State of the county - April 2015

Submitted by Presiding Commissioner Marilyn Ruestman

Election Day is past, and things have slowed down here at the Courthouse.  However, it has become abundantly clear how hard our County Clerk and her assistants work, not only at election time, but year round.

Kay Baum has served the citizens of Newton County for 28 years.  She is currently in her 6th four year term as Newton County Clerk.  Prior to running for County Clerk in 1994, she served as Division Clerk in Division II for 8 years. 

The County Clerk also is the election authority and is responsible for administering elections for all the political subdivisions in Newton County.

Following are a list of duties the County Clerk’s Office performs:
*Election Administration
     a.     Administers elections for all School Districts, Cities and Villages, Road and Fire
     b.     Districts, etc. 
     c.     Takes candidate filings and ballot issues; conducts absentee voting; recruits and trains
     d.     Election judges/poll workers;
     e.     Inspects all voting precincts ; and
     f.      Certifies election results.
*Voter Registration – maintains the voter registration for the county.  Newton County currently has 37,905 registered voters
*Clerk of the County Commission - keeps record of all Court Orders and proceedings of the County Commission
* Prepares the County Financial Statement – to be published on or before the first Monday in March
* Works with Commission and Auditor in preparing yearly Budget for the County
*Custodian of all Records
*Human Resource Office for all County employees
     a.     Handles all county benefits, i.e. vacation, sick leave, deferred compensation plans, health, dental and vision insurance plans, CERF retirement, Division of Employment, Workers Comp, etc.
      b.     Issues payroll checks
*Maintains all accounts payable requisitions in office and mails out all payments
*Assists in preparation of gas tax refund forms for citizens
*Administers oaths
*Files with Secretary of State all salaries and non-accountable fees received by each elected county officeholder.
*Annual School Report to DESE; and School money distribution report
*Certifies Assessed Valuations to all Political Subdivisions so they can hold levy hearings and certify their tax levy to the County Clerk
*Certifies Tax Levies to the Collector of Revenue
*Railroad & Utility Tax Bills – responsible for extending the real and personal property tax bills for the railroad and utility companies
* Serves as Secretary to the Board of Equalization
*Serves as Clerk at the Collector’s yearly Tax Sale
*Issues Notary Public Commissions and keeps records on file of all Notaries commissioned in Newton County
*Issues County Auctioneer’s Licenses
*Issues County Liquor Licenses

The County Clerk’s office consists of Kay Baum County Clerk, Brenda Wheeler, Elections Clerk, Sharon Standeford, accounts payable and elections, and Angela Springer, Payroll and Human Resources. 

These hardworking ladies are a real asset to the citizens of Newton County.  We here at the Commission can’t thank them enough!