FARGO- (KFGO-AM) KFGO News has learned four western Minnesota legislators have sent a letter to Darrell Vanyo, Chairman of the FM Diversion Authority, proposing a new configuration of the Diversion Authority.
Representative Paul Marquart says there's a lack of cooperation between the board that oversee's the project and Minnesota.
He says without better cooperation "it's going to doom it to failure." Marquart explains without elected officials from both states on board, the nearly $2 billion project will never get funding.
Vanyo says his proposal to add one more Minnesotan to the Diversion Authority was ignored and he's not optimistic the request to re-configure the board will be accepted. The matter will be on the agenda of the Diversion Authority meeting next week.
The lawmaker's letter follows up on Governor Dayton's comments made during visits to Breckenridge and Moorhead last month when he said there needed to be a more constructive working relationship between the State of Minnesota and the Diversion Authority.
Other lawmakers signing the letter are Senator Kent Eken of Twin Valley and Representatives Ben Lien of Moorhead, and Jay McNamar of Elbow Lake. The letter was also sent to Perry Miller, Chairman of the Richland-Wilkin JPA and Dave Morken, Chairman of the MNDAK Upstream Coalition, groups that oppose the current plan for the Diversion.