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 complicatedfinances–butsomanyofthemarealsodoing other work, from collecting garbage (true story!) to building inspection, to planning and zoning, to animal control.Itisfarmorethanabookkeepingjobforallofour 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.

Wehonoredonesuchpublicservantthisyear. Thewinner of the Finance Officer of the Year Award was Al Cerny, Finance Officer for Gregory, SD. He was nominated by 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 BoardofDirectors,whereherosetobePresident.I’mglad so many people recognize his many qualities.

Andwhileitiscertainlynicetoseegoodpeoplegetawelldeservedretirement,itdoesn’tmakeitanyeasierforthose 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 thestatewiththeirvastknowledgeofallthingsmunicipal. Bothdeservelong,happy,andhealthyretirements,andwe wish them many years of that.

Whatanupliftingweek,whatgreatpeoplethereareinthis organization – it is amazing.

Until next month, remember we are always available at 1800-658-3633 or yvonne@sdmunicipalleague.org.

YvonneTaylor Executive Director

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