County employee appealing termination

The Highlands County employee fired last Thursday for allegedly spilling diesel fuel at the county landfill has appealed his termination.

Highlands County Administrator Michael Wright said Monday that he has not set a hearing date for Dean Young, who was let go on Nov. 12.

Highlands County Solid Waste Director Ken Wheeler said the spill happened on May 8 and that Young did admit to it.

"He admitted that he had made a mistake, but he did not admit to the amount of the mistake," Wheeler said

The initial report, according to Wheeler, was that "a couple of gallons were spilled."

"I became aware of it being the problem the day after Labor Day and on the following day, I had Dean in and interviewed him," Wheeler said. "On that day, he admitted that 20 or 25 gallons were spilled outside the (containment) tank."

Young's title was a landfill technician and his primary duties were dealing with landfill gas, the wastewater treatment facility and, on occasion, filling up the 275-gallon fuel oil tank at the asphalt plant, according to Wheeler.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) eventually got involved with the investigation after a report came in July 24 that 5,000 gallons of fuel had been spilled. That report turned out to be false, but the complaint was re opened on Sept. 17.

The county hired an engineering firm to conduct an investigation On Oct. 21, a letter was issued to the DEP stating approximately 120 gallons of fuel were spilled at the landfill.

"Based on removing 190 tons of contaminated soil, approximately 120 gallons of oil was removed," the report stated. "This is equal to the estimated volume of the spill."