Dale Shafer, MMC City of Nehalem

2020 President's Award of Distinction 

As Municipal Recorders, we are at the center of municipal government and play an important role in city government, as well as in the structure of our communities as a whole.  Often, we look “outside” ourselves for acknowledgement and recognition.  In this case, we asked you, the members of OAMR, to look around our organization to see who deserved this award.

The President’s Award of Distinction is awarded to an OAMR member who has contributed greatly to a committee of OAMR or has performed exceptional work for OAMR.

I received two nominations this year. 

The person that I chose for the President’s Award of Distinction has been working in municipal government for over 30 years.  She joined OAMR in the late 80s when she was the City Clerk of a small little town in eastern Oregon.  Like so many talented women in OAMR, she rose to the top of the ranks to become her town’s City Administrator, wearing the hats of the City Recorder, Treasurer, City Planner, and Municipal Judge.  Throughout her career, she oversaw water, sewer, police, fire, a swimming pool, and a cemetery.  She led her City from a $45,000 debt crisis to an almost $1 million surplus, while creating new sidewalks, a new water and sewer system, and a new software system.

After a brief retirement, she returned to local government, joining a small coastal town as City Recorder in 2011.  In 2012, she stepped seamlessly into the role of City Manager/Recorder.  She had a new City Hall built, directed the review of decades of neglected public records, as well as updates to the Master Water Plan and the Comprehensive Plan; and we all know what an undertaking those are.

She has served on numerous OAMR committees throughout her career including the Audit Committee, Bylaws Committee, Scholarship Committee, Mentoring Committee, Conference Committee, Special Projects and Fundraising Committee, and an Ad-Hoc Treasurer Committee.  In 2013, she became a Region Director, followed by running for Second Vice President in 2014, eventually becoming President of OAMR in 2016.  Her leadership qualities and commitment to professional development are seen in the way she supports her staff and colleagues in helping them reach their full potential.  To this day, she proudly displays her OAMR membership certificate on her office wall. 

Kathy Payne, MMC, Immediate Past President, City Recorder,
City of St. Helens