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Metro Flood Diversion Authority—August 8, 2018 1 <br />METRO FLOOD DIVERSION AUTHORITY AUGUST 8, 2018—1:10 PM 1. MEETING TO ORDER <br />A special meeting of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority was held Thursday, August 8, 2018, at 1:10 PM in the Fargo City Commission Room with the following members present: Moorhead City Mayor Del Rae Williams; Moorhead City Council Member Chuck Hendrickson; Clay County <br />Commissioner Grant Weyland; Fargo City Mayor Tim Mahoney; Fargo City Commissioner Tony Grindberg; Fargo City Commissioner Dave Piepkorn; Cass County Commissioner Mary Scherling; Cass County Commissioner Chad Peterson; Cass County Commissioner Rick Steen; Cass County Joint Water Resource District Manager Roger Olson; and West Fargo City Commissioner Mike Thorstad. Moorhead City Council Member Joel Paulsen and Clay County Commissioner Kevin Campbell were absent. Also present were U.S. Senator John Hoeven; North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum; Colonel Sam Calkins, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District; Judy DeHarnais, Corps of Engineers Deputy District Engineer; Terry Williams, Corps of Engineers Project Manager; Tom Dawson, Chair, Chamber of Commerce Business Leaders Task Force; <br />Garland Eberle, North Dakota State Engineer, State Water Commission; and John Paczkowski, North Dakota Assistant State Engineer, State Water Commission. 2. AGENDA ORDER MOTION, passed Mr. Peterson moved and Mr. Weyland seconded to approve the order of the agenda. Motion carried. 3. PROJECT DISCUSSION Ms. Williams, Mr. Mahoney, and Mrs. Scherling provided opening remarks regarding the Diversion project. Senator Hoeven discussed his legislative priorities to help provide comprehensive flood protection for the Red River Valley. The priorities are to resolve easement restrictions for land purchased with Hazard Mitigation Grant (HMGP) funds to accommodate recommended changes in Plan B; implement the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) to provide low cost loans and loan guarantees to reduce financing costs; ensure fair treatment of P3 projects and other alternative financing options as part of the Army Corps of Engineers cost benefit analysis; and increase the Corps’ construction account to ensure the Red River Valley continues to receive flood protection funding. <br /> Governor Burgum thanked all those involved in working to move forward with the project and provide permanent flood protection for the area. <br /> Colonel Calkins said it has been five months since the project permit was submitted to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). The Corps of Engineers has finished the <br />draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) for Plan B. He said the goal is to coordinate with the MDNR in order for both entities to release their draft environmental assessments at the same time. 4. LITIGATION REPORT Attorney John Shockley provided a brief update on litigation in the Federal and Minnesota State Courts.