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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) About 50 people attended a public meeting to learn more about the proposed options that Valley City and KLJ Engineering are working on concerning permanent flood control.
KLJ Engineer Eric Gilbertson said future meetings will focus on key neighborhoods along the river in Valley City to see what citizens want for a permanent flood protection structure.
Representatives from Valley City and KLJ were on hand to answer questions about some of the options available for permanent flood protection, the estimated cost and how many years it will take to complete the entire project.
KLJ Engineer Chad Petersen said the flood walls will protect the city to a level of 24 feet.
City Administrator David Schelkoph said as funding for the state’s oil extraction tax drops due to lower crude oil prices it may take 10 to 12 years to complete the project in Valley City. He said funding for the Valley City project comes from the state and is approved by the state water commission through the state’s oil extraction tax.
City Commissioner and Flood Task Force Chairman Matt Pedersen said the city needs to gauge the correct speed of the flood buyout process in the future.
He said the city and other entities are trying to encourage developers to build more Multi-Family Housing units and Single Family homes in Valley City being more structures will be eliminated as the permanent flood protection project moves forward.
Additional neighborhood flood control meetings will be announced so citizens can provide input on the type of plan and direction the city should pursue in their neighborhood.
Construction on Phase II of the permanent flood protection project is estimated to begin in 2017 according to KLJ and city officials.
The Sheyenne River in Valley City reached a record 20.69 feet in 2009. The second highest was 20.66 feet in 2011 and the 3rd highest level was 20 feet back in 1882.
Below are the latest figures for money received by the state for permanent flood protection, the total cost of two separate buyouts in the city and construction cost of the permanent flood wall project.
