Garfield hires sewer plant operator

After a two-year search with the Washington State Department of Ecology threatening fines, Mayor Ray McCown and the Town of Garfield have hired a Level II sewer plant operator. Reuel Klempel started on the job Sept. 6.

A Level IV certified operator, Klempel lives in Eltopia and originally interviewed in Garfield last year. McCown offered him the job then, but the town’s pay rate was lower than Klempel was qualified for. He declined the Garfield job offer and was hired at Lake Stevens, where he commuted for the job.

This summer, he called McCown saying he had quit in Lake Stevens.

So he and McC...