The Chesterton Utility is back to the drawing board.

Nine days after his first official day at work, the newly hired superintendent resigned his position.

At a special meeting Thursday night, the Utility Service Board voted 3-0 to accept the resignation of James Chris Shank.

“Due to personal reasons, I, Chris Shank, hereby resign my position with the Town of Chesterton as of Aug. 25, 2009,” Shank stated in the handwritten letter. “I thank you for the opportunity.”

Shank was named the new superintendent on Aug. 3, ending an exhaustive six-month search to fill the position abruptly and unexpectedly vacated at the beginning of the year by the resignation of Steve Yagelski.

Shank, a Class III certified operator, would have earned a salary of $57,000 per year, with an increase to $60,000 on completion of his Class IV certification.

Shank’s first day on the job was Aug. 16.

After accepting Shank’s resignation, the Service Board then voted unanimously to appoint--once again--Town Engineer Mark O’Dell to the position of interim superintendent, and endorsed an amendment to the 2009 Salary Ordinance under which O’Dell would receive $500 per week compensation for that responsibility, retroactive to Aug. 16. The Town Council is likely to consider that amendment at its next meeting, Sept. 14.

By consensus the board also agreed to schedule a special meeting for 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the wastewater treatment plant to discuss its options going forward.

After the meeting, President Larry Brandt told the Chesterton Tribune that any number of tacks are possible:

*Reconsidering short-listed candidates.

*Re-advertising the position.

*“Consolidating” the sanitary sewer and stormwater utilities and putting them under the direction of a single person.

*Contracting with a headhunter.

*Personally recruiting operators at other facilities known to be qualified for the position.

Over 100 persons applied for the position to which the Service Board appointed Shank. A short list of 15 applicants was then compiled, based on their technical qualifications. Of those 15, five were interviewed.

Posted 8/28/2009