(Spirit Lake)– Another attempt at lifting a hiring moratorium on city employees implemented two years ago failed at Tuesday’s Spirit Lake city council meeting.
City Administrator Mark Stevens again requested the council lift the moratorium so a vacancy on the city’s Parks Department could be filled. It was similar to a request presented to the council earlier this month, under which the vacancy would be filled by transferring a worker from the Sanitation Department. That subsequent vacancy would then be filled as well.
Councilman Jeff Thee said he feels it’s time the moratorium be lifted…Click here to hear mp3 file
Fellow councilman Kevin Bice felt differently, saying he feels the moratorium should not be lifted. He said it wouldn’t be an issue had the city hired some part-time personnel to help out the Parks Department during the summer…Click here to hear mp3 file
Stevens again expressed his frustration over the moratorium…Click here to hear mp3 file
Following some additional discussion, a motion to lift the moratorium failed on a two-to-three vote, with councilmen Clyde Ihrke and Thee voting in favor, while Bice, Jerry Harbst and Steve Balm voted no.
Another motion to fill the vacant Parks Department position and the subsequent vacancy that would be created in the solid waste department also failed on the same vote.
