Metro Flood Diversion’s Paulsen was going to be placed on administrative leave before resigning

FARGO (KVRR) – Joel Paulsen, the former Executive Director of the Metro Flood Diversion Authority, was going to be placed on administrative leave by the Authority Board just before resigning on April 9th.

In documents obtained by KVRR News, Diversion Authority Chair Shelly Carlson says that Paulsen was being placed on administrative leave due to questions about his relationships with project developers and Diversion Authority staff, as well as his overall leadership ability.

“The purpose of your paid administrative leave is to allow the Authority an opportunity to investigate these matters with minimal disruption to the workplace and to consider if disciplinary action, up to and including termination, may be appropriate,” Carlson wrote.

According to Authority Board member Dave Piepkorn, Paulsen resigned after he refused to sign the letter making his administrative leave official.

Paulsen received a glowing performance review from Metro Flood Diversion Authority Attorney John Shockley in December 2020.

“Joel is a good, strong leader with a great personality that is extremely knowledgeable about the project and the community,” Shockley wrote.

Paulsen resigned effective April 9th to the surprise of many Authority Board members. Board members Piepkorn and John Strand said that they were not aware of Paulsen’s potential administrative leave.

Paulsen’s attorney could not be reached for comment.