Fountain Terminates Public Works Director

The Fountain City Council held a special meeting on March 12 to discuss the unpaid suspension of Public Works Director John Hanson. In attendance at the meeting was the full council, City Attorney Frederick Suhler, and Preston Police Chief Blaise Sass. Also in attendance at the meeting was Rick Whitney, Laurie Ann Bellinger, and Jason Sethre, Fillmore County Journal. Absent from the meeting was City Clerk Mary Tjepkes.

Councilor Tammy Danielson, who was chosen to oversee the investigation into the situation, began the conversation, reading from a prepared statement detailing the events, the reason for Hanson’s suspension, and recommendations. Separate discussions were previously held with Hanson, maintenance worker Jordan Amunrud, consultant Rick Whitney, and Seth Ledet, District Engineer with the Minnesota Department of Health.

The fluoride level was outside the Dept. of Health acceptable range on February 3-5. This was reported to the city by maintenance worker Jordan Amunrud after he questioned how to handle high fluoride readings. Readings are recorded by Hanson and Amunrud every Wednesday. On Tuesday, February 3, it was found that the fluoride pump in the wellhouse was running while the main well pump was off. However, the fluoride pump should shut off when the main well pump is off.

According to Danielson, the acceptable range for fluoride in the public water supply is 0.5 mg/L– 0.9 mg/L, which is written top of the reporting worksheet. The fluoride level captured by Amunrud on February 3 was 2.2 mg/L, the maximum meter reading. The reading by Hanson on February 4 for city reporting was 2.2 mg/L. The reading on February 5 was 1.37 mg/L.

Danielson further clarified that the Dept. of Health Fluoride Overfeed in Drinking Water/Drinking Water Protection Policy instructions were reviewed and confirmed by Ledet. She stated the overfeed was not reported by Hanson to the city or the Dept. of Health. On February 16, Whitney was asked to provide oversight and decision-making for all public water testing and [sic] resulting. This was relayed to Hanson and Amnurud.

A meeting between Danielson, Mayor Ron Reisner, and Hanson occurred February 20 to address the fluoride levels of February 3-5. In the meeting, Danielson stated that Hanson confirmed he did not report the high fluoride level to the city or implement the policy that outlines actions to be taken for a fluoride overfeed. He also indicated the city hadn’t had an issue like this previously, that it was due to a mechanical failure, and that he unplugged the pumps to reduce the fluoride level. When told overfeed/exceedance is reportable and asked about his knowledge of that, Danielson told the council he indicated he didn’t know what he was supposed to do, acknowledged that the 2.2 reading was high, and confirmed he did not call or consult with anyone about it. Hanson was placed on unpaid administrative leave on February 20, with the city determining the length of leave to be 30 days. Hanson requested that the investigation be brought to a public meeting.

At the request of the city, a delayed fluoride exceedance report was submitted by Whitney to the Dept. of Health. Upon recommendation from the department, out of an abundance of caution, the city posted a Tier 3 fluoride overfeed community announcement at the city posting sites and offered fluoride education documents at the city office. The Dept. of Health also suggested but does not require daily testing of fluoride. The city has begun daily fluoride testing, while continuing monthly reporting, as required.

Danielson also referenced the details of a virtual meeting with Ledet and documentation provided by Hanson at the March 4 council meeting. 

“From the conversation with the engineer at the Minnesota Department of Health, the letters John presented are not accurate or applicable to the fluoride overfeed event that occurred in Fountain on February 3-5,” she stated. 

Further statements indicated Ledet was not made aware of three consecutive dates of fluoride overfeed and he’d been told the issue had been corrected within 24 hours. Danielson stated the assertion that the system immediately flushed to reduce fluoride levels to an acceptable range was untrue and that the system was not flushed. She also noted the operator’s actions didn’t align with Dept. of Health required response actions.

“If the Minnesota Department of Health had been contacted and told of the 2.2 mg/L fluoride overfeed on February 3  a representative from the Minnesota Department of Health would have come to Fountain that day to take confirmation samples of the water and the city water tower would have been flushed,” added Danielson. “The confirmation samples are critical in determining if a fluoride overfeed is higher than the meter reading of 2.2 mg/L because that’s as high as the meter will read. Without the required call to the Minnesota Department of Health on the first date of a known overfeed, the true fluoride level is unknown.”

Danielson also outlined several other facts considered for the recommendation to the council. The lack of reporting the overfeed raised concern about Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) reporting for the wastewater treatment plant. 2025 wastewater treatment lab records show four minor and five major violations. The city was not notified of any correction plans for these violations. Implications from the MPCA may follow based on the 2025 violations. A list of operation and maintenance tasks was given December 2025 and reissued in January.  As of February 20, there was elevated concern on two of the uncompleted tasks: testing and updating of the call-out alarm system and testing of the 4 gas meter system.

“The recommendation for the city council to consider is based on the city’s Personnel Policy violation, ‘Incompetency or inefficiency in the performance of duties,’” continued Danielson. “John Hanson was aware of a fluoride overfeed in the public water supply and did not report to the city or the Minnesota Department of Health, and made no attempts to contact the city consultant for guidance. His actions confirm negligence of duties and incompetency in his position. Based on this investigation’s factual findings, the recommendation to this city council is to terminate John Hanson’s employment with the city of Fountain.”

Hanson was given an opportunity to respond to the investigation findings. During this time, he indicated he was not taught what the Dept. of Health considered a high reading and maintained he was told it was a non-enforceable level. He also did not know the water was tested on February 3. He maintained it was tested on February 4 when he got the 2.2 mg/L reading and that the February 5 reading was 1.37 mg/L.

Councilor Cory Spratte made a motion to terminate Hanson’s employment. This was seconded by Councilor Jordan Kearns.

“Johnny I’m going to have to second it, man,” said Kearns. “This is a poor situation that we got put in, but it’s legal.”

The vote passed 4:1 with Councilor Dave Stockton abstaining.