Suspension Of Silver Lake Superintendent Draws Vocal Crowd
Posted
Jackie Gorski-jgorski@timesuniononline.com
SILVER LAKE – Street and Sewer Superintendent JT Prater was unanimously suspended for two weeks by the Silver Lake Town Council during a special meeting Friday.
In addition to the suspension, Prater will have to attend anger management classes and have quarterly meetings with the town council in regards to the classes.
The suspension was one of the options the council considered, with another possibility of firing Prater. The council also could have chosen to do nothing.
Before the decision was made, Prater’s attorney, Travis McConnell, said Prater was willing to go to anger management classes.
Council President Chad Miner said the purpose of the meeting was the possibility that concerns of what led to Prater’s 2018 suspension were not improved.
On Aug. 28, 2018, Prater was suspended for insubordination and lack of cooperation with other town employees.
Miner said there was an incident with Prater and a civilian. However, the suspension was due to how Prater acted toward the council afterward.
Council member Dana Owens said, “He took it out on us.”
When asked by McConnell to point out what ordinance Prater violated, Miner cited an ordinance in regards to cooperation.
“There’s an ordinance about cooperation?” McConnell asked.
Miner said he talked to several employees about Prater and had gotten complaints about his behavior. Some of the complaints were after the 2018 suspension, but a few might have been before. Miner said Prater did not receive a formal complaint since his 2018 suspension.
Several people at the meeting said the complaints Miner referred to from other employees was hearsay.
“You’re only taking their word, not his,” an unidentified man said.
One unidentified woman asked how those complaints could be proven unless they were videotaped.
Some of the incidents brought up by Miner related to Prater’s temper.
One example used was the raises that were given this year. Prater did not receive one. Prater said he makes $25.31 an hour, but the highest wage he could earn is $26. Miner said one of the complaints he heard was Prater had a tantrum about not getting a raise. Prater posted something on Facebook in regards to not receiving a raise. That post could not be found as of Friday night.
Prater said the posting was something he shouldn’t have done.
An unidentified man said the town council was saying two different things: the first being it had to do with temper tantrums Prater supposedly had and the other being the council wanting to bring the department heads to an even field.
Owens said the reasoning was due to a little of both reasons.
Another type of complaint Miner said he heard about was Prater’s unwillingness to work with other departments. One incident that was mentioned was a time when Prater supposedly said helping Town Marshal Jason McGlennen with signage wasn’t part of his job.
Prater did have a room full of people who spoke on his behalf.
“He does a great job,” said Kyle Miller. “By getting rid of him, it’s a big mistake.”
Miller said Prater was the one in the middle of the night cleaning up things like downed trees.
There also were four letters written on Prater’s behalf, which were all read during the meeting.
“I believe the town has improved since (Prater) has taken control of streets and sewers,” one letter said. “If you fire this gentleman, you’re making a big mistake.”
Another letter said Prater demonstrated willingness to work at all hours and recommended he be retained.
Prater’s wife, Jodi, wrote a letter which said Prater has spent countless hours cleaning up documentation for the department and it is possible he might have a bad attitude because he feels neglected and not supported by the town council.
Miner said the council didn’t want to lose a good employee.
After the meeting, Prater said he thought the decision was fair and just wanted to keep his job.
