[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5973786,"mediaKeyId","5833018-63e8774f87d4f363f2bebd711ab0281b","parentId",5833018,"title","Land acquisitions reach about 63% as eminent‑domain trials continue for diversion footprint","audioSeconds",142,"startMs",1453000,"endMs",1595000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5833018-63e8774f87d4f363f2bebd711ab0281b&start=1453&end=1595","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5833018-63e8774f87d4f363f2bebd711ab0281b/thumbnail_1453000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5973786/Fargo/Cass-County/North-Dakota/Land-acquisitions-reach-about-63-as-eminentdomain-trials-continue-for-diversion-footprint","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973786-0c3eb35324faaa0855d129ed5091ece4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770404413&Signature=ihRSz3RqldzC0dbCsBCKsAphDs2xtRyqL7BixtLbDGOQf5uQoK3~1CTSzolSt6R5b2msGbm0nzMa8qgjmwEPLs9ayuUHw7MHnSumSFvo8KzOCfOIpiEh5tpIR1B4ueSt1S4DmTLkA2W~SJprd4wBc3El8o8gxu9B-e393b~5Hyuc7wL~VO1zPwzwzJab65GRlquvSrm0Y8~mcsBXw7BaLR5kaNGhq4xCmRzMywfl2amN2bmQVROP8MD7QGtSXuuX3zFzlaKzq66QV1UrtsuficQVCX9uOu6YgzBvlPGmAQzt8wwp3Uq7-ICPvc62Lk2eYBpKMiWWk3bmGuwZ1F0SBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","The City of Fargo","date","2025-09-26T00:00:00Z","article","Land‑management staff told the board on Sept. 25 that property acquisition for the diversion footprint has reached about 63% (rounded), with continued negotiation, ongoing eminent‑domain activity and settlements reached outside court after the authority’s first trial last month. The board was told there are seven outstanding settlement offers still under negotiation.

Justin, the authority’s land management lead, said flowage easements shown in the board map represented the parcels already acquired; orange parcels on the map were properties currently in eminent‑domain proceedings and blue parcels were properties not yet subject to imminent‑domain filings and still under negotiation. He said the authority completed its first trial last month, and that several additional settlements were negotiated following the trial. “We continue to negotiate and start settling with these landowners,” Justin said.

Key actions and documents: staff said they successfully closed three parcels in the upstream mitigation area (UMA) this month and that six excess parcels are moving through the authority’s disposal policy. Staff circulated the Property Rights Acquisition and Mitigation (PRAM) document to state agencies and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and will work with those agencies to obtain concurrence on the document. Land agents continue to provide relocation services and rent payments for impacted properties on both the Minnesota and North Dakota sides.

Justin said the UMA subfootprint is showing positive progress and that owner‑group differences and parcel counts will continue to change as individual settlements are finalized. The authority also reported it was in an eminent‑domain trial the week of the meeting. Board members were given the opportunity to ask questions and staff stood ready to provide updates as settlements close.

The board received the report for transparency and tracking; no formal land‑acquisition vote was recorded at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fargo City Metro Flood Diversion Authority - 09.25.2025","oneSentenceSummary","Land-management staff reported about 63% of required parcels acquired, the first trial completed last month, multiple settlements reached outside court and seven pending settlement offers; staff circulated the Property Rights Acquisition and Mitigation (PRAM) document to state agencies and the Army Corps for concurrence.","taxTitle","Fargo , Cass County, North Dakota","taxId",2742,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5973790,"Crossings and bridges near completion as diversion project advances; 39 million of 45 million cubic yards moved",198,1111000,1309000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5833018-63e8774f87d4f363f2bebd711ab0281b&start=1111&end=1309","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5833018-63e8774f87d4f363f2bebd711ab0281b/thumbnail_1111000.jpg","/articles/5973790/Fargo/Cass-County/North-Dakota/Crossings-and-bridges-near-completion-as-diversion-project-advances-39-million-of-45-million-cubic-yards-moved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973790-7f75728bb9f3d73b7e86ba30107a57b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770404413&Signature=Qk57I329P4QG3rb4IWGutQopdlSnQoXl3vlLOUO06DqITi2rfWu~ddU6HyzOGWH8tS1RT4npXPj4NylEVFPEKV4tXYMafpEXbq8rR10DLVHG1~mOqvnQoT5eUp6BP~8F2DdhYLGKeiPvFmr9NYoVtwCg4tWGiwCbYEe8Dd5MHjmOLICczHTfQO9tjiQw8yyll3vm~lf71Y3tLInmr7N-pTbHc-4-DFELu3dGvpOcqvJYuGmGXJ5bHRPJoSee~2ECk1xuaHHZCbE6MtG-Sb4cUEW6iJtWjN9OLYcvHFItZv6q7QWt2euX7g-PMlvNDLRdRW~anvVf4ECqv-SHxPB-XA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members received construction updates Sept. 25 showing multiple road and rail crossings moving toward reopening and major earthwork milestones on the diversion project. Project staff said roughly 39,000,000 of the needed 45,000,000 cubic yards of material have been moved on the channel and that several bridges and road crossings are entering final work and traffic‑opening phases.

Tom Fooks, senior construction manager for the Metro Flood Diversion Authority, and other construction staff briefed the board on September progress, including ASN Constructors’ recent reopening of a northbound lane of I‑29 and a scheduled first‑lane reopening for I‑94 within weeks. BNSF Railway crews were on site to install track at the Hillsborough Crossing and were scheduled to cut over train traffic in the coming weeks.

