Wilson named interim head of Solid Waste Management district

The Greene County Solid Waste Management District has an interim supervisor following action Tuesday.

The GSWMD board of directors met in a closed-door executive session for more than 90 minutes before emerging and selecting Erik Wilson, of Linton, as the interim district supervisor.

Wilson temporarily replaces former supervisor/environmental educator Debbie Haseman, of Jasonville, who resigned last Friday after 16 years of service with the SWMD.

Wilson previously served as recycling coordinator.

The board accepted Haseman's resignation by a 6-0 vote.

In her resignation letter, Haseman said she was stepping down "due to circumstances beyond her control."

In recent months, some board members called her to task for her attendance. The board even asked her to install a time clock so she and other employees at the recycling center could punch in and out of work. The clock was purchased, but never implemented, according to board president Hal Harp, of Worthington.

Board members said they had received complaints about Haseman's work attendance from other employees.

Haseman was also criticized in the past by board members for not completing the budget on time and for not holding regular board meetings.

Harp said Haseman did a good job turning the finances of the SWMD around and was showing a positive cash balance.

"I wish her the best in her future endeavors and thank her for the 16-years of service to the solid waste district," Harp stated.

The SWMD board agree to immediately advertise for a fulltime replacement for Haseman.

During the interim, Wilson will be paid Haseman's regular pay rate -- which tallies about $35,000 annually.

Wilson is a 1991 graduate of Linton-Stockton High School and studied graphic arts for one year at Ivy Tech State College. He has been with the recycling center since 1997 and served as recycling coordinator for the last three years.

Wilson said he plans to apply for the fulltime position saying, "I feel like I know the place inside and out. Obviously, there would be a couple of things I would have to learn. I think I have a pretty good business to where the place needs to go in the future and I want to be here to help see it along."

Wilson and the SWMD board president were authorized to sign checks until a fulltime supervisor is named.

In other action, the board agreed by a 5-1 vote to equalize the pay of the three recycling techs -- saying each essentially performs the same duties. Board member Bill Sipes dissented.