Fargo mayor not ready to support ND diversion

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - Fargo's mayor says he's not ready to support a diversion project on the North Dakota side of the Red River because it does not meet the federal cost-benefit standards.

Mayor Dennis Walaker says people don't seem to understand that unless the flood control project meets the federal standards, it won't get federal money. He says that means, "there is no project."

Five of six Minnesota diversion options, with costs ranging from $962 million to $1.26 billion, meet the Army Corps of Engineers' standard for federal funding. The two North Dakota diversion options, estimated at more than $1.3 billion, do not, though officials say they are close.

The corps is hoping to pick one of the options by year's end.