Delegates from North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba will meet in Grand Forks this week to talk water, energy and trade at the 12th Annual International Legislators Forum.
The event is scheduled to run Wednesday through Friday and is facilitated by The Consensus Council Inc., of Bismarck.
The forum started when International Flood Mitigation Initiative dissolved in 2000 after a two-year run and has grown to tackle topics aside from the water issues that affect thousands of people throughout the Red River Valley.
"Basically, the legislators that were in (IFMI) felt positively about the relationships that developed and the overall activities," said Paul Griffin, deputy director of the Consensus Council. "They thought we could do some things on a regional basis. We have a lot in common. They decided at that point they wanted to keep some kind of a meeting going."
Each year, the forum's steering committee, made up of two delegates from each of the four jurisdictions, determines which issues are examined.
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This year, the water issues portion of the meeting will have panel discussions on both the Red River and Missouri River.
"It's broadened," Griffin said. "This year would be the first year we've dealt with issues regarding the Missouri River."
Dutch connection
IFMI developed out of a 1998 trip to the Netherlands by a group of U.S. officials to examine how the Dutch have managed their centuries-old battle with flood control.
This year, Dutch officials are returning to see what was implemented following the trip.
The forum kicks off Wednesday with a tour entitled "Flood Mitigation on the Red," which will be guided by Kevin Dean of the Grand Forks Information Office and Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Greenway Specialist Kim Greendahl.
"It's kind of a completion-of-the-circle approach," Griffin said.
The trade sessions of the conference will focus on the big picture of cross-border trade, as well as day-to-day issues.
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The energy section is scheduled to deal with the future of the sector and energy transmission.
Featured speakers include Missouri River Energy CEO Tom Heller and CentrePort Canada CEO Diane Gray.
Grand Forks mayor Mike Brown and former Lt. Gov. Lloyd Omdahl will be part of Thursday's welcoming luncheon.
Reach Bieri at (701) 780-1118; (800) 477-6572, ext. 118; or send email to cbieri@gfherald.com .
