METRO FLOOD DIVERSION AUTHORITY FEBRUARY 28, 2019—3:31 PM

1. MEETING TO ORDER
A meeting of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority was held Thursday, February 28, 2019, at 3:31
PM in the Fargo City Commission Chambers with the following members present: Cass County
Commissioner Mary Scherling; Cass County Commissioner Chad Peterson; Cass County
Commissioner Rick Steen; Fargo City Mayor Tim Mahoney; Moorhead City Mayor Johnathan
Judd; Moorhead City Council Member Chuck Hendrickson; Moorhead City Council Member Joel
Paulsen; Clay County Commissioner Kevin Campbell; Clay County Commissioner Grant
Weyland; Cass County Joint Water Resource District Manager Roger Olson; and West Fargo
City Commissioner Mike Thorstad. Fargo City Commissioner Tony Grindberg and Fargo City
Commissioner Dave Piepkorn were absent.
2. MINUTES APPROVED
MOTION, passed
Mr. Weyland moved and Mr. Steen seconded to approve the minutes from
the January 23, 2019, meeting as presented. Motion carried.
3. AGENDA ORDER
MOTION, passed
Mr. Campbell moved and Mr. Peterson seconded to approve the order of
the agenda. Motion carried.
4. MANAGEMENT UPDATE
Martin Nicholson from Jacobs provided an update on activities over the last month which include
a trip to Washington, D.C. on February 5-7 to meet with the Congressional Delegation, Corps of
Engineers Assistant Secretary of the Army, and Office of Management and Budget; permit
application submitted to the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District; testifying to North Dakota
Senate Appropriations Committee in support of the funding request; support for $39 million State
of Minnesota funding legislation; and receipt of eight proposals from appraisal firms and related
agreements with the Cass County Joint Water Resource District (CCJWRD).
Priorities include continued coordination with legal counsel, MDNR and Corps of Engineers with
the objective to dismiss litigation and remove injunction; continued outreach to local entities and
MDNR regarding permit status; advertise for rural structure removals work package associated
with land purchases; continue with early and voluntary land acquisitions; and initiate appraisals
for remaining properties in the channel.
Mr. Nicholson said the project cost-to-date is $455 million and $1.3 million has been spent out
of the FY2019 first quarter cash budget of $8.5 million.
5. ADMINISTRATIVE/LEGAL UPDATE
Fredrikson & Byron Agreement
Attorney John Shockley said for consideration today is a renewal agreement with Fredrikson &
Byron, P.A. for Minnesota legislative and lobbying services for a two-year period beginning
January 1, 2019, and ending December 31, 2020. The cost is $3,000 per month. There has
been previous requests for additional reports to be provided on a regular basis. The Moorhead
City Manager and Clay County Administrator will serve as the primary contacts for the Diversion
Authority. Mr. Shockley said Fredrikson & Byron has offered to attend a meeting if the board
wishes.