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Flood Diversion Board of Authority—April 9, 2015 3 <br /> <br />Mr. Olson said the committee discussed the impact to flood insurance rates in new areas of <br />Fargo as a result of updated FEMA flood maps. He said FEMA will likely begin remapping <br />the area’s flood plain in five years and if Corps of Engineers data for a 100-year flood is used, <br />around 19,000 homes in Fargo and 800 homes in Moorhead will be added to the 100-year <br />flood plain. <br /> <br />Mr. Olson said ballots were mailed out last month to vote on a $725 million special <br />assessment district. He said three informational meetings and one public hearing were held <br />in March. Ballots must be returned by April 30th to be counted. He said the sales tax is <br />intended to pay toward the costs, and an intergovernmental agreement is being drafted with <br />Fargo, Cass County and CCJWRD to outline the arrangement. <br /> <br />Daron Selvig from AE2S said the FMDiversion.com website has seen a significant increase <br />in traffic since information on the special assessment district was posted. He said the e- <br />newsletter will be sent within the next two weeks and will include an article on areas outside <br />of Fargo that will benefit from the diversion project. <br /> <br />Business Leaders Task Force <br />Mr. Dawson said the task force will meet again in the next two months. He said members <br />have been active in the legislative session and have sent correspondence to state legislators <br />on legislation regarding the diversion project. <br /> <br />8. LAND MANAGEMENT UPDATE <br />Committee report <br />The Land Management Committee met earlier this afternoon. Mr. Vanyo said the committee <br />discussed the decision by the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District (BRRWD) to approve <br />$1.5 million to complete the MN EIS, which is a small portion of the $211 million total budget <br />for the Diversion Authority. He said in light of the budget issues and the MNDNR EIS process, <br />the following decisions were made: 1) action on one medical hardship case in Minnesota is <br />pending; 2) action on one opportunistic land purchase in Minnesota is pending, although <br />discussions with the individual will continue; and 3) action on the funding request for a <br />retention project submitted by BRRWD has been tabled. <br /> <br />Mr. Pawluk asked about the reason behind the BRRWD decision to approve a portion of the <br />budget. Mr. VanAmburg said some board members are under pressure from project <br />opponents in the southern portion of the watershed district in addition to board members being <br />told by MNDNR personnel to not approve the budget. Mr. VanAmburg is hopeful that the <br />board will consider approval of the entire budget. <br /> <br />Mr. Mahoney said he would like to consider moving forward with the medical hardship case. <br />Mr. Olson said the appraisal on the property is on-going. Eric Dodds from AE2S said results <br />from the appraisals are expected shortly. Mr. Vanyo suggested this issue could be discussed <br />at the next BRRWD meeting. Mr. Vanyo said there is more within the Diversion Authority <br />budget that affects Minnesota than the MN EIS process. <br /> <br />Ms. Elmer asked about the board membership of the BRRWD. Mr. VanAmburg said there <br />are seven watershed managers consisting of three from Clay County, two from Wilkin County, <br />one from Becker County, and one from Ottertail County. <br />