Daily Archives: January 30, 2014

Staff Writer

MICHIGAN CITY Mayor Ron Meer has appointed a new executive director of Michigan City Human Rights Commission: U.S. Army veteran and Michigan City native Jeff Deuitch. He replaces Angela Jackson, the commission's former director who resigned late last year.

"One of the biggest things when I retired from the military was that I wanted to give back to Michigan City," said Deuitch, a 1990 graduate of Elston High School.

After high school, Deuitch served in the Army for more than 22 years. He completed tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and Korea; and has been awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal, amony other military awards.

He said he intends to use his military experiences to help him in his new role on the Human Rights Commission.

"The things I learned in the Army are honesty, integrity and hard work," he said.

As the commission's director, Deuitch will work closely with the community to ensure the fair treatment of all local residents. Some of his responsibilites will include investigating complaints of human rights violations and even to monitor the compliance of the city's hiring ordinance.

"The mayor is really pushing this to where we're out in the community and we're talking to people so that people know their rights," Deuitch said.

Meer reflected Tuesday on his decision to appoint Deuitch to the head of the Human Rights Commission.

"There's a big push across the United States as our veterans come back from overseas, from Afghanistan, to have some job opportunities for them," he said. "And for (Deuitch) to have this skill level and to have done this in the military for an entire batallion makes it, for me, a privilege and an honor to have him (as director)."

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Deuitch appointed to Human Rights post

WATERLOO | Black Hawk County's human resources director has fallen victim to the budget ax.

Members of the Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 Tuesday to eliminate Human Resources Director Jerry Clyde's position effective today while "realigning" his department's staff as part of the board office.

The supervisors said the move, expected to save about $80,000 next year, was strictly budget driven.

"It's not a matter of personnel," said board chairman Craig White. "It's a matter of the almighty dollar."

Supervisor Frank Magsamen said the supervisors already had voted to eliminate a courthouse maintenance job, a vacant position in the auditor's office and will not fund two health department posts. All were designed to hold down next year's property tax increase.

The supervisors hired Clyde in July 2011 after former human resources director June Watkins left for another position.

"I can fully understand what is happening and why it's happening," Clyde said. "I leave with nothing but pride in what my department and staff have accomplished, and I have nothing but great admiration for Black Hawk County."

Clyde had requested to stay on through June to help with the transition and complete a job reclassification program he felt was vital to the future of the county's workforce. That was rejected.

Both Clyde and the supervisors expressed confidence the remaining human resources staff is capable of handling the work.

"I appreciated the restructuring you've done and having some strong people in that department we can lean on," said Supervisor Linda Laylin.

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Black Hawk County supervisors eliminate human resources director post