Katrina Nibourg, ASN Constructors’ channel manager, moved to Fargo to help protect the community from flooding – something she has dealt with personally in the past. Watch her talk about her love for her new community and the opportunities to work on their growing team that’s building the 30-mile stormwater diversion channel that will route floodwater around the metro area.
Katrina Nibourg: [00:00:13] Hi, I’m Katrina Nibourg. I’m the channel manager for ASN Constructors. My background is I’m a civil engineer. I graduated from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and for the last 15 years, I’ve been working in heavy construction and mining across Canada.
[00:00:33] My role is I’m the channel manager for ASN Constructors, which means I oversee all of the earthworks and channel construction for the project. So I’ll be looking after all of the heavy equipment and earthworks for the 50 million cubic yards of material we need to move.
[00:00:48] The opportunity to work on a project like this that’s going to benefit the community is very meaningful for me. I grew up in a place that flooded regularly, so I’ve seen the devastation that can happen to the community. To be on a project that’s going to have a lasting impact is a great opportunity.
[00:01:06] Moving to Fargo and becoming a member of the community has been really great. I’m honestly busy every weekend between the farmers markets and taking pottery classes. It’s just been a beautiful place. Everyone’s been really friendly and honestly there’s too much to do.
[00:01:20] One of the best things about being in construction is years down the road being able to see what’s left over and being able to drive by and say, “I did that, I was part of it.” I’ve been on a lot of large-scale projects, but this one is definitely going to be wonderful to be able to see the impact that it has on the community and be able to say, “I was there, I was a part of it, I did that.”
[00:01:48] If you’re interested in working in construction, either in the field or in the office, you should definitely consider ASN Constructors. Our equipment is brand new. We’ve got year-round work with great schedules and a great team. We’ve got a great apprenticeship opportunity for anyone who’s interested in starting out in the field, and if you’re interested in working in the office, we’ve got lots of technical and non-technical roles that you can be part of a great team.
Don’t let that newlywed gaze fool you. After 35 years of marriage, Steve and Vera Roush not only live together but also work together for Ames Construction. See the personal tragedy that fuels Steve’s passion for safety and the path that brought Vera to join him working on portions of the FM Area Diversion.
Steve Roush: [00:00:15] I’m Project Safety Manager for Ames Construction at the Wild Rice River Project.
Vera Roush: [00:00:24] I am Document Control Manager, Quality Control Alternate, and Safety Alternate for the project.
Steve Roush: [00:00:35] I’d always had an interest in safety. I’m not sure exactly where that comes from. I did lose a close friend just out of high school in a farm accident, and at times I think about that and I think sometimes that may have been part of why I decided to get into safety.
Vera Roush: [00:00:54] How did we get to Fargo?
Steve Roush: [00:00:57] Yeah, so I graduated from the University of Iowa and I took a trip to Florida to visit one of my sisters and met Vera. Her family had a high-end custom kitchen cabinet family business, and Vera was pretty much running the show.
Vera Roush: [00:01:30] I do remember meeting him immediately. I was always the greeter. I came out and met everybody and I was like, “Wow, this guy’s got some energy.” You know, he’s young obviously, and it’s like, I’ve never been that kind of person to kind of… “I think I’ll give him a call,” you know? And then we were married 12-27-87, so this December will be 35 years for us.
Steve Roush: [00:02:01] At times we have had to live apart with our work being in construction. You go to where the work is. So the careers evolved, and the economy in ’08 and ’09 found us on the road getting involved in this construction industry. We found a way for us to be together, but we both had a strong enough construction background to both be a part of the industry.
Vera Roush: [00:02:33] One project we thought we’d be apart for four months and it was three and a half years! Prior to working with Ames, he said, “Don’t take any more jobs, that was that,” and I interviewed with Ames and they hired me for a project in Old Monroe, Missouri, doing a bridge changeover.
Steve Roush: [00:03:02] This was a really great opportunity to get to be together and work together for the same company. We were actually working on separate projects, we were about three miles down the road from each other.
Vera Roush: [00:03:07] I think when you’re building, and every day you come to work, you kind of overlook the fact of what you’re making. Because I’m sure these guys are down there and wind is blowing at 17 miles an hour and it’s cold, and I’m sure they’re not thinking, “Wow, look at what I’m making.” I think they’re thinking, “I gotta get this done because we gotta finish this and these parts need to come in…” to make it all pull together. But I hope they appreciate what they’re building here because they’re the ones really making it happen down there.
Steve Roush: [00:03:54] I know we’ve heard quite a few people speak about it that have been here for many, many years, and just the sandbagging and the work that folks have to do just to survive that moment is a testament to their will. But if we can stop that from happening again, that’ll be great. And those generations to come will not have to endure that, which is really special.
Rodger Olson has been involved with the FM Area Diversion project “since the beginning.” As a farmer who is passionate about the land, he shares why he’s dedicated so much of his time to water-related committees and the Metro Flood Diversion Authority Board of Authority.
