Fargo opens major roads, lifts water restrictions
By DeAnne Hilgers
The Forum
Major roads opened in Fargo Thursday, voluntary water restrictions were lifted and serious cleanup discussion started.

The Red River is dropping and so is the tension. By Thursday afternoon, the level measured 36.98 feet, down from its record-setting 39.55 feet on April 18.

Residents, particularly those along the river, must leave their dikes in place and continue to monitor them, but the feeling of crisis has tapered to concern.

City officials warned residents not to remove their dikes. Although the river is lower, it still poses a threat, said Mayor Bruce Furness.

The city also won’t be ready to collect sand or sandbags until next week.

"Everyone is anxious and everyone will get that out of the way," Furness said, but residents need to be patient a little longer.

Cleanup Week has been postponed until the first full week of June to give city crews time to clean up the bags and dirt. The hazardous waste collection scheduled for Saturday has been postponed until fall.

City and federal officials also aren’t rushing to determine whether some homes prone to flooding should be purchased and removed. That determination could be two or three years away, said Public Works Director Pat Zavoral.

He estimated about 60 homes were affected by the flood or would allow better protection of the city if they were removed.

Some cleanup efforts have begun in the neighborhoods hit hardest by the flood – Oak Grove, Timberline and Fox Run.

South University Drive and both lanes of 52nd Avenue South, closed because of flooding, have reopened and Furness lifted the voluntary water restriction.

Restricted water use affected more than residents. Several business owners also agreed to limit water usage.

Duane Durr, owner of Don’s Car Washes, shut down the four Fargo sites April 24 when city officials informed him the sewer treatment plant was near capacity.

When the level subsided, Durr opened the 13th Avenue site for two hours on Sunday and all day Monday. Sites on Main and NP avenues opened Tuesday and the self-serve site on South University Drive opened Wednesday.

The decision cost Durr a "substantial amount" of money and several employees, he said.

"They’re not going to stand around wondering when the city is going to let you open up again."

Several employees helped sandbag around the community. Durr paid them an hour’s wages for every two hours they volunteered.

"We just tried to be good neighbors to the community," he said.