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Salt issue leads to call for policy
By Clint Wolf
News Editor
The South Beloit City Council seemed sharply divided in the wake of a commissioner's arrest for taking city road salt, but by Wednesday council members were unanimous in deciding a policy is needed regarding the use of city property and materials.
In a 4-0 vote, the council decided to begin developing a policy on the use of city property and materials, starting by getting input from city department heads. Council member Ryan Griffin could not attend the special meeting.
The special meeting Wednesday was called by council member Pam Clifton, who proposed hiring Jill Leka of the law firm Seyfarth and Shaw to conduct an investigation of the use of city resources by city employees and elected officials and present a report to the council.
Council member Bob Stone made a motion to dismiss that proposal, and instead, focus on creating a policy regarding the use of city resources.
Council member Bob Redieske was charged Dec. 4 with taking road salt from the city salt shed, which he said he used to spread on the icy street in front of his house. He was charged with taking 200 pounds of salt, but he said about 195 pounds was returned to the city because he only used a few shovels full of the salt.
A city worker had reported the incident to Mayor Randy Kirichkow who in turn asked for a law enforcement investigation. The Winnebago County Sheriff's Department charged Redieske.
Redieske claimed the charge against him was political noting he and Kirichkow disagree on several city issues.
On Wednesday, Stone said the only reason he and Clifton suggested hiring the Seyfarth and Shaw law firm was because it already is handling collective bargaining with city unions and any policy might be included in an employee handbook.
However, in his motion, Stone said the first step would be to talk with department heads about what should be in the policy and decide at a later date who, if anyone, should be hired to create the policy.
“It's to the point now that everything needs to be in black and white,” Stone said.
Clifton agreed, saying a policy would benefit everyone.
“A written policy not only would protect employees, but the taxpayers as well,” she said.
Kirichkow said he believed if a law firm is needed to create a policy, the city law firm, which is on retainer, could do the job in a cost-effective manner. He said emotions have been running high recently and he has been contacted by city employees who are afraid they will lose their jobs, or who have said they may have to hire lawyers for their own protection.
“We do disagree off and on in different items and there is nothing wrong with disagreeing. I hope no one takes this personally and I hope we can work together,” Kirichkow said.
Fire Chief Ken Morse said he supports establishing a policy, but is opposed to an investigation of city material use.
“I am very happy to see this group put their differences aside,” he said. “It's time to put aside personal differences.”
Brad Meisenburg, a city resident, said he works for the Veterans Administration and his work policy is very straightforward.
“Nothing is to be taken for personal use. In my opinion, it should be a blanket policy for everyone,” he said.
Maurice Kehoe, city resident and former council member, said he hopes any policy created would have some flexibility. He noted there have been incidents in the past where city equipment was used to help residents, particularly in cleanup after a flood.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Ed Vanderbosch said the department heads work together pretty well and he is confident they can work on a policy that would work for everyone.
News Editor
The South Beloit City Council seemed sharply divided in the wake of a commissioner's arrest for taking city road salt, but by Wednesday council members were unanimous in deciding a policy is needed regarding the use of city property and materials.
In a 4-0 vote, the council decided to begin developing a policy on the use of city property and materials, starting by getting input from city department heads. Council member Ryan Griffin could not attend the special meeting.
The special meeting Wednesday was called by council member Pam Clifton, who proposed hiring Jill Leka of the law firm Seyfarth and Shaw to conduct an investigation of the use of city resources by city employees and elected officials and present a report to the council.
Council member Bob Stone made a motion to dismiss that proposal, and instead, focus on creating a policy regarding the use of city resources.
Council member Bob Redieske was charged Dec. 4 with taking road salt from the city salt shed, which he said he used to spread on the icy street in front of his house. He was charged with taking 200 pounds of salt, but he said about 195 pounds was returned to the city because he only used a few shovels full of the salt.
A city worker had reported the incident to Mayor Randy Kirichkow who in turn asked for a law enforcement investigation. The Winnebago County Sheriff's Department charged Redieske.
Redieske claimed the charge against him was political noting he and Kirichkow disagree on several city issues.
On Wednesday, Stone said the only reason he and Clifton suggested hiring the Seyfarth and Shaw law firm was because it already is handling collective bargaining with city unions and any policy might be included in an employee handbook.
However, in his motion, Stone said the first step would be to talk with department heads about what should be in the policy and decide at a later date who, if anyone, should be hired to create the policy.
“It's to the point now that everything needs to be in black and white,” Stone said.
Clifton agreed, saying a policy would benefit everyone.
“A written policy not only would protect employees, but the taxpayers as well,” she said.
Kirichkow said he believed if a law firm is needed to create a policy, the city law firm, which is on retainer, could do the job in a cost-effective manner. He said emotions have been running high recently and he has been contacted by city employees who are afraid they will lose their jobs, or who have said they may have to hire lawyers for their own protection.
“We do disagree off and on in different items and there is nothing wrong with disagreeing. I hope no one takes this personally and I hope we can work together,” Kirichkow said.
Fire Chief Ken Morse said he supports establishing a policy, but is opposed to an investigation of city material use.
“I am very happy to see this group put their differences aside,” he said. “It's time to put aside personal differences.”
Brad Meisenburg, a city resident, said he works for the Veterans Administration and his work policy is very straightforward.
“Nothing is to be taken for personal use. In my opinion, it should be a blanket policy for everyone,” he said.
Maurice Kehoe, city resident and former council member, said he hopes any policy created would have some flexibility. He noted there have been incidents in the past where city equipment was used to help residents, particularly in cleanup after a flood.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Ed Vanderbosch said the department heads work together pretty well and he is confident they can work on a policy that would work for everyone.
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askoonz wrote on Dec 11, 2008 3:39 PM: