Edmond To Retire After 24 Years At Sewage Dept.
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Twelve days ago, Jane Edmond's husband, Jeff, sent her a dozen roses at work. She was instructed to bring one home each day as a countdown to her retirement as Warsaw's sewage collection department head for the last 24 years.
Her well-laid plans were to leave today, take five weeks of vacation and come back in March for one last week.
When an electrical transformer exploded on the public works property a week ago, the damage shut down the building's computer server and denied operators access to stored information.
Edmond was asked to stay on an additional week to help the office catch up.
"Wouldn't you know it, nothing goes wrong for 24 years and then the computers blow," she said. Then she paused, jokingly speculating that someone intentionally sabotaged the transformers so she would remain at her desk. "If they didn't want me to go, they could have just said something."
Edmond wasn't originally destined to work in the sewage collection office. In December 1979, when Mike Hodges prepared to begin his third of four terms as Warsaw's mayor, he brought Edmond aboard as his future secretary.
"Mike was like a second father to me," she said of the former mayor. "I was his daughter's best friend."
She was asked to help out in sewage collection until an office could be remodeled for her at city hall.
She did such a good job there, Hodges named her head of the department, a position she has kept through three administrations.
She refers to Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins as an absolutely wonderful boss. She had plans to stay another year, when Wiggins' current term ends, and then her husband's department at Zimmer was eliminated.
"He'll find another job," she said of Jeff. "We don't know where yet. It may not be in Warsaw, where I've lived all my life."
The only woman to head a department for the city, with the exception of Karen Sheets' one-year term as interim airport manager, Edmond has seen three sewage rate hikes. They began at $7.25 and have climbed to $24.50.
"As the only utility with an office in the city, customers feel they can come in and vent their frustrations," she said, "always about the rate increases and often about late penalties. Others say 'hi' and visit. I've met a lot of people I like to visit with. I'll miss them."
Pooches who accompany their masters to the drive-up window will miss Edmond, too. She always provides treats.
Customer preferences have determined the way invoicing has evolved over the years.
When she started the job, coupon books were assembled for the year, by hand, and mailed to the city's 2,500 sewage customers. Now there are 6,000 customers.
"The coupon books were expensive to make, were always getting lost in a drawer and people wanted a monthly reminder."
When computers were introduced, monthly billings became easier to produce and mail. The computers also did away with hand-entering receipts in log books.
Until this week, that is, when the practice was revisited while the machines were repaired and accounting information retrieved.
Despite the constant reminders about the sewage bill, there are usually 45 people who won't pay on a regular basis, Edmond said.
"They've figured out we can't shut off their sewage system," she said. "What can we do? Go out and put a plug in it?"
Communities with combined water and sewer bills will shut off the water for non-payment. Warsaw can only take the non-payers to court.
Edmond calls herself a jack of all trades, responsible for customer service, accounting and administration of the department. She oversees the cleaning contract for the building, which also houses the planning and building department, and schedules any repair work to the facility at 794 W. Center St.
The entrance features a glass foyer which is stuffed with houseplants. Town employees bring them in when the weather turns cold, and they're pampered. One geranium is 8 years old and is currently in full bloom.
The department has two employees: Elaine Tripp, who works full-time, and Brandon Ayler, a part-time employee.
No one has yet been named to fill Edmond's position.
"I hope my replacement always makes sure there are dog treats," she said of her departure.
Her immediate plans are to visit her son, radio personality Todd "Bubba the Love Sponge" Clem, and daughter, Tara, at their homes in Florida. [[In-content Ad]]
Twelve days ago, Jane Edmond's husband, Jeff, sent her a dozen roses at work. She was instructed to bring one home each day as a countdown to her retirement as Warsaw's sewage collection department head for the last 24 years.
Her well-laid plans were to leave today, take five weeks of vacation and come back in March for one last week.
When an electrical transformer exploded on the public works property a week ago, the damage shut down the building's computer server and denied operators access to stored information.
Edmond was asked to stay on an additional week to help the office catch up.
"Wouldn't you know it, nothing goes wrong for 24 years and then the computers blow," she said. Then she paused, jokingly speculating that someone intentionally sabotaged the transformers so she would remain at her desk. "If they didn't want me to go, they could have just said something."
Edmond wasn't originally destined to work in the sewage collection office. In December 1979, when Mike Hodges prepared to begin his third of four terms as Warsaw's mayor, he brought Edmond aboard as his future secretary.
"Mike was like a second father to me," she said of the former mayor. "I was his daughter's best friend."
She was asked to help out in sewage collection until an office could be remodeled for her at city hall.
She did such a good job there, Hodges named her head of the department, a position she has kept through three administrations.
She refers to Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins as an absolutely wonderful boss. She had plans to stay another year, when Wiggins' current term ends, and then her husband's department at Zimmer was eliminated.
"He'll find another job," she said of Jeff. "We don't know where yet. It may not be in Warsaw, where I've lived all my life."
The only woman to head a department for the city, with the exception of Karen Sheets' one-year term as interim airport manager, Edmond has seen three sewage rate hikes. They began at $7.25 and have climbed to $24.50.
"As the only utility with an office in the city, customers feel they can come in and vent their frustrations," she said, "always about the rate increases and often about late penalties. Others say 'hi' and visit. I've met a lot of people I like to visit with. I'll miss them."
Pooches who accompany their masters to the drive-up window will miss Edmond, too. She always provides treats.
Customer preferences have determined the way invoicing has evolved over the years.
When she started the job, coupon books were assembled for the year, by hand, and mailed to the city's 2,500 sewage customers. Now there are 6,000 customers.
"The coupon books were expensive to make, were always getting lost in a drawer and people wanted a monthly reminder."
When computers were introduced, monthly billings became easier to produce and mail. The computers also did away with hand-entering receipts in log books.
Until this week, that is, when the practice was revisited while the machines were repaired and accounting information retrieved.
Despite the constant reminders about the sewage bill, there are usually 45 people who won't pay on a regular basis, Edmond said.
"They've figured out we can't shut off their sewage system," she said. "What can we do? Go out and put a plug in it?"
Communities with combined water and sewer bills will shut off the water for non-payment. Warsaw can only take the non-payers to court.
Edmond calls herself a jack of all trades, responsible for customer service, accounting and administration of the department. She oversees the cleaning contract for the building, which also houses the planning and building department, and schedules any repair work to the facility at 794 W. Center St.
The entrance features a glass foyer which is stuffed with houseplants. Town employees bring them in when the weather turns cold, and they're pampered. One geranium is 8 years old and is currently in full bloom.
The department has two employees: Elaine Tripp, who works full-time, and Brandon Ayler, a part-time employee.
No one has yet been named to fill Edmond's position.
"I hope my replacement always makes sure there are dog treats," she said of her departure.
Her immediate plans are to visit her son, radio personality Todd "Bubba the Love Sponge" Clem, and daughter, Tara, at their homes in Florida. [[In-content Ad]]