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Flood Sales Tax Committee—July 18, 2016 1 <br /> <br />FLOOD SALES TAX COMMITTEE <br />JULY 18, 2016—1:30 PM <br /> <br />1. MEETING TO ORDER <br />Commissioner Ken Pawluk called a meeting of the Flood Sales Tax Committee to <br />order on Monday, July 18, 2016, at 1:30 PM in the Commission Conference Room, <br />Cass County Courthouse, with the following present: County Administrator Keith <br />Berndt; County Auditor Michael Montplaisir; Joint Water Resource District <br />Representative Rodger Olson; County Commissioner Ken Pawluk; and County <br />Commissioner Rick Steen. <br /> <br />Also present were County Commissioner Chad Peterson; County Commissioner <br />Arland Rasmussen; County Commissioner Mary Scherling; and County Engineer <br />Jason Benson. <br /> <br />2. MINUTES APPROVED <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Olson moved and Mr. Steen seconded to approve the <br />meeting minutes from May 2, 2016, as presented. Motion <br />carried. <br /> <br />3. TOWER TOWNSHIP/CASS 32 DRAINAGE PROJECT <br />County Engineer Jason Benson was present to review the drainage project <br />request. Mr. Benson said he has been working with members of the Tower <br />Township Board and landowners along Cass County Highway 32, west of the <br />Maple River, to implement a drainage project to reduce damage to roads and crops <br />during high water periods. For the drain project to be initiated, a $50,000 payment <br />must be submitted to the Maple River Water Resource District in order to cover the <br />administrative and engineering costs associated with developing the project. <br />Those who would benefit from the project will vote on whether or not the special <br />assessment district and project can go forward; if the project is approved, the <br />$50,000 payment will be returned and the costs will be rolled into the overall project <br />assessment district. <br /> <br />Tower Township and ten landowners have pledged $30,000 towards the payment; <br />the remaining $20,000 has been requested to be funded by flood sales tax funds. <br /> <br />Mr. Pawluk asked if the drainage project would have a negative downstream <br />impact. Mr. Benson said the goal would not be to move water early on in a spring <br />flood event, but to draw the water down slowly throughout the spring and summer. <br />Mr. Olson said the project has not been developed yet, but initial concepts would <br />use piping, which would not overflow ditches and would allow for a control structure <br />to slow or eliminate flow if needed. <br /> <br />Mr. Olson said the aforementioned landowners are also open to looking at <br />retention if more funds from the Red River Joint Board would be available. <br /> <br />Mr. Rasmussen asked if any landowners have cited potential detriments to their <br />properties. Mr. Olson said there have been some concerns brought forward; Moore <br />Engineering will study how to mitigate the impacts to these landowners.