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Commission Minutes—January 16, 2024 5826 <br />not take action, the plan would not be updated and remain at a maximum of five years. Mr. Peterson <br />called for additional discission, comments, or a motion, there was no further discission. <br />10. ROAD, Updated Forest Mitigation Agreement with Metro Flood Diversion Authority approved <br />County Engineer, Matthew Stamness was present and said for the Commission's consideration <br />today is an agreement with the Metro Flood Diversion Authority for forest mitigation as part of the <br />requirements set forth by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He said the Commission <br />approved a previous agreement for forest mitigation on December 4, 2023, and since then additional <br />properties have been added to the list of properties considered for use in the forest mitigation <br />project. <br />Mrs. Scherling asked if there is any negative impact to the County or adjacent landowners. Mr. <br />Stamness said there are no negative impacts to the County or nearby landowners. He said the <br />additional properties are located near Oxbow and were bought out several years ago. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mrs. Scherling moved and Mr. Breitling seconded to approve the updated Cass <br />County and Metro Flood Diversion Authority Forest Mitigation Agreement. On <br />roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. <br />11. GREATER FARGO MOORHEAD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND FARGO <br />MOORHEAD WEST FARGO CHAMBER, Private sector investment growth campaign <br />Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation (GFMEDC) President and Chief <br />Executive Officer, Joe Raso and Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber (Chamber) President, <br />Shannon Full, were present to discuss an update on consideration of the County's $125,000 <br />matching financial support for a private sector investment growth campaign. Ms. Full said this public <br />and private sector growth campaign was discussed during the 2024 budget hearings in July of 2023. <br />She said since then the Chamber and GFMEDC have been working together to make a plan for the <br />campaign. Mr. Raso said the Chamber and GFMEDC sent out a request for proposal (RFP) to hire a <br />professional campaign firm. He said three firms have been identified as the finalists and are coming <br />to town to present to a leadership committee comprised of Commissioner Peterson, Commissioner <br />Grindberg, GFMEDC leadership, and Chamber leadership. He said it is anticipated the Committee <br />will select a firm in February. <br />Mr. Raso said the campaign needs to be bigger than just the GFMEDC and Chamber. He said <br />private sector investment is needed. He said the focus of the campaign will be on economic and <br />workforce development and have positive returns to the community. Ms. Full said it is important to <br />include communities outside Fargo and West Fargo such as Castleton. She said the plan will include <br />clear and concise goals and metrics. Ms. Full said after a firm is selected, the Chamber and <br />GFMEDC will come back to give the Commission and update and hopes to have a timeline and plan <br />in place by budget hearings in July. <br />Mr. Grindberg said he is excited to work with the Chamber and GFMEDC to complete a <br />comprehensive plan. He said as part of the committee tasked with choosing a firm, one of the <br />questions he will ask is what are the defining attributes measurable and consistent for a four-year <br />period. He said it is important to invest public dollars in a plan that will see a positive return for the <br />County. <br />12. WEED CONTROL, Spotted hemlock <br />County Weed Control Officer, Stan Wolf was present and said on November 13, 2023 the Cass <br />County Weed Control Board started the process to add Spotted Hemlock to the County's noxious <br />weed list. He said the request was sent to the North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner, Doug <br />Goehring and was approved on November 22, 2023. He said Spotted Hemlock is a highly poisonous <br />plant with all parts of the plan being poisonous with as little as 4 ounces to 16 ounces able to kill <br />livestock and lesser amounts cause birth defects. He said handling the plant with bare skin can