It has been six years since the 2011 flood inundated a good share of the city. The earliest projected start date for construction on the $28 million Burlington portion of the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project is July 2019. Construction is expected to take two years.

For the most part, feedback from residents has been positive, said Ryan Ackerman, administrator for the Souris River Joint Board.

“They seem to be satisfied with what’s being proposed. The only concerns being raised are with regard to schedule,” he said. “They certainly want to see this project being constructed faster. That’s a concern throughout the basin.”

Burlington resident Doyle Roe said he can understand where some people might have concerns related to their properties after reviewing the project footprint. He is not among them, though.

Jill Schramm/MDN Ryan Ackerman, administrator for the Souris River Joint Board, talks about the Burlington flood protection project at a public meeting in Burlington Tuesday.

“The plan where my house is looks very good,” he said. “Where I live, I see no problem.”

Jerry Neuhalfen of Burlington looks forward to the benefits of the levees. Neuhalfen, who lives near the Colton Bridge, said his backyard ponds every year, including this past spring.

“This looks like it’s going to help,” he said.

The City of Burlington has completed its property buyouts, having jumped on the task early. The joint board still is looking at small acquisitions or easements as the footprint of the project becomes more clearly defined.

“We reached out to property owners next to the levee. A handful have some concerns. We are working to continue to come up with solutions,” Ackerman said.

Jill Schramm/MDN A resident examines one of the poster boards showing elements of the proposed flood protection plan for Burlington Tuesday.

The plan calls for 12-foot levees on average and a new longer, wider, higher Colton Bridge. The 48-foot width will be about double the existing width. The length will go from about 150 feet to 208 feet. The bridge will be raised to a flow rate of 27,400 cubic feet, the 2011 flood of record to which the flood protection project is being built. Flood protection to 5,000 cfs has previously existed.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Ackerman and Jason Westbrock with Barr Engineering described the flood protection changes along the Souris and Des Lacs rivers, the flood wall openings planned and the impacts to the sports complex and park, where ball fields will remain on the wet side and a playground and picnic area will need to be relocated.

Park Road will be raised four to six feet, eliminating the need for an originally planned concrete flood wall. There will be one large pump station near the center of town rather than two pump stations at either end of town as originally planned.

The Souris River Joint Board plans to go to the 2019 Legislature to ask for money for the Burlington project. The July 2019 construction start hinges on how that goes. The local match at this point is Minot’s city sales tax.

Ackerman said no U.S. Army Corps of Engineers funding is expected for the Burlington project because it fails to meet the cost-benefit analysis required by the federal government. However, Ackerman said, other portions of the basinwide flood project are expected to be eligible for funding, which will free up more state and local dollars for Burlington.

Public comments from Tuesday’s meeting will be considered in finalizing the project plans. Comments still are being taken by email at info@mouseriverplan.com, by phone at 837-8737 or in writing at Mouse River Plan at P.O. Box 1516, Minot, ND 58702.

Another flood-related meeting for Burlington-area residents will be held next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the school. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be providing information on the proposed flood plain maps and anticipated flood insurance rates.