Director's Notes Finance Officers’ School this year was a bit of a tear jerker for me. Sometimes events combine to really bring home a thought, and this year, it was how much public service we get from this group of people.
I know I don’t say it often enough, and am willing to bet you don’t either – but THANK YOU to our finance officers. What a job! In a larger city, they might have the ability to focus on complicated finances – but so many of them are also doing other work, from collecting garbage (true story!) to building inspection, to planning and zoning, to animal control. It is far more than a bookkeeping job for all of our finance officers. In addition, they are the front lines for your city, responding to citizens who don’t often drop by city hall to spread compliments.
Yet the talk in the halls during Finance Officers’ School was not grousing – it was ‘how can I do my job better, what do you do in your town, how can we share information and make our cities better?’ It is humbling to be around a group of true public servants – what an asset you cities have in these fine people.
wide acclaim from people in his city, and friends, family, his Mayor, and council representatives traveled to Pierre for the award ceremony. Al has been a top notch professional for years, including his time on the SDML Board of Directors, where he rose to be President. I’m glad so many people recognize his many qualities.
And while it is certainly nice to see good people get a welldeserved retirement, it doesn’t make it any easier for those of us they are leaving behind. We are going to be saying ‘Happy Retirement” to two fabulous women this year – Anita Lowary, Finance Officer from Groton, and Meri Jo Anderson, Finance Officer from New Underwood. It is very difficult for me to imagine this organization without their advice and willingness to help anyone from across the state with their vast knowledge of all things municipal. Both deserve long, happy, and healthy retirements, and we wish them many years of that.
What an uplifting week, what great people there are in this organization – it is amazing.
Until next month, remember we are always available at 1800-658-3633 or yvonne@sdmunicipalleague.org. Yvonne Taylor Executive Director
We honored one such public servant this year. The winner of the Finance Officer of the Year Award was Al Cerny, Finance Officer for Gregory, SD. He was nominated by
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