FARGO (KFGO) - Local leaders gathered for a joint news conference Thursday to make it clear plans for the FM Diversion Project will proceed, despite this week's decision by the Minnesota DNR to deny a permit for the project.
An emotional appeal by Moorhead City Council member Nancy Otto, a member of the board that oversee's the diversion, asked Governor Dayton to reconsider the decision to deny the the permit. She said, the community feels "abandoned by you." and to put politic's aside.
Fargo businessman Tom Dawson heads up a task on flood protection. He said, "we will not allow the safety of our residents and property to be held hostage by the politically motivated actions of leadership who would rather have us rely on sandbags.
Dawson and Corps of Engineers Project Manager Aaron Snyder said despite Minnesota objections, the project's first contractor will be picked within the next several weeks and construction will start shortly after that.