Clerks, recorders and treasurers meet for educational workshop

About 30 municipal clerks, recorders and treasurers met Friday at Texarkana, Ark., City Hall to learn the latest ways to do their jobs better.

The city hosted a continuing-education workshop held by the University of Arkansas Municipal Clerk’s Institute. Participants earned six hours of credit toward state- or national-level certification by studying best social media practices, how the U.S. census affects cities, electronic records management, municipal bonds and related topics.

Staying informed about the latest laws is especially important for the clerks, who are responsible for much of their cities’ dayto-day administrative work, said Kim Jones, UAMCI director. The ever-changing role of technology

is also important.

Duties of the workshop’s participants vary, with some from smaller cities describing multiple responsibilities including accounting and managing water department billing alongside the usual record-keeping and administrative support. Some were elected, and others appointed.

Their jobs are crucial to cities’ smooth operation, and they often are the average citizen’s only contact with municipal government, they said.

“We’re the hub of the wheel,” North Little Rock City Clerk Diane Whitbey said.

Texarkana City Clerk Heather Soyars took the opportunity to show the visitors some of the city’s attractions and restaurants.

“I anticipate many will return with their families and friends to visit in the future,” she said.