FARGO - A Rose Creek home could be threatened with eminent domain if city leaders decide Monday, March 13, that it's needed for a flood-control project.
The home at 4122 17th St. S. lies northeast of the Rose Creek Golf Course along the left bank of that drainway. During the 2009 and 2011 flood fights, the city was forced to build temporary levees behind homes here.
Several of those homes have since been bought by the city to make way for permanent levees and floodwalls, but 4122 is one of a few holdouts.
As is the case with many such buyouts, the home is too close to the banks for the city to safely build a levee around, said City Engineer April Walker. Levees, which are less costly than floodwalls, are heavy and can cause river banks to slump if built too close to the river.
The city said it has negotiated with the homeowners but was unsuccessful. If the commission agrees to a resolution of necessity Monday, it would open the door to eminent domain proceedings to compel a sale.
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Homeowners Michael C. and Linda K. Bergh couldn't be reached for comment.
