The city of Gillett has hired a consultant, promoted an employee and hired a private contractor for leaf pick-up, as it deals with a vacancy in the Public Works and Utility departments.
Ron Anderson, who resigned as director of the two departments on Oct. 30, joined the staff of Oconto Falls Municipal Utilities as water operator on Nov. 2. In his letter of resignation, Anderson thanked the city of Gillett, saying he had no regrets.
Anderson was employed in the city’s Utility Department for 10 years. In March, his duties were expanded to include management of the Public Works Department after the city released Tim Christensen, then head of the Public Works Department, as a way to cut expenses.
The city received four applications for a Public Works and Utility Department head, as of Monday’s deadline.
The City Council on Nov. 5 took several steps to address the staff shortage. It created a new position, Public Works foreman, approved a job description for the role and appointed city employee Shane Rank to the position. Rank has been an employee of the Public Works department since January 1990.
He will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the department. He received a $2 per hour raise, retroactive to Nov. 1, increasing his hourly wage to $21.59. He is the only full-time employee in the Public Works Department. He is assisted by two part-time employees, one of whom also works part time for the Utility Department. The city employs one full-time worker in the Utility Department.
Alderpersons also approved a contract with GAI Consulting not to exceed $10,000 a quarter for utility and public works engineering. The contract expires on Dec. 31, 2016. GAI engineer Sarah Nunn, who has worked with the city previously, will provide the consulting service.
Mayor Irene Drake said GAI will provide help with utility and public works reports until another person is on board to handle the responsibilities.
The city also approved the low bid of $50 per hour from Wolfe Endeavors of the town of Gillett to clear leaves from the city’s parks, at a cost not to exceed $1,500.
At the close of the City Council meeting, Mayor Irene Drake thanked the city staff for putting in extra effort over the past several weeks.
“The water’s running, the toilets are flushing, the plows are ready to go and tax bills will be out in a month. What more could we ask for?” she said.
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