Joel Paulsen
FARGO (KFGO) – The former Executive Director of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority has made his first public statement since suddenly resigning last week.
Joel Paulsen says that his “sudden” decision to resign was due to “irreconcilable differences over contract language.” Paulsen believes the differences could cause “financial and logistical” risks to the diversion project.
Paulsen resigned last Tuesday. His departure was a surprise for more than half of the members of the Diversion Authority Board.
Board members and Fargo City Commissioners Dave Piepkorn and John Strand said Thursday Paulsen’s resignation was handled improperly.
“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.”
Board Chair and Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson said that Paulsen’s departure was a personnel matter and was Paulsen was a private citizen. North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley said last week, citing a 2015 legal opinion, said that Paulsen’s file is a public record and therefore can be released.
KFGO News shared the opinion with a diversion representative after the station requested Paulsen’s personnel file from the Division Authority.
Read the statement here – Press Release Joel Paulsen
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