Flood protection emerges as top priority as Minot candidates spar over funding and transparency

Flood protection dominated portions of the Minot Area Chamber EDC candidate forum, with multiple council hopefuls saying the project must be completed while offering contrasting views on cost, scope and funding.

"We need to finish it," said Joan Hawbaker, noting the project is already underway and suggesting funneling sales‑tax repayments toward flood work once other obligations are paid off. Nicole Brasfield, an insurance agent, warned that incomplete flood protection will raise flood‑insurance costs and reduce home values for residents in the valley.

Isaiah Keller said the project had been "over engineered" and called for greater transparency and a possible third‑party assessment, invoking concern that the scope could balloon the program’s costs. John McMartin and Steve Padragola urged staying the course to provide a solid protection system and to seek additional state and federal funding; Padragola emphasized the psychological and social costs if another major flood occurred.

David Wiley suggested placing significant funding decisions before voters, saying he would "move it to a vote" so the public could decide whether to complete the work.

None of the candidates proposed canceling the project outright; differences were primarily over process: how aggressively to seek outside funding, whether to reassess engineering scope, and whether to use sales‑tax proceeds and other local funds or put the question to voters. Several candidates stressed completing the work within budget to preserve flood‑insurance affordability and to avoid repeating the economic and social damage experienced in the last major flood.

Next steps: the forum did not record any formal council action. Voters will consider candidates’ stances at the June 9 primary.