Rodger Olson: [00:00:00] Hi, I’m Rodger Olson. I am from Leonard, North Dakota, and I am part of the Diversion Authority. I’m married to my wife, Kathy, and we have six children. I farm with a couple of my sons and we farm corn and soybeans. Actually, we celebrated our centennial for the farm two years ago. We had a great celebration on our farm with our relatives and friends.
[00:00:35] I’m on the Maple River Water Resource District. I’ve been there for over 25 years. And because I’m chairman of that board, I also am appointed to the Cass County Joint Water Resource District. From the Cass County Joint Board, I’ve been appointed to the Red River Retention Authority, and our main goal is to acquire federal funds for water retention in the valley.
[00:01:05] On the Diversion Authority Board, I was appointed to be chairman of the outreach committee, and that was a subcommittee of our land committee. And then also, at the same time, asked to do an ag policy group which brought together farmers in the staging area. We talked about issues that this diversion is going to bring upon the farmers in the staging area.
[00:01:44] Why do I do this? I do this because I want to be an example. Actually, you just can’t go live your life in your little cocoon. You need to be involved. You need to help the community come forward. And I think if I can be an example for my children, that would be a goal. If I could help improve my living along with everyone else in the eastern part of North Dakota, the whole state, and western Minnesota… if I can help improve that, if I can be part of that, that brings me some fulfillment, I think, or some worth, you know, other than feeding the world.
Sara Edmondson loved her job in HR and had no plans to move to another company. Then she saw a chance to be a part of an impactful, history-making project, and she couldn’t resist changing jobs. Now, as the HR director for ASN Constructors, she’s helping to onboard the team that is building the 30-mile-long stormwater diversion channel that will route water around the Fargo-Moorhead metro area in times of extreme flooding.
Sara Edmondson: [00:00:13] I am the Human Resources Director at ASN Constructors. I was brought onto the project to run the human resources department, to make sure that all the policies, procedures, and just the basic platform is laid out so that we can build that foundation.
[00:00:38] I’m really passionate about the community. This project will protect all of us, our homes, and our families, so that’s really inspiring to me. This project and ASN, it’s such a unique opportunity. Everyone that has come to join the project is the best at what they do, from all over the place, from all backgrounds, all walks of life. I think that our culture is really family-oriented and close-knit.
[00:01:13] What’s unique about this organization or company is that we all have such a clear goal. Typically, you know, the goal is to sell something, but here the goal is to build the diversion to protect the community. There’s a clear deadline, you know, there’s clear pathways to get to those deadlines, so we’re all working together and focusing on that.
[00:01:37] Even though ASN Constructors is made up of three international companies, we really want to focus on acquiring those skilled individuals that are local, finding them a career, and helping them develop their skills.
[00:01:53] The reason why I enjoy working at ASN so much is because I’m constantly learning. We’re constantly growing, we’re learning from each other, we’re learning things that we never expected to learn in our careers. And the strength that we’re getting from just being so collaborative and working on this project with that clear goal in mind together.
[00:02:15] I think that the opportunity to be in this position is once in a lifetime, and I’m really excited for the completion of the project, but I’m excited to enjoy the ride as we go.
The FM Area Diversion project incorporates numerous components that will work together to prevent damage from catastrophic flooding. Matt Pollert, with Industrial Builders Inc., talks about the work his team is doing on I-29, where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractor is raising a 4.2-mile stretch of interstate out of the floodplain. More than just a construction project, it’s a harbinger of something Matt is ready to leave in the past: sandbagging and the loss that comes with it when those sandbag dikes fail.
Matt Pollert: [00:00:13] My name is Matt Pollert. I’m a construction superintendent for Industrial Builders, and I’m currently working on the I-29 grade raise project.
[00:00:20] The project entails raising I-29 since it will now be in a floodplain on the south end so it does not flood, and then also allowing the water from the Red River to head west to get over to the diversion inlet.
[00:00:37] On the ground we have our dirt work equipment operators working. We have carpenters, laborers, concrete guys, flat work trades, erosion control, asphalters… When we were running strong this summer we had just over 140 people per day working. What I do is I line up the contractors and the trades work to get the job built correctly, safely, and on time. We started last year in May of 2021, and we’re shooting to be completed by the end of next year, so January 1 of 24.
[00:01:23] I’ve been from Fargo, born and raised here. I’ve seen the floods, I’ve fought the floods. This will make sure that doesn’t happen again. In ’97 I remember fighting sandbagging for a friend and over those two weeks actually losing the house as we started off with a one-foot dike and it just kept changing.
[00:01:52] And in ’09, which was our worst flood that I don’t ever want to see again, I was doing a large part of the work for Cass County and there were times there I didn’t think we would be able to get it done. Well, we did.
[00:02:08] The project matters because I’ve grown up here for 47 years and this is my stomping ground. I’ve fought all the floods since ’97 and to not have to do that again is going to be a pretty big deal.
Lisa Brekkestran, a senior right-of-way specialist with Ulteig, talks about her role with the FM Area Diversion project. She works closely with impacted landowners, helping them to navigate the property and flowage easement acquisition process.
