City of Harlan appeals ruling granting benefits to former employee

HARLAN — A former City of Harlan employee was fired after purchasing a television for his office with city funds and refusing the city’s request to resign, according to state records.
Jack Gubbels worked as Harlan’s code enforcement officer from August 2021 until his termination in October 2025. His duties included assisting with animal control and responding to complaints involving unmowed lawns, abandoned vehicles and building-related concerns.
State records show City Administrator Gervas Mgonja met with Gubbels in August or September 2025 regarding concerns that citizen complaints were not being investigated, and he was not adequately performing his job duties.
The records also indicate city officials learned Gubbels had used a city credit card without authorization to purchase a television for his office. During a later hearing, Mgonja testified that Gubbels said he bought the television and other items after his office was moved from the fire department and that he wanted to be able to watch television while at work.
City officials gave Gubbels the option of returning the television for a refund or reimbursing the city and removing it from the office. State records show he chose to reimburse the city.
In October 2025, city officials cited the television purchase, concerns about Gubbels’ job performance, and his decision to take on part-time employment outside his city position when deciding to terminate his employment.
Gubbels later said the city presented him with a voluntary resignation letter and after he declined to sign it, officials issued a termination letter instead. He subsequently applied for unemployment benefits, prompting a hearing before Administrative Law Judge Jennifer Beckman.
Beckman ruled that Gubbels was eligible for unemployment benefits, finding the city had not provided sufficient evidence of job-related misconduct as required under Iowa law to disqualify him from receiving benefits.
“While the decision to terminate (Gubbels) may have been a sound decision from a management viewpoint, the employer did not present sufficient, persuasive evidence that claimant engaged in job-related misconduct,” Beckman wrote in her ruling.
Records indicate the city has appealed Beckman’s decision to the Iowa Employment Appeals Board.