ND Legacy Fund Fargo Funding Focus

Editorials Feature ND Legislature OHB - Oxbow Hickson Bakke Project Costs

Fargo Seeking Funding - ND Legacy Fund

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

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.

ND 66th Assembly Appropriations
House Senate
CHAIRMAN
Representative Jeff Delzer
2919 Fifth Street NW
Underwood, ND 58576-9603
R: 701-442-5435
jdelzer@nd.gov
Senator Ray Holmberg
621 High Plains Court
Grand Forks, ND 58201-7717
C: 701-739-5334
rholmberg@nd.gov
VICE CO-CHAIRMAN
Representative Keith Kempenich
9005 151st Avenue SW
Bowman, ND 58623-8857
R: 701-523-3858
C: 701-523-2273
kkempenich@nd.gov
Senator Karen K. Krebsbach
P.O. Box 1767
Minot, ND 58702-1767
R: 701-838-0211
B: 701-838-0211
C: 701-720-1291
kkrebsbach@nd.gov
Senator Terry M. Wanzek
900 Seventh Avenue SW
Jamestown, ND 58401-4542
R: 701-251-6113
B: 701-763-6544
tmwanzek@nd.gov
MEMBERS
Representative Bert Anderson
P.O. Box 604
Crosby, ND 58730-0604
R: 701-965-6973
O: 701-965-6194
C: 701-641-1549
bertanderson@nd.gov
Senator Brad Bekkedahl
418 12th Avenue West
Williston, ND 58801-4730
C: 701-570-1879
bbekkedahl@nd.gov
Representative Thomas Beadle
4266 Russet Avenue South
Fargo, ND 58104-8429
C: 701-235-2348
tbeadle@nd.gov
Senator Dick Dever
1416 Eastwood Street
Bismarck, ND 58504-6226
R: 701-222-2604
C: 701-391-6330
ddever@nd.gov
Representative Larry Bellew
812 Bel Air Place
Minot, ND 58703-1751
R: 701-852-5786
lbellew@nd.gov
Senator Robert Erbele
6512 51st Avenue SE
Lehr, ND 58460-9149
R: 701-378-2272
rerbele@nd.gov
Representative Tracy Boe
5125 89th Street
Mylo, ND 58353-9438
R: 701-656-3427
C: 701-477-4005
tboe@nd.gov
Senator David Hogue
P.O. Box 1000
Minot, ND 58702-1000
B: 701-852-0381
dhogue@nd.gov
Representative Mike Brandenburg
8044 County Road 34
Edgeley, ND 58433-9761
R: 701-493-2915
O: 701-493-2915
C: 701-709-0237
mbrandenburg@nd.gov
Senator Gary A. Lee
P.O. Box 3
Casselton, ND 58012-0003
R: 701-347-4809
galee@nd.gov
Representative Richard G. Holman
622 153rd Avenue NE
Mayville, ND 58257-9000
R: 701-788-2081
C: 701-238-1124
rholman@nd.gov
Senator Dave Oehlke
125 Woodlea Drive
Devils Lake, ND 58301-8545
R: 701-662-8587
B: 701-662-4051
C: 701-230-1598
doehlke@nd.gov
Representative Michael Howe
1011 Westport Parkway
West Fargo, ND 58078-8291
mchowe@nd.gov
Senator Nicole Poolman
3609 Bogey Drive
Bismarck, ND 58503-9195
R: 701-250-6730
npoolman@nd.gov
Representative Gary Kreidt
3892 County Road 86
New Salem, ND 58563-9406
R: 701-843-7074
C: 701-226-2169
gkreidt@nd.gov
Senator Ronald Sorvaag
3402 Birdie Street North
Fargo, ND 58102-1201
C: 701-361-2156
rsorvaag@nd.gov
Representative Bob Martinson
2749 Pacific Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58501-2513
R: 701-223-0835
bmartinson@nd.gov
Senator John Grabinger
1008 Eighth Avenue NE
Jamestown, ND 58401-3507
R: 701-952-1749
B: 701-252-4824
C: 701-320-3583
jgrabinger@nd.gov
Representative Lisa Meier
1713 South Third Street
Bismarck, ND 58504-7114
R: 701-255-4166
lmeier@nd.gov
Senator Tim Mathern
433 16th Avenue South
Fargo, ND 58103-4329
R: 701-235-9817
B: 701-476-7825
tmathern@nd.gov
Representative Corey Mock
P.O. Box 12542
Grand Forks, ND 58208-2542
C: 701-732-0085
crmock@nd.gov
Senator Larry J. Robinson
3584 Sheyenne Circle
Valley City, ND 58072-9545
R: 701-845-1428
B: 701-845-7217
C: 701-840-0727
lrobinson@nd.gov
Representative David Monson
P.O. Box 8
Osnabrock, ND 58269-0008
R: 701-496-3394
dmonson@nd.gov
Representative Mike Nathe
3723 Lockport Street
Bismarck, ND 58503-5537
R: 701-250-0645
O: 701-223-4055
mrnathe@nd.gov
Representative Jon O. Nelson
420 Sixth Avenue SE
Rugby, ND 58368-2320
R: 701-776-6738
C: 701-771-2193
jonelson@nd.gov
Representative Mark Sanford
675 Vineyard Drive
Grand Forks, ND 58201-2904
R: 701-772-4236
masanford@nd.gov
Representative Mike Schatz
400 East Ninth Street
New England, ND 58647-7528
R: 701-579-4823
O: 701-333-8610
C: 701-333-8610
mischatz@nd.gov
Representative Jim Schmidt
5165 Highway 1806
Huff, ND 58554-8721
C: 701-426-2102
jeschmidt@nd.gov
Representative Randy A. Schobinger
rschobinger@nd.gov
Representative Don Vigesaa
P.O. Box 763
Cooperstown, ND 58425-0763
R: 701-797-2448
dwvigesaa@nd.gov

 

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