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Public works operator’s refusal to seek DNR certification raises compliance concerns, committee says
Summary
Committee member Keith Leitzinger reported that a fellow operator refused required DNR certification, leaving the village vulnerable to fines if certified staff are unavailable; the committee agreed to consult the village attorney about certification requirements.
At the Jan. 19 Finance and Purchase Committee meeting, Director of Public Works Keith Leitzinger reported that a co‑worker had declined to obtain required Department of Natural Resources (DNR) certification despite that being a hiring condition three years earlier, creating a compliance gap.
Leitzinger told the committee that certification matters because only certified operators are allowed to enter data into DNR systems and that lacking a second certified operator could expose the village to fines or other regulatory penalties if the certified employee is unavailable. He said he currently holds water certification and is studying for wastewater certification, but the absence of a second certified operator leaves village operations vulnerable.
Committee members discussed options to address the certification shortfall but did not adopt a final remedy during the meeting. The committee recorded an intention to consult the village attorney regarding certification requirements for the Director of Public Works assistant before deciding on next steps.
The committee also briefly agreed that modifying existing office space at the treatment plant would be more practical and cost‑effective than building a new facility as proposed by Delta 3. The committee’s consultation with legal counsel is the immediate follow-up before any staffing or operational changes are implemented.
