LCUB: Official resigns after work done at employee's house

A Lenoir City Utilities Board manager has resigned and another employee is being disciplined after an incident earlier this week that involved improper use of the utility resources, according to a statement from LCUB General Manager Shannon Littleton.

Littleton said that on Tuesday, LCUB officials learned that a utility district employee directed other LCUB employees to perform work at his residence.

An internal investigation determined that at least two full-time and two part-time gas, water and sewer employees were at an employee’s residence. Some minor work was performed during work hours at the house, which is in the LCUB electrical service territory but not in the LCUB gas, water and sewer service territory, Littleton said.

“Further, the manager of the Gas Department has resigned and one other gas, water and sewer department employee is in the process of being disciplined, which shall be completed in the next few days,” he said.

The names of the manager and employee were not included in the statement.

But a representative from Littleton’s office and LCUB board member Harry Wampler later confirmed that Gas Manager Mike Strange resigned Thursday.

“I can assure the LCUB customers that the matter is being properly handled, but it is LCUB policy not to discuss specific employee disciplinary action with anyone other than LCUB management,” Littleton said.