Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney Provided False Testimony to ND Senate Appropriations Committee

When it comes to Fargo Dam and Diversion issues – the talking heads spew misinformation that would make even the devil sleep with one eye open.

Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney’s “Shakespearean” protestations to Richland County Commissioner Sid Berg are rather entertaining. A candid comment from Commissioner Berg during a meeting calling for a forensic audit drew a “knee-jerk” reaction from Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney.

How dare anyone question the Imperial Overlord…, right?

Mahoney was quoted saying:

“I don’t know what they’d be looking for,”
“We have an audit every year. Everything we do is transparent.”

From the outset the FMDA (Fargo Moorhead Diversion Authority) denied the proposed project was about future development, yet often bemoan they will have nowhere to grow if they can’t build the project.

Fargo’s talking heads promised the sales tax would pay for the project that was supposed to sunset in 2029. Then they turned around and crammed the illegal DPAC vote down property owners throats – then used the threat of DPAC assessment to push a sales tax (read more…) to the year 2085. Ironically, the sales tax falls well short of the actual project cost and the DPAC assessment will be imposed – eventually.

It’s really like they’re not even trying anymore. Fargo and its talking heads just can’t be honest or transparent with anyone when it comes the Fargo Dam and FM Diversion.

Last week was no exception. On January 23, 2018 the US District Court held a status conference with all the parties to discuss these updates and to determine how to proceed with the present litigation. Fargo’s attorneys argued vehemently that the injunction against the project should be lifted so that the FMDA could commence construction and that they would be traveling to Bismarck, ND to request money from the Senate Appropriations Committee.

US District Court Chief Judge Tunheim was succinct: (view order…)

Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Fargo-Moorhead Flood Diversion Authority and the Army Corps of Engineers not commence construction on Plan B until further Order of the Court. This Order shall not affect construction projects that the Court has approved under the current injunction.

So what does Fargo do?

On Thursday, January 24, 2019 – Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney stood in front of the ND Senate Appropriations Committee and made a series of false statements inferring that everything was sunshine and blue skies as he and his ilk begged for another $300 million dollars in funding from North Dakota.

Mahoney exaggerated claims that they had the permit, the injunction no longer applied, and they are ready to break ground – despite Fargo attorney’s knowing what transpired in US District court the very day before; and the monumental task of addressing 54 conditions (read more…) to satisfy the MN DNR to make the “permit” valid. Baloney also neglected to mention that contested cases were being filed by Buffalo Red River Watershed District, City of Comstock MN, City of Wolverton MN and appeals via the Richland Wilkin JPA. There will never be a permit if the outcome of the contested case(s) don’t go favorably for the FMDA.

Imperial Fargo – Imperial Cass will do anything, say anything or manufacture anything to push the FMDA dam and diversion agenda.

Fargo has a long road ahead. They have not secured a viable P3 funding source, the FM metro area is carrying over $1.5 BILLION in general obligation and school debt (read more…), they have not met 54 conditions required by the MN DNR to finalize the permit, they have not reached an agreement with land owners on water easements, they have not address serious agricultural mitigation issues for impacted areas, they have not acquired the land necessary to build the project… the list goes on and on…

The really sad part in all this is the mere fact that Fargo spent $36.9 million fighting all floods since 1993 (read more…) – but created sunk costs in excess of $650 million for taxpayers.

Fargo has ZERO CHANCE of coming in on budget (they exceeded the last 4) and the most recent updated cost estimate of $2.75 billion in 2018 dollars (3.123 billion actual) is arguably about half the final cost. All to protect city infrastructure that hasn’t even been built.

Let’s face it.., there are more pressing things in North Dakota ~ that are more worthy of the ND Legacy Fund than subsidizing Fargo’s future development.

Reach out and urge the Senate Appropriations Committee to cease funding to Fargo and the FMDA.

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