The City of Washington will be creating a search committee for a new City Clerk as Illa Earnest retires later this year. The council agreed to have a hiring committee, like when they hired a new police chief in 2019. City Administrator Brent Hinson shared the committee will include himself, Mayor Jaron Rosien, City Finance Director Kelsey Brown, two council members, and a citizen committee will participate in the interviews.

Hinson says Earnest is leaving big shoes to fill, “Illa is a great person, just a wonderful, wonderful person. I’ve learned a lot from her. I’ve worked with her for almost nine years. And I know she’ll be missed in our office. At the same point, she won’t be missed that much because we will see her around all the time, I am sure.”

The city clerk is responsible for taking minutes for city council meetings, preparing agendas and packets for council meetings, serves at the point person for organizations requesting use of the downtown or Central Park for events, and keeps all official records and processing documents for the city. Hinson says as they look for a replacement, they will add some duties including oversight of the development services department. They plan to be in the interview stage by late October.