FM Diversion Board of Authority
The Diversion Authority is led by 13 board members from stakeholder entities.
- Diversion Board of Authority – Agenda for January 28, 2021
- Diversion Board of Authority Special Meeting – Agenda for January 19, 2021
- Diversion Board of Authority – Agenda for December 17, 2020
- Diversion Board of Authority – Agenda for November 19, 2020
- Diversion Board of Authority – Agenda for October 22, 2020
- Diversion Board of Authority – Agenda for October 1, 2020
- Diversion Authority Special Meeting Minutes – January 19, 2021
- Diversion Authority Meeting Minutes – December 17, 2020
- Diversion Authority Meeting Minutes – November 19, 2020
- Diversion Authority Meeting Minutes – October 22, 2020
- Diversion Authority Meeting Minutes – October 1, 2020
- Diversion Board of Authority – Minutes from August 27, 2020
Upcoming Meetings and Events
- 8:00 am
Special Land Management Committee Meeting – January 2021
Public Outreach Committee Meeting –…3:00 pm / 4:00 pm
Land Management Committee Meeting –…4:00 pm / 5:00 pm
Finance Committee Meeting – January…
- 2:00 pm
Public Outreach Committee Meeting – January 27, 2021
- 3:00 pm
Land Management Committee Meeting – January 27, 2021
- 4:00 pm
Finance Committee Meeting – January 27, 2021
Moorhead Clay County Joint Powers…3:30 pm / 4:30 pm
FM Diversion Board of Authority…
- 1:00 pm
Moorhead Clay County Joint Powers Authority Meeting – January 28, 2021
- 3:30 pm
FM Diversion Board of Authority Meeting – January 28, 2021
Executive Director
The Diversion Authority is led by 13 board members from stakeholder entities.
- Joel Paulsen was hired as the first Executive Director after a nation-wide search was conducted.
- Paulsen started on Sept. 3, 2019.
- He has almost 20 years of experience in engineering, civil works and traffic related projects.
- Previously, he was an engineer and Office Leader for Stantec Engineering. He has worked on projects from utility replacements, transportation improvements, levee systems, and community planning.
- Paulsen served on the Moorhead City Council and was appointed by Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton to the Governorsโ Task Force in 2018. As a member of the Task Force, Paulsen was one of 16 local residents and experts asked to find solutions to achieve permanent flood protection for Fargo, Moorhead and the surrounding communities.
- Paulsen grew up in Moorhead, MN and received a Civil Engineering degree from North Dakota State University. He has a wife and four children.
The Diversion Authority has officially hired Joel Paulsen as the first Executive Director for the FM Area Diversion Project in August of 2019.
Paulsen is scheduled to begin on September 3, 2019. He was offered the position in late July after a unanimous vote from the Board.
- Licensed Professional Engineer
- Certified FEMA Floodplain Manager
- Certified Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan Designer, University of Minnesota
- Minnesota Department of Transportation Certified Technician: Grading & Base
- National Society of Professional Engineers: Member in Minnesota
- Vice President of Engineers Without Borders: Red River Valley Professionals
- Marshall Memorial Fellow: German Marshall Fund (GMF) of the United States



Timeline
1998
Flood planning begins
Numerous city and county organizations begin meeting to find permanent solutions to the threat of flooding facing Fargo, Moorhead and surrounding communities.ย
2011
Limited JPA adopted
The group agreed to adopt a limited agreement that would outline how they worked together on flood protection efforts. The intent of this limited agreement was to guide the group until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers executed a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA).
2016
Full JPA adopted
Before the PPA was formally signed, suggested changes to the JPA were incorporated and a full JPA was signed by the participating parties. This continues to be the governing document that guides the FM Diversion Board of Authority. It also officially creates the entity that partners with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the FM Area Diversion Project.ย
Watch Board Meetings
Public Outreach Committee
The Public Outreach Committee oversees educational efforts, outreach materials and communication guidelines.
- Public Outreach Committee – Agenda for January 27, 2021
- Diversion Authority Public Outreach Committee Meeting Minutes -December 16, 2020
- Public Outreach Committee – Agenda for December 16, 2020
- Diversion Authority Public Outreach Committee Meeting Minutes – November 18, 2020
- Public Outreach Committee – Agenda for November 18, 2020
- Diversion Authority Public Outreach Committee Meeting Minutes -October 21, 2020
- Public Outreach Committee – Agenda for October 21, 2020
- Diversion Authority Public Outreach Committee Meeting Minutes — September 30, 2020
- Public Outreach Committee – Agenda for September 30, 2020
- Public Outreach Committee – Meeting Minutes from August 26, 2020
- Public Outreach Committee – Agenda for August 26, 2020
- Public Outreach Committee – Meeting Minutes from July 22, 2020
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee oversees the budget, contract actions and financial components of the Project.
- Diversion Authority Finance Committee – Agenda for January 27, 2021
- Diversion Authority Finance Committee – Meeting Minutes from December 16, 2020
- Diversion Authority Finance Committee – Agenda for December 16, 2020
- Diversion Authority Finance Committee – Meeting Minutes from November 18, 2020
- Diversion Authority Finance Committee – Agenda for November 18, 2020
- Diversion Authority Finance Committee – Meeting Minutes from October 21, 2020
- Diversion Authority Finance Committee – Agenda for October 21, 2020
- Diversion Authority Finance Committee Meeting Minutes – September 30, 2020
- Diversion Authority Finance Committee – Agenda for September 30, 2020
- Diversion Authority Finance Committee – Meeting Minutes from August 26, 2020
- Diversion Authority Finance Committee – Agenda for August 26, 2020
- Diversion Authority Finance Committee – Meeting Minutes from July 22, 2020
Land Management Committee
The Land Management Committee oversees land and property rights acquisition as well as management of parcels.
- Diversion Authority Land Management Agenda – January 27, 2021
- Diversion Authority Special Land Management Committee Meeting Minutes – January 7, 2021
- Diversion Authority Special Land Management Agenda and Packet – January 7, 2021
- Diversion Authority Land Management Committee Meeting Minutes – December 16, 2020
- Diversion Authority Land Management Agenda and Packet – December 16, 2020
- Diversion Authority Land Management Committee Meeting Minutes – November 18, 2020
- Diversion Authority Land Management Agenda and Packet – November 18, 2020
- Diversion Authority Land Management Committee Meeting Minutes – October 21, 2020
- Diversion Authority Land Management Agenda and Packet – Oct. 21, 2020
- Diversion Authority Land Management Committee Meeting Minutes – September 30, 2020
- Diversion Authority Land Management Agenda and Packet – Sept. 30, 2020
- Diversion Authority Land Management Minutes – August 26, 2020
Agriculture Policy SubCommittee
The Agriculture Policy Subcommittee first met in 2012. The group focuses on agriculture-related issues and the Project.