<< Read and Download Original Sandy Meyer Comment Letter >>
Nov. 6, 2011
Dear U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
I’m writing in regards to your proposal for a diversion in the Fargo – Moorhead area. As a taxpayer and teacher of Minnesota, I highly OPPOSE of this plan. This plan is not in the best interest of your taxpayers’ money. Citizens of rural areas should not be forced out of their homes and prime farmland should not be flooded just to create more development for Fargo. My dad has been a highly successful farmer and has lived along the Red River for 69 years. His properly has never flooded. Fargo has not even had a 100 year flood. Why are we trying to protect it for a 500 year flood? My brother has taken over farming the land that my father farmed for over 40 years and now has to worry about the possibility of his rich farmland being flooded on purpose just to create more development for Fargo? There are many outlying areas in bedroom communities that could thrive with development and they do not get flooded. Farmland can not be replaced!!
My other main concern is the financial cost of this project. Who is going to pay for the cost of this diversion? Have the taxpayers been properly informed of their future costs? Who will pay for the buyouts and reconstruction of roads and bridges? Who will benefit from this diversion? Fargo is already gaining protection from the Red River with dikes and other measures. Shouldn’t we be forcing time and money on areas like Devils Lake and Bismarck – Mandan? These residents need help to recover from their losses. Let’s not start creating man-made floods on areas that have never flooded. Agricultural land is a valuable part of our economy. Do not destroy what can’t ever be replaced! Find solutions, don’t just create new problems!
Sandy Meyer
Barnesville, MN
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