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11 <br /> <br />IV. Task Force Member Statements <br /> <br />Each Task Force member was afforded the opportunity to submit a statement <br />after the final meeting of the Task Force on December 11, 2017. The following <br />statements have been submitted directly from Task Force members. These <br />statements are published “as is” and have not been reviewed for factual <br />accuracy, spelling or grammar. They represent the opinions of the individual <br />Task Force members and do not represent the views of the governors’ offices, <br />the Task Force as a whole, or the entities referenced therein. <br /> <br /> <br />Minnesota Representatives: <br /> <br />Mark Anderson- Treasurer, Buffalo-Red River Watershed District <br />I think that the Task Force should be looked at as a good starting point. Fargo and the Diversion <br />Authority need to embrace a process to achieve permanent flood protection for Fargo-Moorhead. <br />This process has to involve the people and agencies that will be affected by any project. The <br />agencies, government entities, and people that should be at the table during the development <br />process, are: the Minnesota DNR, the Minnesota DOT, Burlington Northern Santé Fe Railroad, <br />Buffalo-Red River Watershed District, Holy Cross Township, Village of Comstock, and the <br />downstream and upstream concerns of the homeowners and landowners affected by the project. <br />This process will help identify problems at the beginning, not at the end. Some problems that have <br />not been adequately addressed are flowage easements, land values, the raising of Trunk Highway <br />No. 75 and County Road No. 2, and raising of the Burlington Northern Santé Fe Railroad tracks. <br />The proposed eastern tieback levy also has some problems regarding local drainage. If a project of <br />this magnitude is to succeed, it must follow all current laws and procedures. I am confident that the <br />State of Minnesota and the Minnesota DNR will have the Diversion Authority comply with all the <br />applicable laws and rules that the citizens of Minnesota must comply with. Thank you. <br /> <br />Heidi Durand- City Council Member, Moorhead <br />The intent of this report is to express the continued concerns upon the conclusion of the work done <br />by the taskforce. The group of people who will be responsible for creating a flood protection <br />project will need to assure the impacted communities by proving it is the least impactful, the most <br />fair, follows moral and ethical principles; meets the basic needs of the community; and follows state <br />and local laws.