"This is not OK:" Contractor fails to show for hearing over photo of armed contractors, hate symbols

MILWAUKEE -- A company tied to a pair of controversial photos at Milwaukee job sites remains in hot water with city officials.

The owner of American Sewer Services was scheduled to go before members of the Common Council's Steering and Rules Committee on Monday morning, December 18th. However, Dennis Biondich did not show up, citing a medical issue. Instead, Biondich sent an employee to address the members of the council. Project Manager Dan McLendon said he would read the owner's prepared statement but could not answer questions. Those questions revolve around a pair of pictures -- one showing three armed workers at a city job site near 19th and Meinecke, and the other showed an employee's lunchbox that had stickers of the Confederate flag and the Ku Klux Klan near 25th and Wells.

The owner's statement made clear there has been discipline for the workers involved. The company's owner told city officials he fired one of the workers in the gun photo, and laid off two others. The statement added the employee with the offensive lunchbox display had also been fired. "I want to assure you the offending employee has been dismissed because his inappropriate actions. As a result of this incident, we are updating our internal policies so that we may stop any reoccurrence," McLendon said.

But aldermen said someone higher up in the company should have been there -- someone who can answer questions. "For the business to not be able to show up or not have someone from the company who can answer questions is ridiculous," said Ald. Milele Coggs.

"I mean, sending in the sacrificial lamb. I mean, send in your lawyer, send in your somebody who's in position to speak to the facts here instead of the estimator and, with all due respect, the guy shuffling the papers back at the office," said Ald. Bob Bauman. Common Council President Hamilton said he has directly spoken with the Biondich and still wants him to testify before the council. "I think he should find it important enough to show up and answer those questions," Hamilton said. In the meantime, Hamilton noted several aldermen want to cancel the 11 current city contracts with American Sewer Services. Hamilton said the company has gotten about $50 million worth of contracts with the City of Milwaukee over the last five years. Unintended consequences? Among the responses aldermen are considering to the incidents is a study of whether it'd be fiscally feasible to bring more public works projects in-house, having them done by city workers instead of contractors. Pam Fendt from the Milwaukee Area Labor Council warned the backlash from such a move could cost city residents from being hired onto projects outside Milwaukee. "When you think about the opportunities coming up with Foxconn, it wouldn’t be good if Racine officials started saying ‘this is only work for Racine folks,’" Fendt said. "We’ve got intentions of trying to get Milwaukee folks and figure out solutions for how to get down there." Public Works Commissioner Ghassan Korban asked aldermen to hold off on taking any action regarding American Sewer until after they can meet with Biondich. Korban said the company has a relationship with the city that dates back 30 years. "My plea is to just have a conversation with him and make a decision," Korban said. Culture Shock Ald. Nik Kovak expressed skepticism that the photos were a reflection of just four misguided workers. He said a company that employs between 20-40 people would likely know if these actions were taking place before hitting social media. "That’s 20 percent of their permanent workforce and 10 percent of their peak season workforce so it’s not a huge company and it’s hard to believe there’s not a culture of at least condoning this behavior," Kovac said. In an emotional moment, Coggs recalled explaining the history of the KKK to her nine-year-old daughter and then having the daughter ask over the weekend if the lunchbox sticker was for the same group responsible for past lynchings. "(This is a) very real issue that exists beyond American Sewer, beyond this cooler, it’s something I would hope she won’t have to have a conversation about with her children someday," Coggs said. Hamilton issued this statement after the hearing:

A statement by the owner of American Sewer Services, Dennis Biondich, was read aloud during the special hearing. The below revised statement was later sent to FOX6 News:

A letter to Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton cites "medical concerns" as the reason why the owner wasn't present at the hearing Monday. The full letter is below: