Tim Fox and Cash Aaland had an arduous task as they volunteered their time and money, to serve at a table, wherein, every other representative was being paid a government salary.
The Minnesota DNR invited representation from the USACE, FMDA (Fargo Dam and FM Diversion) and Richland Wilkin JPA ~ with optimistic hopes of finding some middle ground in the near decade old battle.
In all, 8 representatives formed the FM Diversion Policy Leadership Group, which was the first time that upstream interests had a genuine voice in an attempt to reason with the USACE and Fargo Dam and FM Diversion authority.
FM Diversion Policy Leadership Group
MN DNR
Tom Landwehr, MN DNR Commissioner
Barb Naramore, Assistant CommissionerUSACE
Col. Sam Calkins, St Paul, Commander
Judy DesHarnais, Deputy, Program and Project ManagementFMDA
Dr. Tim Mahoney, Mayor of Fargo, ND
Del Rae Williams, Mayor of Moorhead, MNRichland Wilkin JPA
Tim Fox, Representative for Richland Wilkin JPA
Cash Aaland, Representative for Richland Wilkin JPA
The FM Diversion Policy Leadership Group was created as an advisory group to suggest potential alignments in hopes of finding a permit-able project, in the wake of the failed effort of the Governors Task Force meetings.
True to reputation and form, the USACE and Fargo Dam and FM Diversion continued to push their original project with only minor variations, while attempting to sell them as major sacrifices.
The Fargo Dam and FM Diversion Authority squandered an opportunity to forge a positive project for the region and chose to recite old talking points which pander to Fargo’s special interests, with little to zero sacrifice in pursuit of compromise.
Each member of the FM Diversion Policy Leadership Group had the opportunity to submit comments when the FM Diversion Policy Leadership meetings concluded.
Bear in mind, the FM Diversion Policy Leadership talks that recently concluded should have taken place before the first shovel of dirt was turned or contract signed for any aspect of the ill-fated boondoggle.
Reading submitted comments provides insight into into the untold aspects of the FMDA project.
Here is an excerpt from Cash Aaland comments, Representative for Richland Wilkin JPA: “The JPA proposal would preserve valuable flood plain, fully protect the FM Metro…(continue reading…)
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I think the whole FMDA should be investigated and held accountable for the spending they are doing, they were buying up land around Horace, after what I thought everything was put on hold, at a time when nobody was sure where the diversion was going. So many foolish mistakes, like why did they build city hall back in the same place when that area should have been cleared out and filed up around there. If Fargo had done like Grand Forks did, and not permit people to build in the lower areas this could have been taken care of many years ago. West Fargo didn’t destroy farmsteads and people’s homes when they built their diversion. A man we know from Walcott went to the first meeting they had with the army corps and they said at that time the FMDA wouldn’t need a channel no bigger than what West Fargo has, so what ever happened to that idea?