The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Lake Ozark Mayor Johnnie Franzeskos (left) speaks with outgoing City Clerk Rachel Kelley. Kelley is retiring at the end of the month after 17 years with the city. (Reporter photo by Jeff Thompson)

Published April 29, 2015

Longtime LO city clerk to retire

By Jeff Thompson
LAKE OZARK - After over 17 years on the job, City Clerk Rachel Kelley said she has mixed feelings about her impending retirement.

The city held an Open House on the afternoon of Friday, April 24 for Kelley whose last day will be at the end of the month.

Kelley emphasized the dichotomy of her feelings about retirement.

“When the day comes I’ll feel happy about spending more time with family,” she said, “but I’m also kind of nervous; it’s whole different thing for me.”

For over 23 years Kelley has worked for two lake area municipalities; six years for the City of Eldon and the last 17 years for Lake Ozark. Before that she spent 11 years in a local assessor’s office.

“I’m a people person” she said.

Kelley said her time in Eldon’s human resources department helped train her for her tour of duty as city clerk.

“I learned to do everybody’s job in Eldon,” she said, “which prepared me for Lake Ozark.”

When she started her city clerk position, Kelley noticed the Lake Ozark administrative staff was a little thin on the ground.

“City Hall was four people when I came here,” she said. “That’s been the biggest change in the city: there is more staff such as police (officers) and Public Works (personnel).”

She added that serving under four mayors and nine city administrators has not been without its own set of challenges.

“There were some rough spots in 17 years,” Kelley said, “but as time goes on, I don’t regret working here. We’ve had a good team.”

She elaborated on the team effort and noted - perhaps a little wistfully - that it will continue without her.

“We’ve worked toward all the goals,” Kelley said. “We’ve exceeded those goals and there’s more to come.”