Dilworth candidates pan Minnesota-side diversion

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A proposed flood diversion that would snake past Dilworth was universally panned Monday by Dilworth City Council candidates attending a forum hosted by Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton High School students.

Chad Olson, a City Council member who is running for the job of mayor, said a diversion on the Minnesota side of the Red River should be strongly opposed, but he said if it turns out to be unstoppable, Dilworth’s interests need to be protected and the cost placed on communities that benefit.

Julie Nash, another council member who is running for mayor, said a North Dakota diversion should be the primary option for permanent flood protection in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

She said if another option must be chosen, the next in line should be levees built where the flooding occurs.

“We need to be at the table and definitely make sure they (officials who will decide on a flood project) know the impacts and the costs they maybe haven’t figured in,” Nash said.

Mike Griffin, who is running for one of two council seats up for election, said Dilworth should have been invited to flood project discussions much earlier, stating a diversion in Clay County would cut off Dilworth’s growth potential to the east.

Several candidates said if a Minnesota diversion gains momentum, there may be little Dilworth can do to stop it.

When candidates were asked what they would do to help seniors in the community, Ryan Mullikin, a City Council member running for one of the open council seats, said keeping city taxes affordable is particularly important.

He said one way to keep taxes low is to maximize the city’s tax base by promoting commercial growth.

Griffin said improving transportation options would be one way to help seniors continue to participate in the community.

Jim Aasness, who is also running for a council seat, said he is a senior himself and he would like to see more opportunities for people his age to participate in bus tours to interesting destinations.

When students asked if candidates favored building a skate park in town, Aasness said he was, but he said a source of funding would need to be found at a time when shrinking revenues threaten the closure of the city’s swimming pool.

Mullikin said he supports activities for youths in general, adding that some kind of fundraisers would likely be needed for a skate park to be possible.

Griffin, who is chairman of the city Park Board, said a group of youths had sought the board’s help in setting up a skate park last spring, but he said public input has since fallen off.

He said voters would likely have to approve a bond issue to cover the cost of a skate park.

Nash said a skate park might be something to consider when the city is planning future park development and maintenance. She said if there is interest in a skate park, money might go there instead of into existing facilities.

Olson said he believes it would be possible for Dilworth to build a skate park on a scale similar to one built in West Fargo.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Dave Olson at (701) 241-5555

Tags: city government, clay county, communities, news, elections, dilworth, flood, diversion, glyndon, felton