Winder fires billing director

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Winder fires billing director

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Top Stories & Breaking News, Winder Archives

Wednesday, May 2. 2012

Comments (32)

The Winder employee who bore most of the responsibility for failing to catch costly utility billing errors lost her job last week. City administrator Don Toms said he terminated Dawn Reidling, the utility billing director, on April 26. She plans to appeal to the full council this month, Toms said.

Reidling had worked for the city government for 28 years and with two raises totaling 7.6 percent in late 2011 was the fifth highest-paid employee at the start of this year with an annual salary of $71,707.

For the full story, see the May 2 issue of the Barrow Journal.

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#1 looking for job on 05/02/12 at 12:54 PM

$71,707 just to pay bills hell i'll take that job

#1.1 walking in anothers shoes... on 05/02/12 at 03:11 PM

Well, supervising the billing process, but 28 YEARS later she makes that... Yes, her function did FAIL to catch the error recently, but is it her first offence ever? should she be demoted or penalized financially in another way or if Firing the correct action?
I don't know but after 22 years on my job, I don't want my career complete gone after one mistake, so It would nice to know if there was a pattern of bad work or this one big mistake...

#1.1.1 if on 05/04/12 at 03:55 AM

your getting 71k a year that is lot of money.... etter do your job and make surethe ship is not sinking or get ready to start bailing out the water not let the ship hit the iceberg and then ask why no one told you there is an iceberg ahead. good riddence to the over paid Govt hag!

#1.1.2 CITZEN LV on 05/07/12 at 03:05 PM

i agree with you. She has tons of responsiblities and tons of dedication, one slight misstep and her carrer is gone. Complete bs

#1.2 Anonymous on 05/03/12 at 06:51 AM

Nice salary! I think she has a case!

#2 Life-Long in Barrow on 05/02/12 at 03:47 PM

As a Barrow native, I wish Ms. Reidling would save us the trouble and expense and just accept her termination quietly!

28 years on the job is no excuse for a serious mistake that could cost the city thousands at tax-payer expense. The city should be able to fire anyone they feel necessary when they have a valid reason.

As a young professional who works in county level government, it is my opinion that there are many department administrators in municipalities around this state who are in-over-their head in today's business environment. They fall into a routine of mediocre job performance! Such poor performance is easily overlooked by elected officials until a serious mistake occurs and gets publicized.

Any government of a sizable municipality is a much more advanced and comprehensive work environment than what existed 25 years ago. It requires individuals who are both educated and experienced. While a seasoned professional can be a valuable asset, we need to phase-out these old-timers who aren't able to keep up with increased standards that we are forced to adhere.

#2.1 walking in anothers shoes... on 05/02/12 at 05:33 PM

I will agree that the current demands & environment IS definately different and DOES require more from its government workers. Her mistake may have been too big to overlook, and went forward without being caught way too long... There are such things as continuing education, I wonder if she ever had any...

Winder is the Countyseat and urban center of what is now a Top25 County in Georgia in population(159 total), Top 5 or 6 in growth, even though we are geographically in the Bottom 12 in size(sq miles). We cant just "get by" anymore, We do need professional level administrators OR those who Will and Can keep up with todays pace. We need to hire better and, OH, not run them off either(Mr Yearwood)

#3 Mary on 05/02/12 at 07:17 PM

Just wait a month until her friends get cut off for the first time in 20 years. You have only hit the tip of the iceberg. This is a small town, just spend some time in downtown getting your hair done. Thank you Winder for cleaning up the past 10 years.

#4 Todd Black on 05/02/12 at 07:24 PM

Winder are you sure these were mistakes, she may have been collecting the money then voiding out the tranaction and putting the money in her pocket. This has happen at other cities. You may want to check and maybe call in the GBI

#4.1 Anonymous on 05/02/12 at 07:47 PM

Dawn you are lucky they only fired you. You are the reason we all pay among the highest water bills in the State. I agree call in the State to look into your billing. She was stealing. Why didn't the last Mayor or two audit her. You may want to check their bills.

#4.1.1 Justice on 05/05/12 at 09:18 PM

I sincerely hope the City of Winder persues an investigation into Dawn's past with the City. If found that she has acted illegally I hope they file charges and have their day in court. Nobody turned their back when a police clerk was caught stealing, when a braselton clerk was caught stealing, etc.

Dawn should not be treated any differently than any other suspected criminal. If I am wrong, then the court will clear her but I feel there is something much deeper that has been going on.

#4.1.2 Erin on 05/06/12 at 02:40 PM

...well then by your genius logic we should be seeing our water bills decrease due to her firing? Wow. Attend a city meeting once in a while, better yet actually learn about how water/gas/sewer rates are put into place.

#4.2 Erin on 05/06/12 at 02:35 PM

Hilarious. Todd Black, she has driven the same Pontiac for years, and has lived in the same tiny house for years. Your narrow minded accusations are baseless. Slander and libel are things you should look into before spouting off on these forums.

