Mayor Mahoney Reaffirms Diversion Project

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Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney is defending his stance on the FM Diversion project. He says it’s the “only” option for flood protection.

Mahoney says he wants to remind the public why the project is being done.

Commissioner Dave Piepkorn has recently scrutinized Oxbow buyouts saying that some home owners are getting too much money.

Both Mayor Mahoney and Fargo city attorney Eric Johnson confirmed that they are following federal law on the buyouts.

Mahoney also says that he is trying to treat residents of every area, fairly.

“We’re trying to do it as fair as possible but if you had a home what would you expect me to pay for your home? Probably your appraised value. And you probably don’t want to take benefit by having benefit out of this project but the reality is that it’s people and we like to treat you fairly and this is what we’ve come up with,” Mahoney says.

Homeowners in Oxbow are in limbo after a judge halted work on the ring dike, which is part of the diversion project.