Diversion Authority presses Minnesota for $60.4 million in bonding, including Moorhead lift-station work

Jason Benson, executive director of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority, told the finance committee on April 23 that staff continue to press Minnesota lawmakers for $60,400,000 in bonding to fund work on the Minnesota side of the diversion.

Benson said the request includes $16,000,000 for Moorhead lift stations and about $44,000,000 for projects tied to the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District and Clay County, naming Georgetown and Wolverton as project locations. “Last week, we did have the opportunity to sit down with Governor Walz in a small group setting and discuss the current funding, the $60,400,000 that we’re requesting,” Benson said.

Why it matters: the Diversion Authority is splitting construction and mitigation tasks across states; securing Minnesota bonding this year would allow the authority to continue Minnesota-side work in 2025 rather than waiting for the next likely bonding cycle in 2027, Benson said.

Benson said both the Minnesota House and Senate had competing bonding proposals but that “we’re continuing to see some positive energy about the funding” and that authority staff will continue to work with state legislators, including representatives Joy and Keeler and Senator Kupec (as referenced), to advance the request.

Mayor Carlson praised staff outreach after Benson’s update, saying the meeting with the governor helped lay groundwork. “I don’t think we’d had an opportunity to sit down with him and really fully go through all aspects of the project,” Mayor Carlson said, adding thanks to the Chamber of Commerce and local partners who joined the briefing.

No formal action was taken by the committee on the bonding request at the April 23 meeting; Benson said the authority will continue advocacy work with Minnesota lawmakers as bonding bills move through each chamber.