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Retiring Columbia City Clerk has seen big changes Jane Akin Keltner has worked with five mayors in 21-year-tenure in top non-elected city position By Ed Waggener Mayors and City Councils have come and gone, but just retired City Clerk Jane Akin Keltner has personified the City of Columbia for the past 21 years, since being hired as city clerk on January 3, 1983, in the administration of Mayor Woodruff Flowers. During the time she has been City Clerk, the scope of City Government has changed dramatically, she said, "The City Budget has tripled during the period," But a lot has been rather constant. "The functions of City Government have remained basically the same," she said. Thursday, December 30, 2004, was her last day on the job. Her official resignation was for December 31, but City offices were closed that day. Throughout her career in the office, she's operated with this philosophy, "City government is a group of people striving to do their jobs in a way that best serves community needs. "I always tried to be objective, answer citizens' questions as quickly as possible, keep good records, and always, continue to learn." Quite often, she says, citizens may not know the department they need to talk to about a problem, and in those cases, they almost always head for the City Clerk's office. Traffic managing these situations takes knowledge and tact. "I received their requests and answered them if I could," she said, and for the others, she adds, "I directed them to the person who could better serve them." It has been a is simple, equitable approach. "Treat people fairly and respect them, from whatever walk of life." The City Clerk has another family, the City employees, and they have needs only her office could handle. "We administer their benefits, and answering their questions is a big part of the job." Childhood on Fairground Street She was born Jane Akin, her parents were Ethel and Jerome Akin. Their home was on Fairground Street in Columbia, in easy walking distance to the hub of things in the the 1940s and 50s, the Columbia Public Square. At home there was an older sister, Shirley, and a younger brother, Jimmy, and plenty of neighborhood kids for playmates. Her parents had the greatest influence on her life. "They taught me my work ethics--Honesty, caring about people, and teaching me that 'a job worth doing, is a job worth doing well.'" And maybe it went beyond that. She admits she tends toward the perfectionist, a trait for which her father, Jerome Akin, a master large equipment operator, earned high respect in his own field. Those were great days for kids who were lucky enough to live in Columbia. Most of the community, and almost all of the downtown, was one great big playground, with adult store owners and workers who were watchful, but not stifling. Jane Akin remembers those days fondly. "I liked going to the ten-cent store and shopping for items for our bikes. It was fun walking to the "show" each Saturday, Childhood in Columbia was a wonderful experience." Her ambition in those days was to be an airline stewardess, she says, but her interest never reached the level to prompt any initiative on her part. She was a Lindsey kid. For the first six grades, she attended the teacher training school which was located approximately, maybe a little below, where Begley Chapel is today. It was just two blocks away. After graduating sixth grade from Lindsey Wilson Training School the next two years were at Columbia Grade Center, up on Graded Hill. It was triple the walking distance, but it offered a kid window shopping on the Square both ways. Columbia Grade Center was in the grand old brick building at the end of East Guardian Street,Her high school years were at Adair County High School, and then it was back to Lindsey for one year of college. Career in business administration started in Louisville But bigger things were calling. The next 13 years were at Reliable Lithographic Company in Louisville. She heard of a job at Hancock Tractor, at the time the International Harvester/Farmall dealership out on Campbellsville Road. She worked 7 years there. "A good friend told me about the position of City Clerk and I got an interview with Mayor Flowers and was hired, effective January 3, 1983. It was a job I have truly loved and enjoyed." Succeeding Mayors have found her a more and more valuable asset. Besides Mayor Flowers, she has held the office of City Clerk under Mayors Charles Marshall, Pamela Hoots, Curtis Hardwick, and most recently, Patrick Bell. "I enjoyed working with each of them," she says of the Mayors. "Some were more progressive minded than others, but I feel they made decisions they felt were best for the city." A City Clerk has a do-everything job. She or he (the last male city clerk was the late Lewis Coffey) executes the directives of the Mayor. The City Clerk assists the Mayor in preparing the budget and in the presentation of the budget to the City Council, prepares the agenda and attends all meetings of the council, and prepares minutes of Council Meetings. In addition, the City Clerk maintains all City records, and performs all related work as required. "I've enjoyed being able to work with co-workers and City Officials who have always had the City's best interest at heart," she says. There have been few downsides, she says. There have been big moments, that stand out in her career and in the history of Columbia during her tenure. These include:
In each, she's held offices. She acted as secretary and treasurer of the KMCA, on the membership committee of the IIMC, and as treasurer of the LRCA. Plenty of plans for retirement She'll be busy in retirement, but more time for her personal interests. She thinks she'll have more time to spend at home with her husband Howard Keltner, and get caught up on some reading. She's reading "Velveteen Principles" at present. But the main task for now, she says, will trying to find places at home to put everything I have accumulated over the past 22 years." Her favorite book is, she answers quickly, "The Bible." She's an active member of the Columbia United Methodist Church, and serves as treasurer of that organization. And there will be more time for travel. Bull Run farm wife or not, there's one thing she's let her husband understand. "Howard knows I will not volunteer to do farm work." She says running for public office is not an option now. "Are you kidding?" she responds in an almost Shermanesqe manner, even though, with her experience, it's not a foolish question. This story was posted on 2005-01-03 08:53:53
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