Flood Protection – Page 4 – TheMinotVoice.com

Trump tells CEOs he’ll only back shovel-ready infrastructure

by: Josh Wolsky | April 5, 2017

Investing in America’s infrastructure was a common theme throughout President Trump’s campaign, and his rhetoric is now turning towards the issue. The condition he’s placing on the investments he wants to make — that they’re shovel ready. It’s news worth noting here in Minot where we have several hundred million dollars of infrastructure with permitting

Read & Share sourced from: Associated Press

Flood forecast improves for Grafton, but warnings persist

by: Josh Wolsky | March 30, 2017

As the river rises in Minot, the general message right now among forecasters and those tasked with protecting the City is that we’re in good shape; the river is doing what we expected and we can handle the flow rates. On the other side of the state, Grafton and Park River are in a more significant

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

Des Lacs Running Strong in Spring Melt

by: Josh Wolsky | March 28, 2017

In the flood equation that determines the fate of the Burlington and Minot areas each spring, the Des Lacs is the wild card. And this spring it’s running, but it’s not out of control or out of the banks. Kim Fundingsland has the story.

Read & Share sourced from: Minot Daily News

We Can No Longer Afford the Hypocrisy

by: Josh Wolsky | March 15, 2017

Good Morning Senator Hogue and Senator Larsen, I’m writing to provide a last minute appeal for House Bill 1163 regarding the removal of North Dakota’s Sunday closing laws. And because this debate is just the latest in a series at both the state and local level that has me concerned, I’m publishing this letter publicly

Read & Share

City Council and Staff in the Dark over CDM Smith Low-Income Housing Activities

by: Josh Wolsky | March 13, 2017

A committee created to advise City Council on how to spend portions of the $74.3 million National Disaster Resilience Competition award is off to a less-than-transparent start. The Minot Affordable Housing Advisory Committee met for the first time on February 15, and according to minutes, the committee is made up of members of CDM Smith

Read & Share

Corps of Engineers Interested in Dead Loop Restoration Through Souris Basin

by: Josh Wolsky | March 10, 2017

The Souris River Joint Board’s monthly meeting was yesterday; the work continues on implementing all aspects the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Plan. Of note, members of the Corp of Engineers were in Minot this past week and they expressed an interest in projects related to ecosystem restoration. In plain English, the message being conveyed

Read & Share

On the Record: Local Legislators Comment on Flood Protection Funding

by: Josh Wolsky | March 3, 2017

House Bill 1020 is the State Water Commission appropriations bill. It’s a big deal for Minot because it’s the Water Commission that contributes money to flood protection. In other words, if the Water Commission is appropriated money for flood protection, then Minot has a chance at getting some of those dollars. The bill was passed

Read & Share

Flood Protection Funding Coming into Focus

by: Josh Wolsky | February 22, 2017

Jill Schramm with the Minot Daily has an update on Minot’s efforts to find funding for the long-term flood protection plan. An appropriation bill in the legislature is through the House and, if it holds together, it secures the state’s share of the first four phases. What’s less clear is how we’ll go funding our

Read & Share sourced from: Minot Daily News

Lake Darling to be Lowered for Spring Runoff

by: Josh Wolsky | February 2, 2017

In anticipation of a heavier-than-average spring runoff, the operating level at Lake Darling will be lowered to 1594 feet above sea level — 2 feet below the normal pre-runoff level. The goal is to reach that level by the end of March, and as the releases ramp up over the next weeks, those on the

Read & Share sourced from: Minot Daily News

Flood Protection: A Penny Could Pay For It

by: Josh Wolsky | January 31, 2017

The City of Minot’s Sales Tax Ad Hoc Committee met yesterday for the second time. The committee is still in the information gathering process, and one of the presenters yesterday was SRJB Project Administrator Ryan Ackerman. He provided the committee with his analysis of paying our local share of flood protection, and it looks like

Read & Share sourced from: Minot Daily News

Flood Protection Update: January 12, 2017

by: Josh Wolsky | January 19, 2017

Following last week’s monthly Souris River Joint Board meeting, I grabbed Ryan Ackerman, Project Administrator for the SRJB, for an update on a few aspects of Minot’s long-term flood protection efforts. It’s a six-minute interview, but this information is direct from the best source in town. Watch below.

Read & Share

A Detailed Look at Engineering Floodwalls and Removable Openings

by: Josh Wolsky | January 9, 2017

Following last month’s City Council discussion and vote to add an opening in the Phase 1 floodwall at the Anne Street Bridge, I followed up with SRJB Project Administrator Ryan Ackerman regarding several topics that came out in that debate. Most notably, I was concerned with the idea that removable floodwall structures were in some

Read & Share

A Growing List of Questions on Integrity and Maintenance

by: Josh Wolsky | December 11, 2016

Bias at the top: I’ve been a vocal supporter of the opening in floodwall near the Anne Street Bridge. And if you haven’t been following the story, you can catch up on the coverage here. Last Monday, City Council voted 8-6 against a motion to amend Minot’s Phase 1 flood protection plans to add a

Read & Share

The Missing Main Street Opening Wasn’t the Only Flaw in Phase 1

by: Josh Wolsky | December 9, 2016

Last Monday, City Council took up the issue of adding an opening in the floodwall at Main Street. It’s been a topic of discussion and commentary here on The Minot Voice since last spring, but it ramped up recently with news that there were also discussions taking place to remove the Anne Street Bridge. Council

Read & Share

Is safety really the only priority in Phase 1 flood protection?

by: Josh Wolsky | December 4, 2016

Bias at the top. I’m a regular user of the Ann Street Bridge. I support the opening proposed by Alderman Straight. And the bridge has been a recent topic here on The Minot Voice. If you want to catch up on the story, here’s everything that’s been published. The question of a pedestrian opening in

Read & Share

When are we going to start to listening to citizens?

by: Josh Wolsky | December 4, 2016

Bias at the top. I’m a regular user of the Ann Street Bridge. I support the opening proposed by Alderman Straight. And the bridge has been a recent topic here on The Minot Voice. If you want to catch up on the story, here’s everything that’s been published. Approximately a year ago, when the Phase

Read & Share