Fargo is preparing yet another trip to Bismarck to panhandle legislators for $300 million in additional funding for Fargo dam and diversion.
Should Fargo be trusted?
During the 65th Legislative Assembly (2017-18) – Forum headlines claimed diversion construction would start in mid-February (2017) (read more…), forecasts of spring flooding (read more…), Forum staff editorial pushes agenda that a diversion would save lives (read more…), threats of eminent domain (read more…), USACE downplayed risks of High Hazard Dams (read more…), population estimates of 340,000 by 2045 (read more…) and an emotional chronicle of the 1997 flood (read more…).
During the 64th Legislative Assembly (2015-16) – Forum headlines claimed federal funding is expected in 2016 (read more…), fear-mongering over new FEMA flood maps could raise the 100 year flood level (read more…), Forum staff editorial pushes agenda condemning diversion study (read more…), Forum Fargo and Cass county were working feverishly to illegally usurp 483 million DPAC votes (read more…) and Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney sent veiled threats to key businesses to secure their DPAC support (read more…).
During the 63rd Legislative Assembly (2013-14) – Forum headlines claimed a 79 percent of major spring flooding in Fargo (read more…), sensationalized “sandbag central” (made 1.1 million sandbags – only needed around 100,000) (read more…), then called for another 500,000 sandbags (read more…), National Weather Service predicted a 40+ percent chance of topping 2009 flood (NWS forecaster Greg Gust encouraged people to prepare for “flood of record”) (read more…), then an alert – “prepare to shelter in place” (read more…), the road closures for sandbag delivery (read more…), then the hype of more rain (read more…), then the tactical operation center announcement (read more…), then the USACE awards emergency levee contracts (read more…), then a Fargo PD warning about flood related ordinances (read more…), then an emotional call for people leaning on faith (read more…), then a Red Cross announcement (read more…), then the theatrics of police escorts for sandbag delivery (read more…), ND National Guard deployed 80 Guard members for flood fight (read more…), ND Emergency Commission approved $775k for Fargo’s 2013 flood fight (read more…).
(** NOTE ** actual peak crest 33.18 feet on 4/30/2013 – 9.32 feet lower than flood preparations)
Every time the ND legislature is in session, Fargo is at the brink of crisis -or- financial despair with their tin cup extended for a handout ~ real or manufactured…
What a “remarkable” coincidence that the Fargo Forum (Forum Communications – owner of several ND media brands) would use their bully pulpit to sway the perception of statewide lawmakers to benefit Fargo.
Which makes a March 16, 2013 headline from the Dickinson Press (read more…) an amazing anomaly of balanced journalism. The article involves House Bill 1020, which contains this excerpt:
| North Dakota House voted 90-4 to prohibit Fargo and its Diversion Authority from using state appropriated tax funds on the $2 billion Fargo dam/diversion project. Representative Skarphol, who introduced the bill, stated that the restrictions on the funds were necessary as it appeared that the funds earlier appropriated were being “spent in a fashion that was thought not to be entirely appropriate.” March 16, 2013 Dickinon Press. |
Isn’t that…, interesting!
“spent in a fashion that was thought not to be entirely appropriate.”
The FMDA (Fargo Moorhead Diversion Authority et al.) has sloppy books that makes it difficult for anyone, especially state legislators, to make sense of how the FMDA mired Fargo, Cass county and the State of North Dakota in over $650 million in sunk costs on a proposed project that does not have a legitimate permit to begin construction, …and now Fargo wants another $300 million.
Fargo methodically intermingles state, county and local funds to conceal spending habits and obfuscate the financial path that would shed light on whether or not state funds are being used for “things” other than Fargo’s internal flood protection – like the exclusive Oxbow Country Club and high-end buyouts.
It all came down to opportunity cost and “the carrot” that was dangled to coerce opponents to become proponents for equity enrichment.
Around 40 homes were slated for buyout and demolition to make way for the OHB project. Property owners in the path of the ring-dike-levee were presented the option for a buyout and leave or received inducements to relocate within the newest portion of Oxbow.
Here is just one example of how buyouts/inducements cost taxpayers a handsome sum.
Cass County Valuation of one Oxbow property: $481,500
| Property Buyout | $ 1,056,438.13 |
| Legal | $ 28,393.63 |
| Moving & Storage | $ 79,085.59 |
| New Property Inducements & Betterment’s Equity Enrichment |
$ 1,299,442.00 |
| Miscellaneous | $ 210.00 |
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| Total Buyout | $ 2,463,569.35 |
Would this have been possible if media outlets didn’t use headlines to influence lawmakers with hype and fear-mongering?
Nearly $1.3 million in inducements and betterment’s, just shy of $2 million dollars more than the Cass county tax valuation of the property because the existing house didn’t meet the exclusive planning and zoning standards of the new portion of Oxbow, ND.
Rather convenient that the owner of the example property chaired the planning and zoning committee and actively participated in the drafting and implementation of the zoning requirements and restrictions that prevented the home from being moved around 2,500 feet. 75 percent of the buyout homes were successfully moved out of Oxbow, ND at taxpayer expense – many traveled 30+ miles.
The North Dakota State Legislature has given Fargo nearly $570 million dollars to complete internal flood protection since the 2009 flood, yet Fargo’s internal flood protection remains incomplete.
In a June 24, 2017 Fargo Forum article former Fargo city engineer April Walker indicated 69 miles (read more…) of emergency measures were used during the 2009 flood fight. As of January 11, 2019 – the Fargo City Engineering office indicated only 31.86 miles of permanent protection ( 29.46 earth levee + 2.4 miles flood wall ) (read more…) has been completed and nearly a decade of willfully defiant irresponsible natural flood plain encroachment has further expanded and exposed the city.
Over $129.9 million dollars was diverted to Oxbow, ND – over $32 million to the exclusive “member only” Oxbow Country Club – which provides ZERO BENEFIT to Fargo, ND in terms of flood control and nearly $30 million more is needed to complete the Oxbow project.
So again, it begs the question should Fargo be trusted when the talking heads step to the podium to postulate perfidious prevarications and propaganda of portentous flooding to loosen the state purse strings in their lobbying efforts to acquire another $300 million from the ND Legacy Fund ~ that will invariably be commingled with city general funds and diverted to subsidizing Fargo’s future development and not the intended internal flood protection?
It’s time to contact North Dakota lawmakers and urge them to Stop Funding the Fargo Dam and Diversion and Demand a Forensic Audit of all FMDA books, contractors and subcontractors down to the final payee.
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