Jason Arndt, jarndt@shawanoleader.com
Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Bonduel Village Clerk/Treasurer Barb Wickman is retiring from the position after 16 years of service with the village.
After more than 16 years as Bonduel’s village clerk, Barb Wickman will retire, effective May 16, to spend more time with her family.
“I have a great-granddaughter I will be babysitting,” Wickman said. “I am doing it for my family.”
Willa Rusch, deputy clerk for the past six years, will become clerk/treasurer when Wickman leaves.
Wickman started her tenure with Bonduel in 1997 after receiving a paralegal certificate from the American Institute of Paralegal Studies.
“It kind of interested me at the time and I decided to give it a try,” Wickman said.
Prior to working for the village, she was employed at Citizens Bank in Shawano, which is now Associated Bank. Wickman said her experience in accounting convinced her to pursue the paralegal certification.
“I guess in looking what I perceive the clerk and treasurer to be, you have to have a background in budgeting and accounting and billing,” she said. “That would be a nice way to tie it all together, which it does.”
The clerk is responsible for preparing meeting agendas, taking minutes, overseeing elections, preparing utility bills and collecting local taxes.
Wickman oversaw many changes over the last 16 years, especially to the voting process and in technology.
The hanging chad problems in Florida during the 2000 presidential election prompted many states and communities to upgrade the voting process, she said.
“It has really changed a lot since I started, especially (since) the election issue in Florida,” Wickman said.
Following the 2000 election, there needed to be more training and certification of votes by local governments.
“There are more rules and regulations in the process, which is not a bad thing,” Wickman said. “It is just more than what we have to deal with and making sure we are doing things right.”
Wickman said it takes a village of agencies and individuals to keep Village Hall running smoothly, and credited a strong network of other clerks and treasurers around the area for making her job easier.
“This position is unique,” she said. “There is usually one per town or municipality. You can always call a clerk to help you through a situation you have never been through.”
Wickman said she will miss the camaraderie she felt with the people of Bonduel throughout her tenure.
“I will miss all of the people … and being able to converse with them and help them with any issues,” Wickman said.
Not only will Wickman miss the citizens of Bonduel, but she also will leave a large mark within the village.
“I think she is the best clerk the village has ever had in the last 20 years,” Village President Mel Wendland said. “She was very efficient and knowledgeable.”
In addition to watching after her 16-month-old great-granddaughter, Wickman will hone her skills as a gardener.
“When it is nice out I will probably be out gardening, and if it is raining I will be inside the house,” Wickman said. “I am looking forward to more gardening.”
She will also be able to spend more time with her husband of 41 years, Randy, who works with Murphy Construction in Appleton.
However, her great-granddaughter will be her top priority.
“She is a little charmer,” Wickman said.