MREFPP Phase MI-5 Begins Construction
A significant focus of Minot’s National Disaster Resilience (NDR) plan has been the acquisition of properties needed for flood mitigation projects, as reducing flood risk to the community is essential to Minot’s long-term recovery. Minot’s flood protection efforts are part of a local mitigation project, which addresses the Mouse River Basin as a whole. Initiated in 2011, the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project (MREFPP) spans across Renville, McHenry, Ward, and Bottineau counties, and its goal is to provide future flood protection for urban and rural residents throughout the Mouse River Basin. The MREFPP is overseen by the Souris River Joint Board, which is comprised of members from each of those counties, along with a City of Minot representative.
Started in 2015 and slated for completion in 2034, MREFPP is a multi-phase project, that includes 17 distinct phases of work efforts throughout the basin. A key phase of flood protection for the north-side of the Mouse River started construction this summer: Phase MI-5 Northeast Tieback Levee. To get this phase underway, the City used NDR funds to acquire properties beginning in May 2020 and completed the
demolitions in fall 2021. This project begins near 3rd street NE (the eastern end of Phase MI-1) and runs east along the north property line of BNSF Railway’s existing yard before tying into high ground east of 13th street NE. The project’s features include concrete floodwalls, earthen levees, arterial roadway changes, a storm water pump station, as well as a dry storm water pond. The concrete floodwalls will be similar height to the Phase MI-1 floodwalls, extending approximately 13 feet above the finished grade. All the enhanced flood protection projects currently under construction, and those under design provide a level of protection equal to the 2011 flood, plus three feet of freeboard. After roadways are removed, areas south of BNSF Railway’s existing yard will be seeded and turned into natural green space.
It is anticipated that construction will last on the MI-5 phase until 2025. When completed and connected to the first four phases of the MREFPP, the MI-5 phase will help remove approximately 60 percent of Minot residents from the proposed FEMA floodplain and, most importantly, provide long-term flood protection to the record flood of 2011.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Acquisition Program
• Overall, the City of Minot has acquired 214 properties to date: 87 properties using NDRCDBG funds and 127 properties using State Water Commission Funds; 7 properties included in the 87 NDR properties were partially funded with State Water Commission funds. These properties are needed for on-going or upcoming flood mitigation projects.
• The latest contract to demolish 18 properties during spring and summer was awarded in May; so far, eleven demos are substantially complete. Overall, the City has demolished 150 properties, with 74 of those being funded by NDR-CDBG funds.
Affordable Housing
• Milton Young Towers (MYT) renovations continue to move forward in a timely fashion; the temporary relocation of tenants is completed for the current phase and planning is underway for the next phase. As the tenants are accommodated, the Minot Housing Authority’s waiting list for the popular MYT will be used to backfill available units.
• Construction should be wrapped up soon on Park South II, a 22-unit affordable housing development; the final documentation is to be submitted November 30.
• Construction is almost finished on Souris Heights, a 54-unit affordable senior housing complex; the final documentation is to be submitted by September 30.
• The City continues to work with Project BEE to move the development of the 17-unit Broadway Circle affordable housing complex forward. In August, it was proposed to amend the City of Minot’s Allocation 1 Action Plan to allocate a portion of the remaining CDBG-DR funds towards the LMI housing component of the Broadway Circle housing/Family Homeless Shelter project.
Family Homeless Shelter
• The City continues to work with Project BEE to move the development of the Family Homeless Shelter forward. Once Project BEE’s funding strategy for the Family Homeless Shelter and the Broadway Circle affordable housing complex come together, a preconstruction meeting will be scheduled to commence construction
City Hall
• Construction continues at the new City Hall location. Sheet rock and taping work is underway on the first floor; the second and third floors are completed. Contractors are working on tiling bathrooms and there is ongoing painting throughout the renovated building. Overall, the project is moving along well and change orders are within contingency budgets.
Center for Technical Education
• The Center for Technical Education (CTE) project is moving forward; asbestos abatement work is still slated to be completed by October 31. Dakota College of Bottineau (DCB) had an administration change recently, as Dr. Migler retired; the NDR team will meet with the new DCB administrator and Ackerman Estvold Engineering to discuss the next phase. Based on current planning and construction schedules, it is anticipated that CTE classes will commence in Fall 2024.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Reduce Flood Risk/ Improve Water Management
A. Buyouts / Acquisitions / Demolitions / Relocations
a. Total Budget - $21,085,967
b. Spent to Date - $20,833,852
Build Affordable Resilient Neighborhoods
A. Multi-Family Affordable Housing
a. Total Budget - $23,912,137
b. Spent to Date - $21,013,572
B. Single-Family Affordable Housing
a. Total Budget - $8,807,750
b. Spent to Date - $5,740,733
C. Family Shelter
a. Total Budget - $3,364,198
b. Spent to Date - $1,029,802
Foster Economic Resilience and Diversification
A. Center for Technical Education
a. Total Budget - $3,540,000
b. Spent to Date - $40,230
B. Relocate City Hall
a. Total Budget - $8,222,593
b. Spent to Date - $6,035,312
Administration
a. Total Budget - $3,752,270
b. Spent to Date - $2,403,220
Completed Projects
• Affordable Housing Supply & Demand Study
• Souris River Decision Support Tool
• Park South Renovations
• Resilient Homebuyer Program