City reaches compromise; Porter will stay, but Greenwood and three part-time street department employees will lose jobs

Eleventh hour talks between the City of Du Quoin and International Laborers' Local 773 have resulted in a compromise that will allow water department employee Drew Porter to keep his job--but at a price.

Kody Greenwood, who replaced Porter during the turbulent 17 months of his termination, will be permanently laid off.

The city will make room for Porter on the payroll by eliminating three part-time street department positions and allowing a water department employee to bid on what will become a full-time street department .

The three part-time summer construction and maintenance employees who will lose their jobs are Paul Fox, Dan Harsy and Ron Norris.

City administrator Brad Myers said the compromise is a solution, but admittedly some will be hurt by the outcome.

"We are still eliminating one position (Greenwood)," he said.

"We will bid the street department job internally, then lay off the three part-time employees to make room for a water department employee to transfer," Myers said.

The "bid" is largely based on seniority.

Myers said the contract with Laborers' International Local 773 does not allow the city to keep part-time workers while laying off a full-time employee.

He said attorneys are still negotiating the city's financial obligation to Porter during the 17 months that he was not employed by the city.

Myers said the city realizes that obligation exists and he is hoping for a reasonable, amicable settlement in the coming weeks.