The Fargo City Metro Flood Diversion Authority convened on September 25, 2025, to discuss ongoing property acquisition efforts and financial updates related to the flood diversion project. The meeting began with a presentation on land acquisition progress, highlighting that 63% of necessary easements have been secured. The areas marked in green on the presented map indicate properties where easements have been acquired, while orange denotes those currently under eminent domain proceedings, and blue represents parcels still in negotiation.

The speaker reported a 3.3% increase in property acquisition since the last meeting, particularly within the Urban Mitigation Area (UMA). Key construction components, including the Drayton Dam and Intown Levee, were noted as completed, although there were no updates on environmental monitoring easements. The speaker emphasized ongoing negotiations with landowners, with seven pending settlement offers still in progress. A recent trial concluded successfully, allowing for multiple out-of-court settlements, which the speaker described as a positive development.

In addition to property acquisitions, the Finance Committee provided an update on the city’s financial status. The committee reported expenditures totaling $353,113.36, with a strong net cash position of approximately $292.3 million. However, concerns were raised regarding sales tax collections, which are currently lagging behind previous year figures—county collections are down 1.4%, while city growth is down 3.1%. The committee plans to continue monitoring these trends closely.

The meeting concluded with an invitation for questions, indicating a commitment to transparency and community engagement as the project progresses. Overall, the discussions reflected a proactive approach to both land acquisition and financial management in the context of the flood diversion initiative.