Fired Iowa city clerk to get $5K in unpaid wages

WAPELLO, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Department of Labor has ordered the city of Wapello to pay its former clerk almost $5,000 in unpaid overtime.

The Hawk Eye reports Celia Drayfahl filed a complaint after being fired in August. The Labor Department found that the city had improperly classified her position, making her ineligible for overtime pay.

The department ruled that Drayfahl is due almost $5,000 in overtime pay dating to August 2009.

The order for Drayfahl’s firing lists five reasons for her termination, including failing to close accounting books in a timely manner and failing to keep balanced books. City officials have said there was no illegal activity.

Drayfahl lost an appeal of her firing but has filed a lawsuit challenging the termination. No trial date has been set.