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Flood Diversion Board of Authority—January 14, 2016 3 <br />Daron Selvig from AE2S provided an update on the newsletter, which will be published soon and <br />will include articles on the Chairman’s goals for 2016 and the retention project presentation given today. <br /> <br />Business Leaders Task Force Mark Nisbet said Chamber of Commerce members consider flood protection to be one of the top <br />priorities for the area, and the task force continues to be committed to permanent flood protection. 9. LAND MANAGEMENT UPDATE <br />Committee report The Land Management Committee met on January 13th. <br />CCJWRD update Mr. Brodshaug referred to the handout regarding land acquisitions completed through December <br />31, 2015, which includes completed acquisitions, budget figures, and completed negotiations. He <br />said if the Corps of Engineers receives a new start and construction funding, those funds will need to be obligated by awarding a construction contract no later than September, 2016. The plan is to <br />award the contract for the inlet structure located just south of Horace, which means the Corps will <br />need to advertise for construction proposals and have access to the lands this spring. Because the land acquisition process takes some time, pre-acquisition activities have begun including the <br />CCJWRD securing right-of-entry for surveying, and authorizing right-of-way agents and appraisers <br />to begin contacting property owners. Right of entry letters have been sent to property owners affected by the diversion channel alignment, diversion inlet and associated County Road 16 and <br />17 realignment properties. If federal construction funds are awarded, the CCJWRD will proceed <br />with acquiring the lands so the Corps is able to obligate its funds. If the Minnesota EIS is not complete in time to allow the Diversion Authority to meet this schedule, acquisition of lands and all <br />funding will be done entirely by North Dakota entities with no obligations or involvement requested from the Minnesota partners. He said the location of the diversion inlet is the same for both alignment alternatives that the Minnesota DNR is considering in its EIS. <br /> 10. FINANCE UPDATE <br />Committee report <br />Michael Montplaisir Cass County Auditor, said the Finance Committee met on January 13th. The committee discussed short and long-term financing needs for the project. He said $244 million has <br />been appropriated in state funding and $153 million remains after reimbursement requests totaling <br />$91 million have been submitted for the diversion project. <br />Voucher approval <br />The bills for the month are with Ohnstad Twichell, P.C. for legal services; CCJWRD for costs associated with in-town levees, access issues, Diversion Project Assessment Committee (DPAC) <br />work, OHB levee, and Oxbow Country Club golf course construction; Army Corps of Engineers for <br />cost share funds; City of Fargo for fiber relocation work on 2nd Street North flood wall project; and Cass County Treasurer for property tax payments. <br />MOTION, passed Mr. Pawluk moved and Mr. Vanyo seconded to approve the vouchers in the amount of $3,044,903.27 for December, 2015. On roll call vote, the motion <br />carried unanimously. <br />Financial Services Agreement with Springsted Incorporated <br />Mr. Montplaisir said previously the board contracted with Public Financial Management (PFM) to provide financing options. The City of Fargo uses Springsted Incorporated for bonding advice. In order to provide consistency, the Finance Committee approved a contract with Springsted <br />Incorporated on an hourly basis for financial advisor services for the Diversion Authority.