Stand down alert

Sandbagging grievance dropped

A city employee union will drop a complaint that claimed firefighters did union work by building sandbag barricades around Baraboo during flooding last month.

No union officials were available or willing to comment.

In an e-mail, Geick said the city won't look for ways to prevent similar situations. He said the fire department's response to the June flooding was reasonable.

"I can tell you from my experience that we have some very capable public works and fire employees who have provided service to the community during the recent weeks that has been above the typical call to duty," Geick wrote.

He said he was disappointed the grievance was discussed in the media before city and union officials had a chance to sit down together and discuss the issue.