AFSCME Union is involved in the action, which is being characterized as “arbitrary” and “unfair”
Riva Sharples | Editor
For 10 years, rural Alcester resident Brandon Steeneck has worked for the City of Vermillion as an electrical lineman. Now, Steeneck is facing the potential loss of his job due to a new enforcement of residency rules in the city’s handbook.
Family and friends of Steeneck, who has only positive performance reviews and no write-ups during his time on the job, is asking for support as he faces potential termination. Last week, supporters of Steeneck and his AFSCME Union representative spoke with the Vermillion City Council in a plea to save his job and to stop what they are calling an unfair and arbitrary action against him.
Steeneck and his family lived in Vermillion for the first two years of his employment with the City of Vermillion before relocating. A death in the family four years ago led Brandon to build on his ancestral farm south of Alcester, which has been in the family for four generations. Brandon cleared this move with his then-supervisor at the City of Vermillion and it was approved. Steeneck made arrangements to stay at his sister’s house, closer to Vermillion, when he was on call in an added effort to be of service when needed.
In the City’s handbook, residency within Vermillion City limits is “generally a condition of employment with the City.” The handbook says that exceptions may be granted with approval of the Department Head and City Manager, as long as the exemption “does not interfere or hamper the employee from fulfilling his/her duties or cause the employee to miss work.”
“Brandon has never been late,” says Kristina Steeneck, Brandon’s wife. “He has never missed a call. He has received promotions through the years and positive reviews, and for the past six years, the City of Vermillion has been fine with the arrangements we’ve had. He’s been doing this for six years!”
The handbook states that Public Safety and Emergency Response employees like Steeneck must be able to reach the City within 15 minutes.
From his Alcester farm, it takes Steeneck 17-19 minutes to reach Vermillion, depending on weather conditions, traffic, and other factors. This is now the fact that may lead Steeneck to lose his job.
But this shouldn’t even be an issue, says Kristina, since Steeneck stays with his sister in Burbank when he is on call and has rented a hotel room in Vermillion when the weather is bad.
“Again, he has never been late to a call,” says Kristina. “He has never missed anything. He has had this arrangement with his sister for six years, and the City of Vermillion has been accepting of this arrangement for six years. At his sisters’ house, he is well within the 15 minute window. He does not stay at our Alcester home when he is on call, so us being two minutes further away than the requirement should not be a problem.”
But it did seem to become a problem in June when new management came to the City of Vermillion. On June 3, Steeneck received a letter stating that he needed to move his permanent residence to Vermillion in order to keep his job. He was given two months to make the move. Steeneck appealed, explaining that he is in compliance with the 15-minute rule because when he is on call (one week every six weeks or so), he lives with his sister, where he pays rent and has a formal residence agreement.
This did not seem to matter – the local of his primary residence seems to be the issue.
Because Steeneck has not moved off the family farm and closer to Vermillion, Steeneck is now facing a charge of insubordination for not complying with the order, which makes it possible for Steeneck to be fired by the Town of Vermillion.
The Steeneck family is pleading for support from friends, family, and community members. A petition in support of Brandon is currently circulating.
“The Union is trying to help us,” said Kristina. “But if anyone in the area wants to help us out, they can send an email to Vermillion City Council members about this issue. They can also go online and sign the petition in support of Brandon.”
The Steeneck family is feeling frustrated and confused.
“We just don’t understand why this is happening,” says Kristina. “If Brandon had done something – if he had made a mistake, or missed a call, or been late, we could understand the City of Vermillion sending him that letter. But he has been a good employee. He is not in violation of the residency requirement because he has residency at his sister’s. And when he isn’t on call, he’s only 17-19 minutes from the Vermillion city limits. … This just feels like a personal attack where someone looked at the map, saw Alcester, and randomly decided that was too far.”
She urges area residents to let their voices be heard if they too feel this action is wrong.
“ … We’ve made our life here in Alcester, and this kind of feels like a personal attack on all of us who live in small towns outside of larger places,” Kristina said. “A lot of people live in rural areas and commute to work, and we do it well. We should not be punished for where we live, especially in a case like Brandon’s, when he has gone above and beyond by staying at his sisters to comply with the rules and regulations.”
Officials with the Town of Vermillion declined to comment about this issue because it is a current legal matter.