The Metro Flood Diversion Authority board on June 26 approved an amended project development plan for three City of Fargo lift stations that shifts the work from full replacement to rehabilitation and combines the three sites into a single project.

Chris Bockergard, representing authority staff on the update, said the change reduces scope rather than adds it and lowers the city’s current cost estimate from roughly $13.5 million to about $4.3 million. “So again, a nice reduction in scope and, still providing the level of service and detail that we were looking for for the flood protection project,” he said.

Staff said the lift-station work was originally organized as two projects (one with two lift stations and one with a single lift station) and the city elected to consolidate the three into one rehabilitation project. The board moved and seconded the recommended motion and approved the amended plan by roll call.

The finance committee earlier reported bills of $5,776,765.65 for the reporting period and a net cash position of $340,246,982; those financial figures were presented as background during the meeting.