Board of Public Utilities Director Rickie J. Rose, 61, was charged with one count of drunk driving yesterday and sentenced to 75 days in jail and 12 months probation.
The days Rose spends in patient treatment will count toward his jail time.
Acting City Manager Doug Terry, who has remained supportive of Rose since his arrest in January, said it is too soon to say whether or not the city will continue to employ Rose after he completes his sentence.
“Rick is a valued employee of BPU and for years has performed his duties in a proficient manner,” Terry said after the sentencing. “However, we do take the conduct of our employees seriously, but there are not enough details to render an opinion about the future.”
Rose was arrested on Saturday, Jan. 24, after he crashed his car into a tree on Bankers Road in Reading, Michigan. According to the Hillsdale County Sheriff incident report, once police responded to the accident, they determined Rose had a blood alcohol content of .23 — almost three times the legal limit of .08, according to the Michigan State Police website.
The incident marked Rose’s third time being arrested and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Due to the expiration of Rose’s contract, the Hillsdale City Council will vote in the next few weeks on whether to continue Rose’s contract.