Construction highlights presented to the board included substantial completion milestones on multiple road crossings; poured bridge decks at County Road 6; approach embankments and permanent track installation near Hillsborough; concrete work on the Maple River Aqueduct spillway and wall facing; and embankment and turf reinforcement work at Reach SE2B and other reaches. The presentation showed that the Maple River Aqueduct work includes installation of heating‑system brackets for the low‑flow channel and placement of boulders to aid fish passage.

Project staff also provided a 30–60 day outlook showing a list of bridges and crossings expected to open this fall, contingent on weather and final work. Construction managers said much of the work remaining this season is finishing touches and reconnections of local roads.

On safety, staff reported two minor recordable incidents for the month; both were reported and reviewed, and no significant injuries were described. The project’s safety manager emphasized continued vigilance during fall close‑out activities.

Staff noted the P3 program report included an advance‑payment tracker summarizing payments made to the developer under the settlement agreement; the report shows the authority is approaching the capacity of the advance payment allowance and that milestone payments will be requested as corresponding work is completed. The board played a drone video showing many of the completed and nearly completed crossings and embankments.

Board members asked questions and received responses about sequencing of road reopenings and remaining work; staff said weather remains a factor for late‑season work.","Board received construction and safety updates showing lane reopenings on I‑29, upcoming I‑94 lane reopenings, BNSF track installation and major earthmoving progress; safety reported two minor recordable events.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5973794,"Diversion Authority votes to assume Cheyenne River mitigation work, approves $53 million program increase",205,303000,508000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5833018-63e8774f87d4f363f2bebd711ab0281b&start=303&end=508","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5833018-63e8774f87d4f363f2bebd711ab0281b/thumbnail_303000.jpg","/articles/5973794/Fargo/Cass-County/North-Dakota/Diversion-Authority-votes-to-assume-Cheyenne-River-mitigation-work-approves-53-million-program-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973794-b93011d7b4d1b72edbd459221fab1ead/orig.mp4?Expires=1770404413&Signature=KqD7Yv0yiuPTOzfGtr9ULPseKBmxTf3HIaQG6x8NLnOy9DY-og9FqsuOzGz5OMCtHeNdjQg~JJNRoKhz7UDR6rfZWd2uC-bLja5YapCFCbcWZuuxmIA7tZnpuLm0azETJo-Acgbk85~kzYnEqSd~fFAUKqusEmtDHubzWBBzkNinXx9YQkYvCpp-qrcyP4bgqH7ziANBYUPC96ovDt0muohdUukm6S~SaqnssvEh5iU855RBug4slyu4SOK-lPJMGvylgt6tl-0owGvZoCqvB8hvJiZx--gGRik5Ud9pIVthvHmpiM8paOD-woOGIIB4ccZPGCfbLK-ekLP0AyAsDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Metro Flood Diversion Authority voted on Sept. 25 to assume responsibility for the design, construction and operation of the Cheyenne River Mitigation Project and approved a $53 million program budget increase and a $1.5 million task order for preliminary engineering and construction support. The board recorded unanimous aye votes on the measures.

John, general counsel for the Diversion Authority, told the board that the mitigation project was contemplated in the project NEPA documents, including the supplemental environmental assessment, and described the work as involving removals, modifications and reestablishment of river features. “The consensus was to have the authority take over this project,” John said, citing closer coordination with local sponsors and anticipated cost efficiencies.

Why it matters: the Cheyenne mitigation is tied to completion of the federal diversion work and to a local–federal Project Partnership Agreement (PPA). Under the PPA, any remaining federal funds after federal construction complete would return to local sponsors, and the authority said local control will allow it to coordinate construction timing and funding. Board materials and comments said the mitigation cannot be completed until the Cheyenne aqueduct and diversion channel are operational to provide protection to West Fargo.

What the board approved: the program budget was increased by $53,000,000 to cover anticipated costs for the Cheyenne mitigation project; the board approved that adjustment by roll-call vote. The board also approved a task order with HMG (Houston Moore Group/HMG scope noted in materials) totaling $1,500,000 for preliminary engineering and construction-support services, split in the proposed schedule as $500,000 in 2025 and $1,000,000 in 2026, to fund borings, geotechnical work, layout and other early engineering.

Scope and timing described to the board: John outlined that the mitigation scope includes renovation or removal of an inlet structure, changes to gated structures where the diversion discharges back to the Cheyenne River, reestablishing an oxbow where the river is currently cutting off, and modifications to a culvert and baffle near Horace, N.D. He said the authority has discussed a memorandum for record with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to let the authority proceed with feasibility and design in anticipation of a formal PPA amendment. The PPA amendment itself requires congressional approval, and the timetable is uncertain given continuing federal funding debates in Congress.

Budget and funding context: Paul Barthol presented related finance details to the board; he and other staff said the authority expects remaining federal funds under the PPA to be applied to the mitigation when available, but the program-budget increase provides local expenditure authority now so staff can move forward with design and early work. The board record shows the finance committee recommended the program-budget action.

Next steps: staff said they will continue coordination with the Corps on the memorandum for record and work toward a formal PPA amendment. The board’s approval authorizes design and planning activities but does not finalize the PPA or require immediate additional cash draws beyond existing budgets until federal and PPA steps are completed.

The board took the votes by roll call. All members present voted yes.","The Diversion Authority voted to take responsibility for design, construction and operation of the Cheyenne River Mitigation Project, approved a $53 million program budget increase and authorized a $1.5 million task order for preliminary engineering.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Land acquisitions reach about 63% as eminent‑domain trials continue for diversion footprint

Crossings and bridges near completion as diversion project advances; 39 million of 45 million cubic yards moved

Diversion Authority votes to assume Cheyenne River mitigation work, approves $53 million program increase