(An Iowa Capital Dispatch report) – A City of Harlan employee who purchased a television for his office with city money was fired after refusing the city’s request that he resign, according to state records. State records show that Jack Gubbels worked for the City of Harlan from August 2021 as a code enforcement officer until he was fired in October 2025 for not following instructions, according to city officials. Gubbels’ duties included assisting with animal control and responding to complaints of unmowed lawns, abandoned vehicles and building concerns.
According to the state records, City Administrator Gervas Mgonja spoke to Gubbels in August or September 2025 about concerns that citizen complaints were not being investigated and Gubbels was not fulfilling the duties of his job. At some point, the city became aware Gubbels had, without authorization, used the city’s card to purchase a television in August or September 2025, state records show. According to Mgonja’s testimony at a subsequent hearing, Gubbels said he purchased the TV, along with other items, after his office was relocated from the fire department, and that he made the purchase so he could watch television while at work.
After city officials gave him the option of either returning the television for a refund or reimbursing the city for the expense and then removing it from the office, Gubbels opted to reimburse the city, according to state records. In October 2025, city officials cited the television purchase, Gubbels’ job performance and his decision to pursue part-time employment in addition to his city job, in deciding to fire Gubbels, according to state records.
Gubbels later stated the city presented him with a letter of voluntary resignation, and that when he refused to sign it, the city prepared a second letter terminating his employment. Gubbels then applied for unemployment benefits, which led to a hearing last month before Administrative Law Judge Jennifer Beckman. Beckman recently ruled that Gubbels was entitled to unemployment benefits, citing the state law that indicates a current act of workplace misconduct is required to disqualify someone from collecting 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 ruled. “As a result, the employer has not met the burden of proof to establish that (he) engaged in misconduct that would disqualify him from benefits.”
State records indicate Beckman’s decision has been appealed by the city to the state Employment Appeals Board. The Iowa Capital Dispatch was not able to reach Gubbels for comment. Mgonja declined to say how much the television Gubbels allegedly purchased had initially cost the city, saying he’d first have to consult with the city attorney as to whether that and other information requested by Iowa Capital Dispatch could be shared publicly.
Read about other Iowans whose unemployment cases were recently decided, here: https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/06/18/city-code-enforcement-officer-used-city-funds-to-buy-a-tv-to-watch-at-work/
