Diane Clay’s first job with the City of Fort Scott was as Administrative Assistant to the City Manager Richard U. Nienstedt in March 1998.

Her last day on the job is October 1, 2022.

“I have been employed for 24 years…with the City of Fort Scott,” she said.  “I have been City Clerk 23 of those years.”

For many, Clay was the first contact with the city that citizens had.

And for this reporter, she was always helpful and timely in her responses to questions.

The best part of the job for Clay has been helping citizens and working for the city commissioners, she said.

No job is without challenges, and for her,  “Changes are a challenge and there has been lots of them.”

Indeed, there have been five new city managers in the last two years, and a high turnover rate of city commissioners.

Clay said her duties as city clerk included:

• All licensing – Cereal Malt Beverage, Drinking Establishment – Liquor Stores – Electrician – Plumbers – Trash – Fireworks – Golf Cart – UTV
• Preparing city commission agenda packets
• Taking and transcribing minutes from all meetings as well as 12 advisory board meetings.
• Keeping the city website up to date
• Posting all street closings/notices on Facebook and city website
• Plus many, many more

Besides the city clerk, Clay has been the Municipal Court Clerk for the city, whose duties include:

• Attending court and taking accurate recordings of the court sessions.
• Inputing actions into the city’s software
• Keeping accurate accounting of payments made on cases
• Preparing a court docket twice monthly
• Preparing reporting statements to the State of Kansas

Clay became a Certified Municipal Clerk in November 2003 and a Master Municipal Clerk in June 2008, through Wichita State University.

In 2018, Clay was named Outstanding Court Clerk for the State of Kansas.

Plans for retirement?

“Travel and relax!” she said.  “My husband and I have a daughter and son-in-law and a precious 4-year-old grandson that live in Joplin Missouri.  We will spend more time with them I’m sure.”

In addition to her family, Clay has been a constant at her church.

” I have taught Sunday School at Grace Baptist Tabernacle for 49 years!” she said.  “I have sung in the choir for probably 49 years also, and been very involved in the church and will continue to do so.”

Lisa Lewis will assume the Fort Scott City Clerk position on Oct.1 and has been training for the job from Clay for three months.