I wasn’t certain I would be able to go Monday morning, but after rearranging another appointment, I joined the group headed out to look at the areas where many homes have already been removed and levees and dikes are replacing the once occupied homes in the areas of Chrisan Estates, Round Hill, Heritage Hills and Oxbow.
With Senator Hoeven and Congressman Berg aboard, Cass County Commissioners and a couple of camera crews we shoved off to view the “what was” and the “could be coming next.”
When we stopped in Oxbow, I asked Jim Nyhof, Mayor of Oxbow, which diversion did he believe would protect his city better? The Minnesota or the North Dakota? It was fairly obvious Mr. Nyhoff’s answer was hesitant but the outcome basically was the same; Minnesota’s diversion plan would work for protecting Hickson and Oxbow. The difference is that will require holding water in the northern part of the valley for downstream waters to go. I wanted to ask if that is such a terrible choice and if so, why? I didn’t get a chance for the follow up.
Having not lived in North Dakota in 1969 or 1979, I don’t know anything about the floods of those years, but according to the graphs showing where the crests were during the flood of 1969, it was nearly as severe as the one in 2009. So why in the world did anyone decide to develop areas that were destined to be flooded again? And the areas we visited on Monday are all in the path of the Red River overflowing its banks. Who built the developments of Oxbow and the golf course and Heritage Hills and Round Hill? And more importantly, why did the city of Fargo allow them to build there? I think the famous quote about those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it applies here.
Let’s hope from here on, during wet cycles and dry cycles, those in charge of planning and building communities will not ignore what has transpired before—even if it was 100 years ago. Certainly not so a fat cat builder can make money, while ignoring the history of prior floods that will endanger and disrupt lives and cost billions of dollars to every man, woman and child into the next century. We’ve already gone down that road and the yellow brick road it definitely was not.
KEEP IN MIND…
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is starting to receive calls from the public on water over township roads and some county roads. I am asking for the public’s help in using caution when driving on the county roads, especially at night.
If you come upon a road that has been closed, DO NOT DRIVE AROUND THE BARRICADES.
If you come upon a road where water is running across and it is not blocked, please contact the Clay County Highway Department at 218-299-5099 or the Clay County Sheriff’s Office at 218-299-5151. If it is a township road, make sure you notify them also to get the road blocked.
Just a reminder that when water is running over a road, it is also washing the road surface away. The water may look shallow, but could be several feet deep.
THIS WEEK’S QUOTES
Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.
Stephen Covey
Everyone who’s ever taken a shower has an idea. It’s the person who gets out of the shower, dries off and does something about it who makes a difference.
Nolan Bushnell
The cautious seldom err.
Confucius
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