The mayors of both Moorhead and Fargo are unhappy about a federal judge halting construction of a controversial Red River flood diversion project and ruling it cannot move ahead without permission from Minnesota regulators. But Governor Mark Dayton calls the ruling “excellent news for the safety and protection of Minnesotans, whose lands and livelihoods could be devastated by the diversion project, as proposed.” Seventh District Congressman Collin Peterson says the court ruling is “throwing a big monkey wrench into the situation.” Peterson says, “It’s not gonna be exactly the same project that has been put together. That’s what I asked the [U-S Army] Corps [of Engineers]: If we have to have a different project, how long is it gonna take? And they indicated that they thought it would take a while — that’s after the parties came together and agreed on something.”
Moorhead Mayor Del Rae Williams says “the judge ruled against our city, our businesses and our homeowners.” Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney says the ruling “delays the protection of every family, business, and home in our community.”