Metro Flood Diversion Authority - July 26, 2018 Minutes
1. Meeting To Order
A meeting of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority was held Thursday, July 26, 2018, at 3:30 PM in the Fargo City Commission Room with the following members present: Moorhead City Council Member Chuck Hendrickson; Moorhead City Council Member Joel Paulsen; Clay County Commissioner Kevin Campbell; Fargo City Commissioner Dave Piepkorn; Fargo City Commissioner Tony Grindberg; Cass County Commissioner Mary Scherling; Cass County Commissioner Chad Peterson; Cass County Commissioner Rick Steen; Cass County Joint Water Resource District Manager Rodger Olson; and West Fargo City Commissioner Mike Thorstad. Moorhead City Mayor Del Rae Williams; Fargo City Mayor Tim Mahoney; and Clay County Commissioner Grant Weyland were absent.
2. Minutes Approved
MOTION, passed
Mr. Steen moved and Mr. Peterson seconded to approve the minutes from the meeting held June 28, 2018, as presented. Motion carried.
3. Agenda Order
MOTION, passed
Mr. Peterson moved and Mr. Olson seconded to approve the order of the agenda. Motion carried.
4. Management Update
Martin Nicholson from CH2M provided an update on activities over the last month, which include continued support to the Corps of Engineers and MDNR to advance the Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS); continued work with the MDNR and other parties to advance the permit application review; and meeting coordination with the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District regarding Plan B and Wolverton Creek.
Priorities for next month include support to publish the draft SEA and draft SEIS and prepare for public meetings on drafts; continued support and development of federal legislation related to the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA); and conduct workshops to review Plan B cost estimates.
5. Administrative/Legal Update
Attorney John Shockley said the board may have to meet in Executive Session in mid-August and will keep the board informed if this is needed.
6. Public Outreach Update
Committee report
The Public Outreach Committee met on July 25th. Mr. Olson said communications have begun with the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District regarding Plan B. The committee saw a new “three-question” video of Ken Veen from Grand Forks with the perspective of someone who lived through the flooding in Grand Forks back in 1997. Mr. Olson said the website includes helpful presentations to answer questions on farming impacts in the staging area for the public to view.
7. Land Management
Mrs. Scherling said the Land Management Committee did not meet this month.
8. Finance Update
Committee report
The Finance Committee met on July 25th. Mr. Grindberg provided a brief financial update on the overall program status. He said the project cost-to-date is $440 million, and statement of net position is $71,516,781.
Policy on Task Orders signed by Co-Executive Directors
Mr. Grindberg said the committee discussed a task order with CH2M that was submitted to the Co-Executive Directors to sign for work on the integrated program cost estimate and related services for Plan B. The task order was for $650,000. Mr. Shockley said the board previously approved a policy that allows Co-Executive Directors to sign task orders within a certain cost range, and said the board has the option to change the policy.
Mr. Steen said the committee discussed the policy on approval of task orders by the Co- Executive Directors and suggested it be reviewed for possible changes. The committee also
discussed the work to be done by CH2M outlined in this task order. Mr. Nicholson said the goal is to be prepared to answer questions on the cost estimate by the end of the year after a decision is made on the Minnesota permit.
Mr. Shockley suggested the policy be placed on the next agenda for discussion by the board.
Voucher approval
The bills for the month are with Cass County Joint Water Resource District (CCJWRD) for costs associated with the Metro Flood Diversion, Diversion Project Assessment District (DPAC), OHB levee, and in-town levees; Dorsey & Whitney for legal services; and Ohnstad Twichell, P.C. for legal services.
MOTION, passed
Mr. Steen moved and Mr. Grindberg seconded to approve the vouchers received through July 19, 2018, in the amount of $248,070.10. Motion
carried.
Recommended Contracting Actions
The Finance Committee approved the following change order:
• Riley Brothers (Change Order 03 – Southern Alignment)—contract termination and unit quantity balancing costs for a cost reduction in the amount of $2,870,049.13 as a result of
the temporary injunction that stopped construction and was impacted by Project Plan B changes along the southern alignment.
MOTION, passed
Mr. Grindberg moved and Mr. Piepkorn seconded to approve the change order as presented. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously.
9. Next Meeting Date
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, August 23, 2018.
10. Adjournment
MOTION, passed
On motion byMr. Steen, seconded byMr. Peterson, and all voting in favor, the meeting was adjourned at 4:05 PM.