OILTON — The City of Oilton recognized Professional Municipal Clerks Week — May 3-9, following the city’s newest mayor’s first official proclamation. Recognition of the week focuses on honoring the essential behind-the-scenes work performed by the Clerk’s Office and highlighting the often unseen functions that keep municipal government operating smoothly.
Mayor Julie Bagwell emphasized the importance of the department in remarks announcing the recognition.
“We’re celebrating Professional Municipal Clerks Week because our Clerk’s Office is truly the backbone of city operations,” she said. “From maintaining records to ensuring our meetings and compliance run smoothly a lot of what keeps a city functioning happens behind the scenes and that’s where our clerks make a real impact.”
Bagwell went on to say the city followed proper steps to formally recognize the observance — noting that she consulted with the city attorney to ensure the proclamation was handled correctly before moving forward with a public announcement. The recognition was first shared on the city’s social media page and will be formally presented at the upcoming council meeting.
“This is a simple process, but an important one because recognizing the people who keep our city running matters,” Bagwell said.
Professional Municipal Clerks Week has a long-standing national history, according to Bagwell. It was first initiated in 1969 by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks and has since been recognized across the United States and internationally. The observance was officially proclaimed at the national level in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan, with additional proclamations issued by President Bill Clinton in the 1990s, reinforcing the importance of municipal clerks in local government administration.