1. Upper Maple River Dam ballot question

Take notice that,in accordance with North Dakota law,the Maple-Steele District and Barnes will conduct a public hearing regarding the Project and the UPPER MAPLE FLOOD PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 1 PROJECT assessment district on April 2,2014,at 10 a.m.,at the Page Auditorium,in Page, North Dakota. All landowners within the proposed UPPER MAPLE FLOOD PROTECTION DISTRICT No. 1 PROJECT assessment district and other affected landowners will have 30 days after the date of the hearing to file written votes in favor of or in opposition to the creation of the UPPER MAPLE FLOOD PROTECTION DISTRICT No. 1 PROJECT assessment district. Landowners must file their votes within 30 days of the hearing at the office of the Secretary-Treasurer of the Maple-Steele Joint Water Resource District at 1201 Main Avenue West,West Fargo,North Dakota 58078-1301. Prior to the hearing, the Maple-Steele Joint Water Resource District and the Barnes County Water Resource District will file copies of the preliminary assessment list with the County Auditors in Barnes,Cass,and Steele Counties;the list will show the percentage assessments against each tract of land that will benefit from the proposed Project and the approximate assessments for benefitting properties. Please note that each landowner's vote will help determine whether or not the Maple-Steele District should proceed with construction of the Project,and whether or not the Maple-Steele District and Barnes should create the UPPER MAPLE FLOOD PROTECTION DISTRICT No. 1 PROJECT assessment district to finance construction,operation,and maintenance of the Project. If the vote is successful, the Maple-Steele District and Barnes will hold a separate hearing in accordance with North Dakota law at a later date at which property owners will have the opportunity to discuss the proposed assessments. At that hearing, the Maple-Steele District and Barnes may revise the proposed assessment list, if the parties conclude any revisions are necessary and appropriate. However,the Maple-Steele District and Barnes will only conduct an assessment hearing if the assessment vote is successful; the meeting described in this NOTICE is an initial hearing, solely to discuss the Project and the potential creation of the UPPER MAPLE FLOOD PROTECTION DISTRICT No. 1 PROJECT assessment district, and not to discuss assessments. Enclosed with this NOTICE is a copy of a RESOLUTION adopted by the Maple-Steele District and Barnes on February 14, 2014, in which the parties determined what property will benefit from the Project, setting the proposed assessments regarding the UPPER MAPLE FLOOD PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 1 PROJECT assessment district, and setting a date for the initial hearing. Dated this 3rd day of March, 2014. MAPLE-STEELE JOINT WATER BARNES COUNTY WATER RESOURCE DISTRICT RESOURCE DISTRICT Jurgen Suhr, Chair Jerry Hieb, Chair Josh Ihry Ken Evenson Rodger Olson Bruce Anderson Tor Bergstrom Shawn Olauson Gerald Melvin Brett Fehr Greg Thykeson