Pawnee City Council unanimously hires Gary Droge Jr. as part‑time city crew member

The Pawnee City Council voted unanimously Sept. 29 to hire Gary Droge Jr. for a part‑time, year‑round city crew position, agreeing to pay $22.00 per hour and to allow him to begin work at his earliest availability, which the council recorded may not be until Dec. 1.

The special meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Cornerstone Building, 601 G Street, with Mayor Charlie Hatfield and council members Donnie Fisher, Susan Eisenhauer, Vickie Zelenka and Pat Hatfield present. Clerk/Treasurer Tamela S. Curtis confirmed that notice of the meeting was posted in four prominent places and that the affidavit of posting and acknowledgments are on file in the Clerk’s office.

Council Member Susan Eisenhauer moved at 7:01 p.m. to go into closed session “for the purpose of performing job interviews for the part‑time, year‑round City Crew position to prevent needless injury to the reputation of a person.” Council Member Vickie Zelenka seconded the motion; a roll call vote was unanimous. Foreman Spencer Cumley and Clerk Curtis remained in closed session while the council interviewed two candidates, Chad Meyer and Gary Droge Jr. The transcript records the interviews occurred but does not include the interview content because the session was closed.

After returning to open session at 8:04 p.m., Eisenhauer moved to hire Gary Droge Jr. at $22.00 per hour, and Council Member Pat Hatfield seconded. The roll call vote recorded all present voting in favor and the motion carried. Council Member Eisenhauer then moved to adjourn; Vickie Zelenka seconded and the meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

The meeting minutes were attested by Clerk/Treasurer Tamela S. Curtis and signed by Mayor Charlie Hatfield.