Presidents Day Closings Monday, Feb 15
MOORHEAD – Moorhead City Offices will be closed.
No garbage pick-up. Both Monday’s and Tuesday’s routes will be collected on Tuesday, February 16. The Garbage Transfer Station will be closed on Monday.
All Lake Agassiz Regional Library (LARL) branches and LINK sites will be closed on Monday with regular hours of operation resuming Tuesday, February 16.
Hydrant Hero winner announced
MOORHEAD – Congratulations to Team Hawkins on winning the prize pack sponsored by Signature Home Technologies.
The Adopt-a-Hydrant committee thanks everyone that participated during the Frostival giveaway over the last few weeks. While the winner has been announced, the program will continue. Please continue to keep the hydrants clear 3 feet and to the street this winter and beyond.
Thank you to Moorhead Public Service, the Moorhead Fire Department, and Signature Home Technologies for collaborating on this awesome volunteer opportunity.
To-Go Craft Kits Available at Libraries
MOORHEAD – The public is invited to learn how to create beaded earrings and collect the necessary supplies from a Lake Agassiz Regional Library location near them. Kits will be available beginning February 22 and will be available as quantities last. Pick up a kit by visiting a library or LINK Site near you, or call 218) 233-3757 to request a kit using our curbside delivery service.
An instructional video will also be available on larl.org/athome beginning February 22, walking you through the steps to create a pair of fringe earrings of your own. The video will be hosted by Tawny Trottier Cale, an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as well as a descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and the Spirit Lake Nation. She loves to share her beadwork knowledge with others, creating custom beadwork with her sisters under the name “Sister Beads.” In the video, Tawny will demonstrate how to make a pair of three color fringe earrings.
This project is available free-of-charge and is made possible thanks to funding from the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
Fargo Police See Increase in Catalytic Converter Thefts
FARGO – The Fargo Police Department has seen a rise in thefts of catalytic converter theft cases. Since August 1, 2020, the department has taken 97 reports, 31 of which were in January 2021. These cases appear to be occurring in business parking lots where multiple vehicles are parked or stored. Fargo Police Detectives are investigating these cases, working towards identifying responsible parties.
The Fargo Police Department is asking the community to call in all suspicious activity as it is occurring. If you hear power tools in a nearby parking lot, during the evening or night hours, please report this immediately to dispatch at 701.451.7660.
If you have any information regarding these crimes, please text keyword FARGOPD and your tip to 847411.
Minn DNR Issues Final Agency Decision upholding permit to construct the F-M Flood Diversion Project
FARGO – The Metro Flood Diversion Authority (MFDA) announced Wednesday that it has received the Final Agency Decision from the Minnesota DNR affirming its decision to grant the Dam Safety and Public Waters Work Permit issued by the DNR in 2018. This will allow the MFDA to continue with construction of the Fargo-Moorhead Flood Diversion Project (the “Project”).
The DNR’s decision in 2018 to issue the permit was appealed by opponents of the Project which prevented construction of some elements of the Project. The MFDA and the opponents who appealed the DNR’s decision have since agreed to settle all cases challenging the Diversion Project and the DNR conducted a rigorous second internal independent review of the permit affirming its 2018 decision.
Joel Paulsen, Executive Director of the MFDA, said, “The affirmation of the Minnesota DNR permit is another important milestone for the Flood Diversion Project that moves us closer to providing permanent flood protection for the region. Specifically, the permit allows us to work directly with affected Minnesota landowners and provide them with certainty of project impacts and property rights acquisition needs. We were required to wait for the Contested Case and the DNR review and now with the affirmation of the permit, our team is ready to act.”
Under terms of the DNR permit, the MFDA will be required to obtain property rights for all land impacted by the project up to the probable maximum flood event.
The original permit was granted by the Minnesota DNR in 2018 and challenges were later filed and reviewed by Judge Ann O’Reilly (ALJ). Challenges related to the amount of land that would potentially be impacted by the project have been resolved.
“With this permit granted, we can move ahead on the critical selection of a construction bid through a Public Private Partnership (P3). The P3 Developer will construct the diversion channel and related infrastructure elements of the Project. We expect to announce the P3 bid selection in April, with construction starting in the Fall 2021 and continuing through 2027,” said Paulsen.
The Project is being delivered through a split-delivery method with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). USACE is responsible for the construction of the Southern Embankment and Associated Infrastructure and the MFDA is responsible for construction of the Diversion Channel and Associated Infrastructure.