City Council to consider large workers’ comp settlement for injured firefighter

Posted on September 6, 2019

*Retired Bloomington firefighter John Meckley. (Photo from City of Bloomington – Fire Facebook page.)*

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – The City of Bloomington would pay a retired firefighter almost $129,000 to resolve a workers’ compensation claim, if the city council approves the settlement Monday night.

The staff’s report to the council said firefighter John Meckley re-aggravated a lower back injury when he moved a patient weighing more than 350 pounds using a Mega Mover tarp.

According to staff, an arbitrator indicated the amount of money he would award Meckley ranged from the settlement amount of $128,689.75 to as high as $165,458.25.

Meckley retired almost a year ago after 22 years of service, according to the fire department’s Facebook page.

The money would be paid to Meckley from the city government’s escrow account.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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