MOORHEAD – A disputed comment has caused a rift between two county commissions that are partners in the Fargo-Moorhead flood diversion effort.

Clay County commissioners on Tuesday wrote a letter to their counterparts in Otter Tail County about “an alleged disparaging comment” made at a January meeting concerning the proposed diversion, when an Otter Tail official allegedly said he was instructed by his county’s board to “stick it to Fargo.”

The alleged comment did not sit well with Clay County, which is working with Fargo on the contentious $1.8 billion diversion project.

“We are extremely disappointed that this is how Otter Tail County would choose to operate as a partner,” read the letter, written by Clay County Commission Chairman Grant Weyland.

The phrase “stick it to Fargo” is not what was said, according to Bruce Albright, who attended the Jan. 26 Buffalo-Red River Watershed District meeting when the disputed commend is said to have been made.

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Albright is administrator of the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District, which is a partner in the diversion project. The district has not yet voted on the diversion budget for fiscal year 2015.

Albright said the comment was: “Not everybody loves Fargo as much as Fargo does.”

In an interview, Weyland said he did not believe the exact words “stick it to Fargo” were used, though in his letter to Otter Tail County, he put the phrase in quotes. “Maybe it was construed as that,” Weyland said. “We had concerns about these alleged comments.”

Otter Tail County Commissioner Douglas Huebsch said the January meeting is being reviewed “to find out the truth.”

“I can’t recall anything like that, ever,” he said of the “stick it to Fargo” phrase. “Something got lost in communication.”

In his letter, Weyland wrote: “We need this budget for our State to complete its work and provide feedback on the Diversion project.

“We have agreed to support each other’s efforts to alleviate flooding and manage the water resources of the District. Please help us realize flood protection for Clay County.”