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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 2015)
8 A SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 2015 City www.shoppelocal.biz from 1A council meets again Tuesday, Jan. 20, in another executive session. Reynolds said, “At that point, they will have a discus- sion, and it will go onto the agenda for them to actually make a formal decision on whether to accept (the contract) or redirect Larry.” She added, “I already know what is in the draft and what their goals are. I know person- ally that I align with those very well.” Reynolds, 33, was born in Albany, Ore., and spent most of her life in the Willamette Valley before moving to Florence with her husband and two children. Her degree from Oregon State University is in business administration with a focus on accounting. She also earned her certified public accounting (CPA) certification. “I came out of school and immediately started studying for the CPA exam,” Reynolds said. In the meantime, she worked for a public accounting firm. “It happened to have a niche in government accounting. So that’s where I fell in love with government accounting and learning more about the public sector,” she said. A later job at a CPA firm in Eugene had a similar focus. “Their niche was govern- ment accounting and the Native American tribal governments. I worked there for four years. I was falling more and more in love with the public sector and government in general,” said Reynolds. While the city manager posi- tion has been open for some time, Reynolds seriously began considering the position in November. “It was just a very significant moment in my life because it was putting in motion a change in career,” she said. Reynolds knows her experi- ences will help in the city man- ager position. “One of my leadership skills is that I am skilled in adminis- tration and being able to look at the big picture. The really great thing is, even though I’ve never been a city manager before, I do come with 3-1/2 years of experience of the city’s opera- tions.” While she has been the finance director, the city’s financial department has thrived. “We’ve had very successful budget seasons that went very smoothly,” Reynolds said. “We were able to just upgrade the look of our budget document, and the thorough- ness of it, and the process of our city’s financial audit, a process I was able to streamline and make a better process for everyone.” Her family is another reason Reynolds applied. Living in Florence has helped her gain a “community perspective.” Her children, ages 8 and 14, and her husband Greg are involved in the community as well. Greg even won a “Tastiest Chili” award, though it has his wife’s name on it. “Like I said, remember that partnership deal? It was actual- ly my husband who cooked the chili and I brought it to a potluck,” she said. “He has been very support- ive and a part of the team all the way through my successes –– they are our successes.” She added, “We’ve just fall- en in love with Florence. There’s just no other way to say it.” It seems that the city agrees with her. Former city manager Jacque Betz presented Reynolds with the Amazing Employee Recognition Award in October 2013. “It was very special when you receive any award from someone you respect and admire,” Reynolds said. “You take it to heart. It was very spe- cial to win that.” Reynolds and her financial team also won the 2013 Helen and Alan Berg Good Governance Award through the League of Oregon Cities for work implementing an idea by former mayor Nola Xavier. While Reynolds looks for- ward to the new position, she knows there will be difficulties. “There are significant chal- lenges and we call them oppor- tunities around here,” she said. “Really my goal as the city manager is for people to recog- nize I’m the facilitator.” One of the city manager’s main responsibilities is work- ing with the city council. “They are the ones who make decisions. … Working in partnership with them makes sure I’m implementing things that they want in the way they want them. Also, the partner- ship goes both ways. It’s just a Ladies Elks scholarships, grants still available The Florence Ladies of Elks, B.P.O.E. No. 1858, is offering applications for scholarships and vocational training to any graduating senior from the high schools of Siuslaw, Mapleton, Reedsport and Triangle Lake who plans to attend an accredited college, university or trade or vocation- al education program. The deadline for all applica- tions is March 5, 2015, with a Reporter from 1A for me.” “I’m really happy that Chantelle has agreed to be our full-time reporter,” Baer said. “During the time she spent with us last summer, she showed that she had the enthu- siasm, the personality and the skills to be a part of our news- room.” Meyer had the unenviable task of having to interview Awards from 1A Properties, Florence Dental Clinic, Flowers by Bobbi, Oregon Pacific Bank and Sand Master Park. Florence Chamber Execu- tive Director Cal Applebee said, “For eight years, the Siuslaw Business Awards have recognized leaders within Florence’s business communi- postmark no later than Feb. 28, 2015. This year, $2,000 awards to four-year institutions will be available in addition to several assistance awards of $1,000 for one- and two-year professional certification programs at two- year institutions. Students are advised to request an application packet from their counselor, along with an information sheet with not one, but two newspa- per editors, outgoing editor Theresa Baer and her replace- ment, Ryan Cronk, former fea- tures editor. Cronk said, “Chantelle fits in great with the newsroom. She is energetic, upbeat and meticulous, all important traits for a reporter. We’re happy to have her on board.” “I got a feel for the news- room when I interned at the paper this summer,” Meyer said. “The team is great. I feel detailing the materials to be included when submitting the application packet. All packets must be com- plete. Awards will be announced in April. Funds for scholarships and grants awarded by the Ladies of Elks are accumulated through fundraising projects held throughout the year. two-way street. I just see myself as a facilitator.” “We’ll be learning some things along the way together. We have a great council and great employees and I know we can get some things done.” Reynolds, however, acknowledges that she won’t be working alone. “I also have great staff and people who have been around doing this for a while and have great experience in that. Our city recorder has been with the city over six years and she cer- tainly knows what’s required of running meetings,” she said. Reynolds also hopes to “con- nect the past and the future while focusing on the present. We can learn a lot from the past, and we can gain a lot of energy by dreaming for the future, but we still have to fig- ure out what we’re going to be doing today, in the present. I feel that’s one of my key roles as the city manager is to have that comprehensive approach to things.” “That’s my dream. What we do between now and then –– I think the possibilities are limit- less,” she said. 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With nominations submit- ted from the community, this award is truly a prestigious marker of achievement.” Winners will be announced during the Siuslaw Awards dinner, Jan. 21, at the Florence Events Center. The doors open at 6 p.m. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Dinner tickets are $30 and are available at the Chamber Visitors Center. ...need a friend? Meet R OSHI Roshi has special behavioral needs and must go to a home with no children. He would do best in a one on one situation but could adapt to the right family. Please call or come by the shelter for more info on Roshi. We love our locals! 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