City Needs Two To Replace Water Superintendent

By Gordon HopkinsThe City of Fairbury has a new water superintendent but will need to contract with a third party to perform some duties that the new superintendent cannot perform.Long-time Fairbury water operator Dennis Gaston was promoted to water superintendent at a meeting of the Fairbury Personnel Committee on Thursday, February 15, 2024. He replaces superintendent Jeff Sweetser, who resigned at the beginning of this year.Gaston has been a water operator for the city since 1994. Fairbury Mayor Spencer Brown supported his promotion, “He has the experience and the expertise.”However, Gaston is a grade three level water operator. The position of superintendent requires a grade two or higher. FJN spoke with Mayor Brown after the meeting and he indicated the city is looking to hire a contractor to perform the duties Gaston is not qualified to do, “There are certain things that a grade three water operator can do, and there are things that they can’t do. So, in order to remain in state compliance, there are things that we will need a grade two water operator, whether that’s on staff or contracted out, to sign off on, as far as, like state reports and stuff. So we’re looking at contracting, basically, that portion of those reports.” Mayor Brown indicated Gaston would not be seeking to certify as a grade two operator. When asked why he didn’t hire someone who was certified as a grade two operator, the mayor said that Gaston was the only one who applied for the position, although the city does have at least one Grade 2 operator on staff.Gaston’s new salary as superintendent is $32.25 per hour.The mayor said the city is in discussion with three possible contractors. He does not know the cost of hiring a contractor to supplement the new superintendent. Regarding how much time a contractor would be working for the city, the mayor said, “How many hours that person would be devoted to doing those reports? I mean, it’s probably in the single digits.”

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