by Eileen Ringnalda
Communications Intern
Iowa State University Extension to Communities
Being the only expert on a subject often means being in high demand. In the case of municipal clerks, it also means taking on a lot of responsibility.
"We do a whole lot more than most people know. We have to learn what needs to be done, who to go to for help and the legal restrictions. There is only one of us in every community and we wear many hats, so we must be resourceful," said Cindy Kendall, the city treasurer of Marshalltown.
Municipal clerks frequently are the only employee of a city in small communities. They often are responsible for billing, budgeting, record keeping, taking minutes at council meetings and personnel issues. Every city's job description and title may be different, but municipal clerks in every community face similar problems and work under the same legal regulations.
The Iowa Municipal Clerks' Institute has been providing educational training for 20 years to help clerks become experts in their field. The institute is cosponsored by Iowa State University Extension to Communities (Office of Local Government Programs) and the Iowa Municipal Finance Officers' Association (IMFOA). The institute also fulfills the educational requirements for clerks to be certified by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC).
Iowa's institute started in 1974 when a group of municipal clerks requested that Iowa State University provide a training institute. At that time, there were less than six training institutes in the United States accredited by the IIMC, and today there are more than 45. IowaÕs institute is nationally recognized as an outstanding program.
"For the size of Iowa, it is seen nationally as the largest and most successful program," said Jack Whitmer, recently retired political science professor at Iowa State University and former co-director of the Municipal Clerks' Institute at ISU.
Whitmer said they have limited enrollment in order to provide a quality learning environment, and they often have to turn people away. The program involves three week-long training sessions. Clerks are encouraged to attend one week of training each year. All three sessions are offered every summer, and Whitmer estimated that 75 to 80 percent of the participating clerks complete the course in three years.
Throughout the course, the municipal clerks improve their skills in budgeting and record keeping. They also attend classes on public speaking, communication, economic development and leadership.
"By the time clerks complete the course, they are much more proactive in their jobs and feel like they are in a professional position," said Jerry Stubben, codirector of the Municipal Clerks' Academy.
Whitmer said that the turnover in municipal clerk positions is tremendous due to the demands of the job. He said clerks that go through the institute are much more likely to stay in the clerk business.
"The best thing about the institute was learning more about the job I was thrown into," said Cole OÕDonnell, the city clerk in Denver. "Most clerks are like me and theyÕve never done anything like this -- itÕs different from business. There is so much you have to do to meet government standards."
Marshalltown's Cindy Kendall agreed with OÕDonnell that meeting other clerks at the institute has been as valuable as the classes. Both said that they have called on other clerks and teachers from the institute for help in answering questions and finding solutions to problems.
"Communities rely on the city clerk to be the expert, and [the clerk] needs to know resources to be the expert that the community relies on," Kendall said.
ISU Extension to Communities and the IMFOA also offer an annual three-day workshop for continuing education once clerks have completed the institute. These sessions focus on a specific topic and help clerks keep updated on management strategies and government regulations.
Kendall first attended the institute in 1979 and regularly attends the Municipal ClerksÕ Continuing Education workshops.
"It is critical to continue education because things change all the time and you have to keep your skills sharp. There are so few educational opportunities available, you have to take every opportunity you can get," she said.
The Iowa Municipal Clerks' Institute has been recognized for its outstanding professional education program. Whitmer and Stubben were presented the first Institute Award of Excellence from the IIMC in 1994.
"We have a quality program," Whitmer said. "ItÕs a true learning environment, and it has improved the quality of Iowa municipal government."
Contacts:
Terry L. Besser, ISU
Extension Sociology, (515) 294-6508
Del Marks, ISU Extension
Communication Systems, (515) 294-9807
