Geary City Council, meeting in regular session Thursday, dismissed two employees in a rare move for the town.
Harvel Lewis and Aaron Weatherford, both members of the public works staff, were fired for violation of policy. The determination to take the action was reached in executive session, a conclave of the council and its attorney where they can speak freely on matters of legal or personnel actions. Once they return from executive session, the council then issues its decisions. No reason is usually given or discussed in open meeting in keeping with legal parameters. The discussions can include whether to hire, fire, demote, promote, reprimand or accept the resignation or retirement of an employee.
Three other employees, Amanda Wood, Teresa Hicks and Tommy Lewis were also topics of discussion during the executive session, but no action was taken on any of those employees. They are also employees on the public works side of the city, whereas other employees on the city side were discussed previously.
Those employees included CD Ferguson, code enforcement officer,: Levi Johnston, a police officer, Armando Chavez, also a police officer; Walker Nye, police officer, Michaelle Precadio, Jaycie Owings and Jordan Marriott, dispatchers.
No action was taken on Ferguson, Johnston and Chavez each received a raise of $1 per hour, Nye and Precadio resigned and Owings was rehired as a dispatcher, now full time and Marriott was named as a part-time dispatcher.
Interim chief of police Terryl Allen noted that the force is now down to two full time officers with the resignation of Nye. “We are trying to hire people,” Allen said. “But others are able to pay more than we can. We are taking care of them (Geary officers) until we can get someone hired,” he said, to justify the raise for the remaining officers. He said he was interviewing a qualified applicant this week and was hopeful for a hire.
The town has implemented its new speed monitor sign on the south end of town near the high school and is going to use a license plate reader that belongs to Blaine County that is useful when an Amber alert or a silver alert is issued for an endangered citizen.
However, the speed monitor near the Dollar General is in need of an upgrade. The battery requires a frequent recharge. Council member Rocky Coleman asked if the city should invest in a second battery, but Allen said they cost about $300 and the sign is near the end of its useful life. The new sign cost about $5900 and runs off solar power. It also comes with its own software package. “It’s a pretty nice piece of technology,” Allen said. Meanwhile the city is working with the Department of Transportation to create crosswalks and flashing crossing signs on Broadway, since that is a state highway.
The public works authority also briefly revisited the Greenfield water contract. Mayor Waylan Upchego said he and Amy Wood would soon meet with the city clerk of Greenfield to try and sort out the contract, which should be updated on an annual basis but had not been. There was also some question as to how much Geary was charging Greenfield and whether that water sale was based on a residential rate or at the rate extended to other municipal and business users. No specific date was given for that meeting.