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Conrad Hears From Local Leaders in Walsh County
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CopySenator Kent Conrad met with leaders from Grafton last Thursday to review area flood prevention efforts and discuss a range of issues of importance to communities across Walsh County.
"Flood waters have threatened communities up and down the Red River Valley and across the state in recent years, " Senator Conrad said. "As we continue to work to develop solutions to the threats in Devils Lake and the Red River in Fargo, we must also keep our eye on the situation in Grafton, where
the people of Walsh County have fought their own battle with the flood waters of Park River. We owe it to every community across the state to help protect their homes and businesses by supporting every flood fighting effort."
In an effort to better protect their community, the city of Grafton is moving forward with a flood control project Congress reauthorized as part of the 1999 Water Resources Development Act. The project will include the construction of a diversion channel
and a series of tie-back levees to protect the city from the rising waters of Park River.
Senator Conrad noted that the federal government would be a key partner in the flood protection efforts in Grafton. Senator Conrad included a provision in the 2004 Energy and Water Appropriations bilj that reduced the local community cost share ort this $42 million project from 35 to 25 percent, saving the community millions of dollars.
In partnership with Senator Byron Dorgan, the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee, Senator Conrad has included $3 million in
the 2011 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill to begin design work on the project.
Among those meeting with Senator Conrad in Grafton were: Grafton Mayor Chris West, City Administrator Mylo Einarson, Grafton School Superintendent Jack Maus, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tabatha Widner and Julius Wangler, the Executive Director of the Red River Regional Council.
This stop in Grafton was the latest in a series of events Senator Conrad has held this month on the state of water control and transportation infrastructure in rural North Dakota.
Copyright 2010 Walsh County Press, Park River, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.
© 2011 Walsh County Press Park River, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.
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