FARGO, N.D. (AP) - The lawyer for a group of government officials managing a flood-control project for Fargo says a state lawsuit filed by Red River diversion opponents is no different from a federal complaint and has no merit.
President Obama signed a water project bill earlier this month that authorizes construction of the nearly $2 billion channel that would move floodwaters around the metropolitan area. Some upstream landowners believe there are better options and last year filed a federal suit.
Robert Cattanach is the attorney for the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Authority. He says the suit filed in Minnesota last week by the Richland-Wilkin Joint Powers Authority is meant to delay the project.
Wilkin County State's Attorney Tim Fox, a member of the Richland-Wilkin group, says the issue deserves a trial in state court.