GLENWOOD, IA - The Glenwood City Council has tabled a discussion on a former Glenwood police officer's reimbursement plan to the city for the training and wages he received while attending the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.
On Tuesday evening, June 23, during a regular meeting, the city council voted 3-1 to table the matter until its July 14 meeting, following a discussion with Zachary Chase, KMALAND reported. Chase signed the reimbursement agreement when he was hired by the Glenwood Police Department (GPD) in January 2023.
Under the contract, Chase agreed to reimburse the city for all or part of the expenses associated with his training and education at the academy, in addition to the wages he earned during the training period, should he leave the department within four years of his hiring.
Chase resigned from GPD in September 2024 after accepting a position with the Council Bluffs Police Department. The council initially discussed the topic at its June 9 meeting, but tabled action to get further advice from the city attorney. Now, Glenwood Mayor Angie Winquist says the city has a few options.
"Another option was to require (Chase) to pay the full loan balance in full and option b would be to pay the current shortfall," said Winquist. "(Chase) is short from not paying the first two years, $6,650. So, we'd get that paid as soon as possible and then do your continued $350 a month."
Chase then asked that the topic be pushed to the council's next meeting to receive input from his attorney on the options presented. Council member Donnie Kates was the lone dissenting vote to table the matter.
"I'm going to reiterate like I did last time--it was a contract (Chase) signed and agreed too, (he) understood that, and now we're here," said Kates. "So, I guess I just don't understand needing to speak to an attorney again." Chase had previously given a proposal to the city that would have lowered his monthly payment by $100, but at the June 9 meeting, he indicated he was willing to continue making $350 monthly payments.
"I was always planning on paying the contract back," said Chase. "I will say, I did seek legal counsel right after I resigned from (Glenwood) just for a better understanding on my end about the contract."
At the June 9 meeting, Winquist said Chase left GPD with a balance of over $20,000 owed to the city, but as of that meeting, he had only made two $350 payments.
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