I have always been in pretty good health. I never use all my sick leave (for illness anyway!) and have enjoyed coming to work for some part of the week, every week for 14 years.  

I am a truly dedicated city employee, more like control freak with OCD tendencies.  

No one can do my job as well as I can mentality, at least that is what I like to think.

This past January I had to have major surgery that I wasn't prepared for. I had about three weeks notice that I would have to be out of the office for 3 to 6 weeks.  

In my small town of 234 people, my office is a one person show. I do everything a big city does, but just on a smaller scale.  

Plus I am the IT Department, ex-officio on the fire department, backup water plant operator and assist with snow removal. (Got to love small towns!)

In planning for my medical leave I had to find someone to do basic office procedures, telephone, emails, regular mail, payments, payroll, liquor administration, prep for city council meeting and anything else that would come up.  

In preparing for all this, I learned the importance of having written procedures in place that are current and up to date.  

Thank goodness some of these procedures were already in place. But some I had to create quickly.  

Some things I was able to do in advance of my leave.

Even though I think I am irreplaceable and no one could do my job, that isn't true. It is very important to have written procedures in place on what my position does.  

No one is exempt from having an emergency (be it medical, family or even vacation) and not being able to go to work.  

Regardless of what is happening in our lives, our job still needs to be done with some level of competence by someone.  

In order to not have total chaos, there should be written guidelines of what to do when and how.

If there isn't some type of procedures in place, now is the time to write some up.  

Even a list of things you do on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

Something that can be followed to make sure everything is getting attention when it needs it.

Now, since I have written procedures in place I might be able to use some of my vacation in consecutive days!  

A whole week away from the office and knowing there won't be a huge mess to come back to....a girl can dream!

Cheers!

Shelly Dillon

Callaway  

Martin County Humane Society wishes to acknowledge Molly Meyer of the Fairmont Municipal Liquor Store for the fundraising she did to benefit the animals housed at the Carl Nettifee Memorial Animal Shelter in Fairmont.

Molly, along with sponsors Miller-Coors Brewing Co. and Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association, held a pet supply drive at the liquor store during April.  

Because of their efforts, the shelter received food, animal treats, bedding, pet carriers, laundry supplies, collars, leashes, toys, bottled water for our volunteers and a cash donation of more than $250.  

This is just one of the many things that Molly has done for the shelter over the years.  

Thank you, Molly.

Nancy Fetters, Treasurer and the MCHS Board of Directors