Jasper Utilities: Gas & Water Manager announces retirement

The Jasper Utility Service Board heard that Ernie Hinkle, Jasper’s Water & Gas Manager, would be retiring at the end of May.

Hinkle worked for the department for 30 years and was promoted to the manager’s position after Mike Oeding retired in 2013.

Hinkle worked his way up from an entry level position as a laborer to the top position in the department.

“The manager when I started told me 30 years ago that if I worked hard and stayed with the city about 30 years, I would have a good pension plan,” Hinkle said. “He was right. I have decided to take advantage of it.”

Hinkle wouldn’t come out and say he was retiring. “I plan on doing something,” he said. “Plus, a lot more fishing.”

Ernie’s wife Bev is the assistant director of the Habig Center and has worked for the city for 37 years. The couple have four children, three daughters and one son.

Hinkle has lived in Jasper all his life accept for a two-year stint in the Air Force. He graduated from Jasper High School in 1972.

“It has been my honor and my privilege to work for the city as long as I have,” he added.

The Utility Service Board approved Utility Manager Bud Hauersperger seeking an assistant manager to transition into the position when Hinkle officially retires. Hauersperger said they would seek to advance someone from within the department first. “If we don’t get any interest or find someone to fill the position, we will seek to fill it from outside,” Hauersperger told the board.

The Utility Service Board also took the following actions:

-Heard that the bid opening for the Jasper Power Plant will take place at 8 a.m. on February 24 in the Council Chambers. The bids will be to demolish and/or purchase the property.

-Heard Electric Distribution had received the bucket truck ordered last year.