retires, fiscal court makes new hires

There will be some subtle changes in the office staff of the Clinton County Judge/Executive following last week’s retirement of Leta Flowers, who had served in that position for the past seven plus years.

During a special call meeting last Friday morning with all magistrates present, the court voted to hire a replacement for Flowers and a new administrative assistant, following a closed session on personnel that began the meeting.

In open session, Judge/Executive Lyle Huff said that with the retirement of Flowers there “is a vacancy in the administrative assistant position and deputy judge position.”

Judge Huff recommended hiring current Finance Officer Tuesday Davis to fill the duties of deputy judge/executive, along with her current duties, with a $5,000 annual extra income for the new position. Magistrate Patty Guinn moved to hire Davis, with the motion passing by unanimous vote.

The judge also recommended hiring Kelly Thomas as administrative assistant at a rate of $10.50 per hour, contingent upon the 90-day probation period for new employees being met. The court, on a motion by Magistrate Hershell Key, also voted unanimously to hire Thomas for the position.

With no other items of business on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned with the next regular meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court scheduled for Thursday, March 20 at 5 p.m. The meeting is open to the general public.

During a brief interview late last week, Flowers told the Clinton County News that she had enjoyed her tenure in the judge/executive’s office and the thing she would miss the most about the job is interacting with the public. “I’ll miss the people, being active and being with everyone in the office, as well as the people of Clinton County,” she said.

Flowers noted her reasons for retiring were that she turned 65 last week, and also had personal and family health concerns, including her own granddaughter going through a recent heart transplant.

“I wanted to spend some time with my family,” said Flowers. “I decided I wanted to do some things with my kids and grandkids and be a grandmother.”

Flowers, who had worked at Thoroughbred Houseboats for around six years prior to taking the deputy judge’s position, and about 20 years for Bear Creek Oil before that–all in secretarial type positions, thanked the people of Clinton County and also Judge Huff for giving her the opportunity to serve.

Judge Huff also said of Flowers that she had been a dedicated employee in his office for over seven years and she would be missed. “It’s hard to replace seven years of experience,” he added, thanking Flowers for her dedication and wishing her well upon retirement.