The Winona Board of Aldermen hired a new addition to the Street Department during a special called meeting on Aug. 4.
Kobie Balentine, of Conway, Ark., accepted the position of supervising the grass crew, and Mayor Aaron Dees said he was hired because that department was down to three employees.
One of the employees “was leaving, going back to school, and none of the others have driver’s license.”
The board called the special meeting because Balentine was still in Arkansas at the time of the most recent meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen, Dees said.
“The ‘new hire’ was back in Conway, Ark. moving his things back to Winona and wasn’t available to meet with the board,” said Dees.
However, on Aug. 3, Balentine was able to meet with Dees, Alderman Charles Harris and Street Department Superintendent Kenny Wayne Beavers for an interview.
“We felt that we needed a special called meeting to hire him because Kenny Wayne Beavers would be out on [Aug. 4], but still we had the meeting with Jerome ‘Shorty’ Elliot, filling in for the street superintendent,” said Dees.
All board members were present, and all voted in favor to hire Balentine, effective Aug. 7.
