Clay County Commission

Dan Haglund

The Clay County Board of Commissioners approved the final $60.4 million of the state’s legislative appropriation toward the Fargo-Moorhead flood diversion project on Tuesday in Moorhead.
The last monetary infusion from St. Paul is earmarked for construction improvements and land acquisitions necessary on the Minnesota side of the project.
The whole of the project protects nearly 260,000 people, their homes, businesses and property from flood events.
Darren Brooke, Clay County human resources director and assistant administrator, presented the official request for approval of the resolution in the absence of County Administrator Stephen Larson.
“This number ($60.4 million) is probably not a surprise to our citizens,” said Commissioner Jenny Mongeau, Dist. 3. “This is something we’ve been advocating for the need for this funding for a long time.”
Mongeau reported that the previous day, she and other local officials met with six state representatives including two senators as well as Gov. Tim Walz.
She said having the county board’s resolution of support will help when local officials travel to St. Paul to complete the pitch for the final project dollars.
“It will be really helpful to have this resolution of support as part of the packet,” Mongeau said. “Even moreso for those of you that sit around the Diversion table.”
Mongeau said the estimates and outlooks should be completed by March 6.
A major flood event in 1997 necessitated a more permanent solution, and construction on both the North Dakota and Minnesota sides of the Red River is ongoing. Additional flood events in 2009-12 solidified the need for making haste with moving forward.
Completion of the massive undertaking is on track for 2027.
The total cost of the F-M Area Diversion is being covered by the federal government, the state governments of North Dakota and Minnesota, as well as by local sales taxes.
Federal appropriations come in at $750 million, through which $437 million was allocated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2022.
North Dakota kicks in $850 million, of which $435 million comes from a state Legacy Funds bonding package and $415 million in State Water Commissions funds.
In Minnesota, the City of Moorhead allocated $40 million, and Clay County added another $46 million.
Local revenues total $1.514 billion, as local residents approved multiple sales and use tax initiatives to help fund the project, including payments during construction and short- and long-term debts payments.
The sales tax revenues are used to repay three loans through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the North Dakota Public Finance Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation Private Activity Bonds (PABS).