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Metro Flood Diversion Authority—January 26, 2017 1 <br /> <br />METRO FLOOD DIVERSION AUTHORITY <br />JANUARY 26, 2017—3:30 PM <br /> <br />1. MEETING TO ORDER <br />A meeting of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority was held Thursday, January 26, 2017, at 3:30 <br />PM in the Fargo City Commission Room with the following members present: Fargo City Mayor <br />Tim Mahoney; Fargo City Commissioner Tony Grindberg; Fargo City Commissioner Dave <br />Piepkorn; Cass County Commission representative Darrell Vanyo via conference call; Cass <br />County Commissioner Chad M. Peterson; Cass County Commissioner Arland Rasmussen; <br />Moorhead City Mayor Del Rae Williams; Moorhead City Council Member Chuck Hendrickson; <br />Moorhead City Council Member Joel Paulsen via conference call; Clay County Commissioner <br />Kevin Campbell; Clay County Commissioner Frank Gross; and Cass County Joint Water <br />Resource District Manager Roger Olson. West Fargo City Commissioner Mike Thorstad was <br />absent. <br /> <br />2. MINUTES APPROVED <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Olson moved and Mr. Campbell seconded to approve the minutes from <br />the January 12, 2017, meeting as presented. Motion carried. <br /> <br />3. AGENDA ORDER <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Piepkorn moved and Mr. Grindberg seconded to approve the order of <br />the agenda with one change to remove the PMC report. Motion carried. <br /> <br />4. ADMINISTRATIVE/LEGAL UPDATE <br />Admissibility Agreement for MN DNR Working Group <br />Attorney John Shockley said negotiations are considered confidential and in order for the <br />Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) working group to hold its meetings, an <br />admissibility agreement is needed. The agreement will provide protection of the information <br />disclosed to each other during settlement discussions. <br /> <br />Mr. Olson said Commissioner Tom Landwehr made some comments at the Red River Basin <br />Commission conference last week stating that Minnesota will not issue a permit for the project <br />as it has been presented. He questioned whether efforts to continue discussion with the MN <br />DNR are necessary given the position of Mr. Landwehr. <br /> <br />Ms. Williams said board members have been encouraged by the Corps of Engineers to work <br />with the State of Minnesota. She supports continued discussions to hear broader ideas on how <br />to proceed with the project. Mr. Campbell also believes the issues are important to discuss and <br />being at the table is better than no discussion at all. Mr. Vanyo said there has not been an <br />opportunity to discuss the 56-page Findings of Fact document released by the MN DNR. He <br />believes it is important to continue meeting with Minnesota officials. <br /> <br />Mr. Shockley said a meeting of the working group has been scheduled for next week, and he <br />supports on-going dialogue with the MN DNR. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Hendrickson moved and Mr. Campbell seconded to approve the <br />admissibility agreement with the Minnesota Department of Natural <br />Resources. On roll call vote, the motion carried with ten members voting <br />“Yes”; and Mr. Grindberg and Mr. Olson voting “No”. <br /> <br /> <br />