Jill Schramm/MDN Jerry Bents with Houston Engineering presents options related to the Maple Diversion project to the Minot City Council Wednesday. Council members from left are Rob Fuller, Mark Jantzer and Scott Samuelson.

Minot City Council members were left to weigh acquisitions, construction costs and long-term impacts following a discussion with engineers on the proposed Maple Diversion flood protection feature Wednesday.

They plan to come back on Oct. 21 to possibly provide direction to engineers, who presented a variety of design options related to a floodwater diversion project that impacts railroads, residents and roadways in west Minot in the area of Second Avenue.

Engineers offered proposals for placing Second Avenue on the dry side or wet side of either a levee or floodwall, or simply eliminating the road. A decision has implications for the number of acquisitions needed.

Water would be released into the diversion channel when the river reaches 3,000 cubic feet per second, which would affect Second Avenue if placed inside the diversion.

“I’ve worked with the city for 19 years. I’ve definitely seen 3,000 cfs,” said Jason Sorenson, director of Utilities with the City of Minot. He said it has happened several times. Flooding the roadway would entail significant cleanup once the diversion channel is later closed, and repeat flooding of the roadway would degrade the base, incurring higher maintenance costs, he said.

Depending on the configuration selected, five to 11 properties would need to be bought out. Certain configurations, particularly those with fewer property acquisitions, can add up to $5.3 million to the cost, depending on the design specifics. Floodwalls also would be more expensive than levees, although they preserve more of the properties.

Ryan Ackerman, administrator for the Souris River Joint Board, said a council decision isn’t required by Oct. 21, and taking more time won’t delay construction.

“This is a really important part of that process, and we acknowledge that this is not an easy decision for you guys to make, so we’re asking you to deliberate on it. Think about it,” he said.

“I just think we want to make the right decision that balances the public costs – I think the social cost is what you referred to before – with the real dollars cost that’s going along with this,” council member Mike Blessum told Ackerman.

Ackerman also reinforced that the Maple Diversion will be designed to offer full flood protection, ensuring all Minot’s valley residents will be outside a floodplain that requires flood insurance once flood protection is completed.