#5 Anonymous on 05/02/12 at 07:31 PM

LOL, her husband just told me last week that they could not fire her, that is why they just suspended her for one day.I thought she could pee in their coffee and still not be fired. You can enjoy the pee free coffee now.

#5.1 Erin on 05/05/12 at 09:26 PM

Why is your comment anonymous?

#6 Golden on 05/02/12 at 07:39 PM

Dawn keep your chins up. You can fine a better job.

#7 Anonymous on 05/02/12 at 10:30 PM

(Comment removed)

#7.1 John on 05/02/12 at 11:15 PM

HA HA. No one is going to fire her. Can you imagine the stories she could tell on city employees?

#8 Anonymous on 05/03/12 at 11:33 PM

Yep. She can tell some stories that will attract the Atlanta news media. Look out ex mayors, councilmen and employes. You going to have some explaining to do.

#8.1 Richard Saunders on 05/04/12 at 11:07 AM

No she won't. She's going to take it and shut up. Her incompetence cost the city over 750K. That's only 3 years that you can audit. I wonder what role Chip and Buddy played in this?

#9 odd math! on 05/04/12 at 04:01 AM

still in the news report her raise brought her pay to 68,700 or there aboutd but in this story 71 grand plus? wow if i worked for govt i would be living large!!!!!!

#10 hillabee on 05/04/12 at 05:11 PM

She kept getting raises based on who she was friends with, not due to her skills. I'm sure if you keep looking the mistakes will pile up. She also had a I'm better than you attitude

#11 Erin on 05/05/12 at 09:42 PM

I have known Dawn for 12 years. She is the epitome of a Christian woman. She is devoted to her daughter and has never said a negative word about anybody. For those of you making these ridiculous comments about theft, peeing in coffee, etc. you should be ashamed of yourselves. Obviously if there was a pattern of "mistakes" she would have been penalized before all of this. Clearly, these "billing errors" were not her fault and each of you would know this if you actually knew the ins and outs of this story. The truth will come out, and this city will be in shambles due to the current take over by known trouble makers. Do your research! "Weeding out old timers" is cause for a law suit among many other things the citizens of Winder do not know about. In regards to her income, take that up with the city or better yet apply yourself and go get a better paying job instead of bashing an employee who deserves this amount of pay. I've never enjoyed living in this hick filled town. Your ignorant comments are just another reason why this town will never be worth anything.

#11.1 Justice on 05/05/12 at 10:54 PM

(Comment removed)

#11.1.1 Erin on 05/06/12 at 09:41 AM

I'm the ignorant one. Bashing her marriage? Now you've made this personal. I suggest you keep your comments about her personal life to yourself. I intend to contact the Barrow Journal to find out who you are. You are one of the many reasons this town is disgusting. In your case ignorance is bliss. How sad.

#11.1.1.1 Anonymous on 05/06/12 at 08:20 PM

Let me know when the BJ "outs" someone for posting an opinion you don't like.

#11.1.1.2 Justice on 05/07/12 at 12:05 AM

Did I hit on a sour note? Your outrage pretty much proves my point.

If you so hate this "hick town", why are you still here?

I have no clue who you are but apparently you are Dawn's only friend. You are the only blogger defending her.

Also, the comment I made about her treating her husband with disrepect was something I witnessed time and time again.

As far as her daughter reading these comments, maybe she should control what her daughter is doing on the internet.

#11.2 Richard Saunders on 05/06/12 at 06:14 AM

Erin- You have every right to defend this woman. But you discredit yourself by name-calling and the such. Dawn's billing mistakes and her crass attitude have landed her in this position. The city can only audit up to 3 years; she's cost the city over 750k in those three years. Money that probably won't be recouped. This happened under Chip's leadership and he gave her a raise. A raise for incompetence.

#11.3 andy on 05/06/12 at 08:38 PM

If she goes to church, than i'm sure she can walk on water, therefore it must be someone elses' fault. How dare the city fire a christian women.

#11.4 Anonymous on 05/06/12 at 08:44 PM

Maybe she missed the thou shall not steal Sunday

#12 Erin on 05/06/12 at 09:35 AM

Richard Saunders, the wool has been pulled over your eyes. Do your research. Who installed the meters at those chicken houses? Who signed off on those meters that have costed the city thousands? It wasn't Dawn. Her recent billing mistakes were the mistakes of others. She was blamed for mistakes caused by others in order to make her firing look justified. As far as discrediting myself, that's your opinion, these ridiculous comments bashing Dawn are being read by her daughter. It's disgusting and unnecessary. It's unfortunate that you believe in the officials who are going to ruin this town. They are the reasons this hick filled town won't amount to anything. Ask a random, former resident about Winder. Their answer probably won't suit you. The problems within the city government stretch far beyond the water department. Once again, do your research. Dawn has less to do with this than they want you to think.

#13 fact on 05/06/12 at 06:20 PM

Erin, she was an at-will employee. In Georgia you can fire an at-will employee without cause. If they have cause she won't get unemployment as well.

Frankly all of you look crazy for even discussing this. She was terminated and life goes on.

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