Chuck Grady, manager of Oconto Falls Municipal Utilities for over 10 years, was placed on paid administrative leave on Oct. 3, following an emergency meeting of the Oconto Falls Municipal Utilities Commissions.
Grady was hired by the city in April 1977 and served as a city employee for more than 37 years. He was named utilities manager in about 2003.
The commissions directed City Administrator Vicki Roberts to hire an investigative service and named Jason Valentine, a lineman with the utility, as interim utility manager. He will be compensated $100 a week.
Roberts said Valentine’s hours will remain the same, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or as needed beyond that.
Roberts declined to comment on the reason for Grady’s leave or the nature of the investigation, citing the confidentiality of closed session discussions. Efforts by the Times Herald to contact Grady were unsuccessful.
Four members of the commission, Jim Patenaude, Marty Coopman, Paul Mogged and Jim Kardoskee, met at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 3 at City Hall. All voted in favor of placing Grady on immediate leave. Commission member Carl Vowinkel was excused.
Also attending the meeting were Roberts, Mayor Brad Rice, Alderman Kevin Rusch and City Attorney Larry Jeske.
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