Joel Paulsen
MOORHEAD (KFGO) – The executive director of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority has resigned.
Joel Paulsen notified a sub-committee that he would step down on Tuesday.
During a meeting Thursday morning, it was clear that over half the Diversion Authority Board was unaware of the circumstances that led to Paulsen’s resignation.
Board member and Fargo City Commissioner Dave Piepkorn said the way Paulsen’s resignation was handled is unacceptable.
Fellow Board member and Fargo City Commissioner John Strand called on Board Chair, Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson to release communications and other information that led to Paulsen’s resignation.
“You folks knew things we don’t know,” Strand said. “Six of you. Six out of 13 board members knew things that the rest of us didn’t know. You should have convened the entire board. That was your obligation, and the proper channel to do it, according to proper boardsmanship.”
Carlson said it is now a personnel matter and Paulsen is a private citizen.
“We are all in professional roles, where if somebody resigns from a position, the information that led up to that resignation becomes a private personnel file and any information in that personnel file… I don’t think there is anybody that would want any information like that available and out in the public,” Carlson said.
Rodger Olson, a Board member and Cass County Joint Water Resource District Member, said there was no pressure put on Paulsen to resign.
The Board accepted Paulsen’s resignation on an 11-2 vote. It also approved a motion to negotiate a compensation package with Paulsen as he will likely be needed to testify or counsel on different matters that he has expanded knowledge of, such as eminent domain issues.
Fargo City Administrator Michael Redlinger and Cass County Administrator Robert Wilson will serve as co-executive directors while the board determines how to move forward.
The Board, in a statement, said the resignation will not impact project progress.
“MFDA staff, consultants, and contractors will continue the important work of delivering permanent, reliable flood protection to the metro area,” the statement said.
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