By Danielle Boos

The Stanley City Council addressed a wide range of topics during its June 16 meetings, including employee training, water system technology upgrades, and concerns over the city’s recent hiring practices.

Focus on Water Department Training
The Council discussed the progress being made on formal training plans for city water department employees.
“They’re making progress,” said Mayor Mike Henke.
Alderperson Laurie Foster asked, “Why don’t they do that for other departments? Not just one. Coming up with a plan like this.”
Alderperson Jason Meyer clarified that the discussion on water department employee training was prompted by the Council’s motion from the previous meeting.
Henke added that the employees in the sewer department are trained. “Because it was in the last motion—you guys made the motion—I want to carry through what I think you were looking for.”
“I think that’s what we need to do,” said Alderperson Terry Metzger. “We need to keep an eye on what’s going on and who’s training who and if something needs to be done further. We need to monitor.”
Foster agreed: “And that’s including the other departments too.”

Water System Technology Upgrades Approved
The Council approved multiple proposals from PJ Kortens & Company, Inc. to modernize the city’s water infrastructure:
• A pressure transmitter and cellular dialer for City Hall at a cost of $4,100.00.
“This will test the pressure in our system and send out an alert if the pressure is too low,” explained Henke.
• A quote to add remote access to the existing water system at the central plant for $3,635.00.
“We have access to the northwest plant,” said Henke. “We don’t have access to the central plant, so anything that needs to be programmed they’re not able to do it or make any changes in the program. This here would allow access to do that, remotely come in and change stuff.”
“This would also allow them to do remote support,” added Meyer.
Henke explained that the system would save the city money by avoiding the expense of flying in a technician and providing accommodations. He also noted that the equipment will work on the new plant as well.
• Installation of a cellular dialer and UPS at the CP North Plant for $4,190.93.
“The current dialer is over 20 years old and the original,” Henke said. “This will also provide power to our UPS unit. This will bring it up to normal and then when the central plant gets done both will be the same software, so they’ll be able to talk to each other.”
• A security upgrade at the Northwest Water Plant through Tru-Lock and Security to install a fob system for $2,880.00 plus $18.00/month service.
“Our water is pretty important,” Henke said, noting the DNR recommended increased security.

Concerns Over Hiring Process
Tensions rose as Alderperson Jason Meyer revisited concerns about the process used in hiring city employee David Mendoza.
“I met with City employee Joe Schmitt along with the Mayor for explanation from Joe for the interview process of hiring David Mendoza,” Meyer said. “I’m still not happy with the process that was used.”
He noted Schmitt and Mendoza had previously served together in Afghanistan for 18 months between 2010 and 2017. However, Meyer said more troubling information came to light after the previous council meeting.
“During the meeting when Jeriame (Czubakowski) and John (Hoel) answered some questions I had for them, there was information divulged by those two gentlemen that had been left out in the closed session meeting. In particular, the falsifying of records,” Meyer stated.
“Jon Strand was in that closed session meeting when we talked about that, and he did not bring up that he told Jeriame to fill in the records with false information. I do not appreciate being lied to or having valued information withheld from me.”
Meyer added that Strand did not mention that a CBS Squared employee assisted Hoel during an incident involving a malfunctioning chlorine system.
“I do not appreciate being lied to or having information withheld from me,” Meyer repeated.
Alderperson Laurie Foster echoed Meyer’s concerns.
“I have to agree to what Jason mentioned,” Foster said. “It was wrong for the procedure what was done. I disagree and I still stand with my vote from last week also. There’s a lot of falsifying information with John and Jeriame. I disagree with everything that’s happening. I’m not very happy about the whole thing.”
The council did not take action on the matter during the meeting, but the discussion suggested the issue remains under serious consideration.