Rushford Village accepts public works supervisor resignation, approves PTO payout and posts job ad

Mayor Dennis Overland and the Rushford Village City Council on June 11 accepted the resignation of Public Works/Maintenance Supervisor Trenten Chiglo and approved paying out his accrued paid time off at the end of his employment.

The special meeting at the Rushford Village office opened at 7:00 p.m. After council members said they had attempted a counteroffer, Chiglo indicated he would not reconsider and the council voted to accept his resignation (motion by Council Member Robert Hart; second by Council Member Rick Ruberg; carried). Mayor Overland and other council members thanked Chiglo for his service.

Council members and Chiglo discussed transition support. Chiglo told the council he could help orient a new hire and put together contact lists; he said he could be available on Fridays and by phone and estimated it would take roughly two days of in‑person orientation. Chiglo reported he has about 51 hours of accrued PTO remaining and asked that CRV pay it out if he assists with the transition. Treasurer Judy Graham said the payroll budget had accrued PTO and that paying out accrued time should be possible; the council voted to approve payout of Chiglo’s PTO at the end of his employment (motion by Travis Link; second by Mike Ebner; carried).

On operational matters, Overland asked Chiglo to show him and Ebner the daily water and sewer tasks; Chiglo said readings are up to date but the lift‑station dialers will need replacement. Overland asked whether the council could have someone work under Chiglo’s water and sewer licenses; Chiglo said he would consider it but offered no definitive answer.

The council reviewed the Public Works/Maintenance Supervisor job description with no changes and approved placing a hiring advertisement in the Fillmore County Journal for the June 23 and June 30 editions (motion by Ebner; second by Link; carried). Clerk Mary Miner will post applications at the city hall, local businesses and on the city website and partner sites; she will also solicit proposals for interim mowing contractors and try to have proposals available for the June 17 council meeting.

Because mowing and other maintenance work must continue during the hiring gap, the council discussed temporary options. City Attorney Joseph O’Koren advised that direct negotiation is permissible for many procurements, noting the council does not need competitive bidding for some contracts he cited as up to $175,000 and that direct negotiation is commonly used under $25,000, but he recommended obtaining at least two proposals and that expectations be clear. Clerk Miner will contact locally identified contractors to seek proposals.

Council members emphasized they preferred to delay hiring a seasonal part‑time worker until the full‑time supervisor is in place so there would be supervision for seasonal staff. The meeting closed with scheduling and public notice reminders; council adjourned at 7:28 p.m. (motion by Hart; second by Ruberg; carried).