Culbertson hires new water superintendent after special session and follow-ups

The Culbertson Town Council addressed its water-department staffing in early 1962, interviewing applicants at a special session and later hiring a new superintendent.

At a March 19 special meeting the council interviewed four applicants for the water-superintendent position and voted to offer the job to Fred Park; Park accepted and was instructed to start immediately and work with the retiring superintendent, Mr. Pennell. The clerk was also instructed to order 600 feet of 4-inch transite pipe with couplings.

At the April 2 regular meeting, after further consideration and additional applicants, the council voted (Oelkers/Damm) to hire Harry McCormick as water superintendent at $325 per month. The minutes record that Mr. Pennell was retiring because of ill health and that the council instructed the new superintendent to begin work and to attend to plant operations and street-related tasks as needed. Later, on Nov. 5 the council authorized a $100 expense allowance for Harry McCormick to attend 'water school' in Bozeman to support his training.

The minutes show routine onboarding steps taken by the council, including equipment orders, wage settings and a training allowance; by year-end the newly hired superintendent had received formal authorization for training and plant maintenance duties.