Moorhead approves paying $52K for sandbag removal

By David Olson

April 25, 2011 at 11:00 PM

MOORHEAD - The City Council here Monday night approved paying Master Construction up to $52,250 to remove sandbag dikes from private property.

Homeowners who take down dikes on their own are being asked to leave sandbags by the street for pickup, avoiding as best they can blocking of curbside gutters.

Contractor work is expected to start next week.

The council also voted to spend about $98,000 on the first phase of a study looking at the feasibility of the city helping to build permanent levees on private property near the Red River.

City Engineer Bob Zimmerman said the city wants to determine how many of the 185 to 250 properties in the city that remain at risk of flooding would be good candidates for permanent dikes.

The goal, he said, would be to build levees to 44 feet, where possible.

How levees would be paid for has not been determined.

Council member Diane Wray Williams said special assessments would be appropriate.

Council member Mark Hintermeyer suggested that if a property is found to be suitable for a permanent levee, but the owner chooses not to participate in a project, the city should not pay for sandbag dikes in the future.

"They need to know we're not giving them sandbags. They're on their own," Hintermeyer said.

Also Monday, the Council discussed a renewed request from the owner of the toll bridge at 15th Avenue North for a five-year extension of the operating agreement between the cities of Moorhead and Fargo and The Bridge Co.

The agreement expires in 2013.

At that time, the cities could take ownership of the bridge, though it could mean having to pay any outstanding debt. Or they could give the Bridge Co. another five years to operate the bridge.

With the latter option, the cities would get the bridge in 2018 free of any debt that may remain.

Moorhead City Council members, who tabled an extension request in December, did not vote on the latest request Monday.

Instead, they said a meeting should be set with Fargo officials to begin talks about how the bridge will be run after the cities assume ownership.

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

By David Olson

I'm a reporter and a photographer and sometimes I create videos to go with my stories.

I graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead and in my time with The Forum I have covered a number of beats, from cops and courts to business and education.

I've also written about UFOs, ghosts, dinosaur bones and the planet Pluto.

You may reach me by phone at 701-241-5555, or by email at dolson@forumcomm.com.

Moorhead approves paying $52K for sandbag removal

MOORHEAD - The City Council here Monday night approved paying Master Construction up to $52,250 to remove sandbag dikes from private property. Homeowners who take down dikes on their own are being asked to leave sandbags by the street for pickup,...