The suspension of a city employee two weeks ago appears to have come hours after the worker had a physical confrontation with Indianola Mayor Steve Rosenthal.
According to a document obtained by The E-T, public works employee Willie McGuire and Rosenthal got into a heated argument at a Campbell Street residence, apparently stemming from a leaking water meter. Rosenthal did not provide the document to The E-T, and he offered no comment as to its contents.
McGuire was suspended five days without pay during a special call meeting on Sept. 11.
The initial motion by Alderman Marvin Elder was for a three-day suspension without pay, but a supplemental motion made by Alderman Gary Fratesi upped the punishment to five days.
Elder and Alderman Sam Brock then voted against that suspension.
It was later learned by The E-T that McGuire had filed a complaint in Justice Court against Rosenthal.
Justice Court Judge Gwendolyn Pernell has yet to release any part of the affidavit or case file to The E-T, in spite of a written request for either the file or a seal order.
A seal order is required if a judge decides to seal a case from public view.
McGuire was contacted by The E-T for an initial article last week, and he had no comment. He was contacted this week as well, and he again offered no comment.
The document, which contains the City of Indianola letterhead at the top, sheds some light on the incident, although it is Rosenthal’s account of the altercation.
McGuire’s account would likely be in his criminal complaint.
In the document, Rosenthal said he had asked McGuire to check on a leak at a Campbell Street residence, which had just had its meter replaced.
“I explained that we would be responsible for the repair since there had been no leaks at the home until water was turned off, lines drained and water turned back on,” he said.
Rosenthal said it was agreed that the meter would be fixed the next morning, which was Sept. 11.
Rosenthal said he went to check on the status of the leak at 8:15 that morning and found McGuire “seated on the tailgate of the city truck.”
“I asked if he had already found the leak, he said that he was waiting on (another city employee) who had said he would be there a little after 8,” Rosenthal wrote. “I instructed him to get started. He angrily got started as he threw the shovel down; he then stopped to waste time and film me sitting in my car as I spoke to the owner of (an Indianola business). He finally started to work and after five minutes or so stopped.”
Rosenthal said he then approached McGuire to get an update, but McGuire refused to answer him after three attempts.
“I asked if he was deaf,” Rosenthal said. “He said, ‘no I am not, I am just not going to talk to you.’”
Rosenthal then instructed McGuire to gather his things and go to City Hall to discuss the matter further.
“He said he would not,” Rosenthal said. “I said, ‘Willie, get in the truck and I will meet you at City Hall.' This time he said, ‘no, and you cannot make me.’”
Rosenthal said he continued to follow McGuire, but the employee still ignored him, while getting on his phone, and that is when things turned physical, according to Rosenthal.
“He quickly turned around and charged me, causing me to step back and put my hand out in front to prevent being knocked down,” Rosenthal said. “He (McGuire) then said, ‘ok, you have touched me.’”
After McGuire used his phone, Rosenthal said aldermen Brock and Elder arrived.
“I had called the police to come to that location since Mr. McGuire had gotten so aggressive and abusive,” Rosenthal said. “He had gotten a little better after the officers arrived but ramped it back up when aldermen Elder and Brock arrived.”
Rosenthal’s initial recommendation was termination for McGuire, due to his alleged insubordination, according to the document.
Rosenthal said he made attempts to handle the situation in a more private manner.
“I know had I been able to get to a better location with a third party present this could have been avoided,” Rosenthal said.
McGuire told The E-T on Wednesday that he plans to speak about the incident in the future, but for now, he is remaining silent.
