 2026

See full minutes.

A meeting of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority Planning Committee was held on July 9, 2026. The following members were present: Josh Boschee, Mayor, City of Fargo; Shelly Carlson, Mayor, City of Moorhead; Rick Steen, Cass County Joint Water Resource District and Eric Gjerdevig, Mayor, City of West Fargo.  

Member(s) absent: Tony Grindberg, Cass County Commissioner and Kevin Campbell, Clay County Commissioner. 

1. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Boschee called the meeting to order at 2:00 PM. Roll call was taken, and a quorum was present.  

2. APPROVE THE JUNE 2026 MINUTES 

MOTION PASSED 

Mayor Carlson moved to approve the June 2026 minutes, and Mr. Steen 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 Mayor Gjerdevig seconded the motion. On a voice vote, the motion carried.  

4. CROP LOSS PROGRAM

Mr. Fisher introduced the crop loss program and provided an overview of the program.  

Background:  

Farmland in the upstream mitigation area (UMA) will be available for crop production after completion of the FM Area Diversion Project (the “Project”). The Metro Flood Diversion Authority (MFDA) recognizes that the potential impact of additional flooding caused by operation of the Project could present added risk to agricultural producers who operate in the UMA. While much of the UMA is subject to flooding today (the UMA is approximately 29,000 acres, of which approximately 18,000 acres would flood in a 100-Year Flood Event without the Project), there is risk that the Project induced flooding may limit the coverage of federal crop insurance. Per the Settlement Agreement with the Richland-Wilkin JPA, Buffalo Red River Watershed District, the City of Comstock, the MFDA will provide a crop loss program for preventive planting and for growing season crop loss caused by operation of the Project across the UMA.   This is in accordance with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Dam and Safety Permit and noted in the Property Rights Acquisition and Mitigation Plan. The MFDA is required to have the crop loss program in place prior to substantial completion of the last segment of the southern embankment.   

Financial Ask:  

The estimated total maximum probable loss for the 29,000-acre UMA is approximately $25 million. This total maximum probable loss was estimated through contracted expert consultation, based on modeled impacts, past cropping histories of the UMA, and projected commodity pricing. The MN DNR D&SP requires the MFDA to fund the crop loss programs. The MFDA staff requests that $25 million from the recent $100 million from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ underspend to be set aside as initial seed funds placed into a fund to be managed by financial consultants to ensure that any near future crop loss program payments could be made timely. Once set aside, the MFDA staff recommend soliciting proposals and hiring a financial manager. It is estimated that the fund will be self-sustaining after 20 years, including any post-operations payments.     

With funds allocated, the MFDA staff recommend that the Finance Committee review the scope of solicitation and the financial manager proposals through a request for qualifications process (RFQ). Once a financial manager is agreed upon, the MFDA staff recommend establishing a Crop Loss Program Fund subcommittee composed of three members appointed by Diversion Authority Board, one of which must also be a member of the Diversion Authority Board. The subcommittee will meet annually to provide oversight by reviewing the financial status and approving future investment strategies of the crop loss reserve fund.  Attached to this memo are draft resolutions authorizing the Executive Director to issue a request for qualifications for a financial manager and establish a sub-committee, which will be further modified based upon discussion and direction by the Planning Committee. 

After lengthy dialogue, the group concurred to proceed with presenting the program to the Board of Authority for final approval. 

MOTION PASSED 

Mr. Steen moved to present the proposed crop loss program to the Board of Authority for approval and Mayor Carlson seconded the motion. On a roll call vote, the motion carried.  

Sub-Committee Reserve Fund Membership 

After dialogue regarding who would be the most appropriate person(s) to provide oversight of the financial status of the fund, the following motion was made: 

MOTION PASSED 

Mayor Carlson moved that the current chair, vice chair and immediate past chair of the Board of Authority or chair, vice chair and chair of the Finance Committee to serve on the sub-committee. On a roll call vote, the motion carried. 

5. OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Benson reported that RRVA is tentatively planning a celebration on July 23 to celebrate the opening of the last two bridges. Additional information is forthcoming. 

Mr. Benson also reminded the group that the Board retreat is September 15, 12 noon-5:30 PM, at the MFDA office.  

6. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be on August 13, 2026.  

7. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 2:37 PM.