Lisa Brekkestran: [00:00:00] Hi, my name is Lisa Brekkestran. I work with Ulteig Engineers in Fargo. I am a senior right-of-way specialist. I have worked on the Fargo-Moorhead diversion project for about 10 to 12 years.
[00:00:24] Working on the diversion project, we usually start with landowner contacts—introducing ourselves and trying to set up a meeting just to gain their confidence and help them understand the project details. Once we find out what the project needs are for their parcel—whether it is an acquisition or just a flowage easement—then we walk them through those steps.
[00:00:48] We educate them on what is needed and hopefully come to an agreement. If there are questions that they have that I can’t answer, I go back to the project team and we all work together to provide the property owner with the result they are looking for.
[00:01:03] It’s a very emotional request that we’re asking. We show up and we’re either trying to acquire an easement or purchase their property in fee. The most enjoyable part of my job for the diversion project is when a homeowner gets relocated and they find their new home. I’ve had calls from owners once they got moved; they’re happy with the move.
[00:01:39] Working on this project—being that it’s so huge—it will leave an impact. I have enjoyed working on it because of the challenges, and it’s something I will always remember.
Meet Brandi Aune. She’s likely the first face you’ll see if you walk into the office for ASN Constructors, which is responsible for the stormwater diversion channel, aqueducts, and road and railroad crossings that are part of the FM Area Diversion project. If she’s not at her desk, she’s likely hustling through the building to help out — but there will be plenty of treats available for you at her desk while you wait!
Brandi Aune: [00:00:15] I am the administrative support for ASN Constructors. It will be so awesome not having to fill a sandbag and not having to worry about a flood or anything that is going to be coming and wiping out neighborhoods like it did in Grand Forks.
[00:00:29] What drew me to the project is basically it’s history; it’s a part of history. And as soon as I found out that they were hiring, I came over and showed them my true self and they said, “We definitely need you on this project.” So I basically got a foot in the door and when I was offered the position, I had no regrets taking it.
[00:00:52] People can expect Brandi to be cheery, welcoming, peppy, interesting. I always have something to talk about, so they’re never just going to sit in my lobby with nobody to talk to. I always say my desk is like the fun part of the office because I have tons of goodies at my desk, and I just try to make sure that they’re all well caffeinated and well sugared up because they need to be when they’re on a project like this. It can be very stressful at times, but it also is very rewarding and very fun.
[00:01:34] There’s not really a normal day in my job. Every day is so much different and that’s another reason why I just love it so much. When I started there were 25 people and now there’s over a hundred, so there’s plenty of people that ask me different things to do for them and just to get it done in a timely manner. There’s lots of running around here just trying to get the different stuff done every day.
[00:02:20] It’s very exciting just to know that I am doing something that is definitely well worth time and effort and putting forth everything I can for the people that I work for. Because they’re not all from here, and the best thing is that they’re all working towards the same thing.
There’s much more to the FM Area Diversion project than construction. Environmental mitigation plays an important role in each part of the project. Katey Levihn, an environmental manager with Jacobs Engineering Group, shares a bit about the many things she tracks and monitors to ensure the project protects the river, flora and fauna and plants trees and grasses native to the area.
Katey Levihn: [00:00:15] I work for Jacobs Engineering Group, which is the PMC, the project management consultant for the Diversion Authority, and I am the environmental manager.
[00:00:24] I was born and raised overseas with a father that was a civil engineer who loved the life. So I got into civil engineering and have been lucky enough in my career to be involved in all different kinds of infrastructure projects. I got into the environmental position because I’ve had experience in Superfund sites, a high clay technology transfer from the Ukraine, and developing a number of environmental documents such as environmental assessments, categorical exclusions, and environmental impact statements. I came to Fargo because I finished my last job in Saudi Arabia.
[00:01:12] One of the interesting things is the vegetation management plan here. We have five designated zones plus a vegetation-free zone, and they have different seed mixes. The seed mixes are determined by the soil and hydrological conditions that one would anticipate being there, including where the wetlands are. All of the plans, we have to review them that they’re getting the right seed mix in the right place, and we will monitor as the whole area is seeded to make sure that it is established.
[00:01:54] The seed mixes are based on North Dakota native prairie plants and have been carefully blended to also encourage pollinators and other flora and fauna to occur within the area as well as this helps stabilize the soils. In the diversion channel, we have a very significant vegetation management plan that tackles the requirements for seeding and reseeding and for restoring any disturbed wetlands.
[00:02:29] This project is a really fantastic example of building in resilience. Resilience is the ability to adapt to change, and for this project it’s especially the ability to recover quickly from a very disruptive change, which is what a flood is. The entire project physically is resilient because it’s going to help the whole Fargo-Moorhead area recover much quicker in years of a flood.
[00:02:59] What I would most look forward to as an environmental win would be excellent establishment of all the vegetation for the wetlands. So this will be a nice swath of land throughout the entire area that could provide natural prairie-type habitat for all the flora and fauna.