City of Corrigan...It all starts here

BY KELLY SHADIX
Special to the Times

“Hello, City Hall. Can I help you?” “Help, my sewage is backed up! I have a question about my water bill. Who do I contact about power and gas utilities? When is garbage pickup in Rayburn Hills;Corrigan West? Is the recycle bin available to-day? Are there any city ordinanc-es, zoning regulations? Do I need a permit to sell items in town? There’s a stray dog under my house. My neighbor kept me up all night with loud music.Where do I pay a ticket? When does the court meet? The sign at the end of my street is missing. The street-light on Collins Street is out. Water is not draining well on my street. Is there somewhere I can go to use a computer? Are there any summer activities for kids?Can you give me information on using the Community Cen-ter? Where is the City Park? Can you tell me how to get to Georgia-Pacifi c; the cemetery; Sesame Street? “ “Yes, Sir/Ma’am, I’d be glad to help you with that!” Conversations like these, along with countless other vi-tal administrative tasks, are re-peated daily inside the Corrigan City Hall. The City Hall has been referred to as the “hub” of the city, with spokes consist-ing of the Police Department and Municipal Courts, Water and Sewer Department, Public Works and Sanitation Depart-ment, and the Mickey Reily Public Library. However, City Hall and its Departments are just that, a hall, departments, in-animate objects without ability to provide service or resolution. Enter the players. Thirty-three employees in fi ve essential de-partments, strive to provide crucial services to the near 1,600 residents of Corrigan, and anyone else needing assis-tance, every day...365/24/7. On May 2, 1977, six years before a permanent City Hall was erected and three years be-fore the fi rst City Manager was On May 2, 1977, six years before a permanent City Hall was erected and three years be-fore the first City Manager was hired, Thelma Harris Stanford was appointed as City Secretary. For thirty-five years Thelma, af-fectionately known as “Tutti”, has set the tone of the Corrigan City Hall. One might say she sets the tone for the entire City of Corrigan. Chances are if you require something in or of Corrigan, whether you are an employee, Joe Public, or even a dignitary, you will encounter the friendly, professional and accommodating service of this remarkable woman. Thelma is responsible for a multitude of routine daily and monthly tasks, too numerous to mention in this space. Monthly generating over 650 water/sew-age and trash bills, employee payroll, seeing that the City’s bills are paid in a timely man-ner, filing a host of reports to a variety of agencies, direct-ing inquiries and issues to the appropriate city department for resolution, while handling calls and visitors, just to name a few. A number of changes have occurred during Thelma’s time with the city. She is grateful for computerization, for prior to 1982 or ‘83 all water bills were filled out by hand, and all calculations for payroll and re-ports was done manually. She states that she is most proud of the progress that has been made in the city’s infrastructure; improvements that have been made to the streets, utilities and the overall appearance of the town. When asked what she likes most about working for the City of Corrigan, she quickly replies, “The people. The peo-ple I work with, we are like a family. And the public. I like helping people.” The other friendly and helpful individual waiting to serve you at the City Hall is Dorrie Frankens Cotton. She has worked for the City since November of 2009. Dorrie’s role at City Hall is primarily as receptionist and utility collec-tions, but she is eager to lend a hand at any task when asked. She also works at the Municipal Court when necessary. What does Dorrie like most about her job? “The people. The people I work with.” Sydney Murphy, Execu-tive Director, Livingston/Polk County Chamber of Com-merce, states, “When visiting the Corrigan City Hall I am al-ways greeted immediately. The atmosphere is welcoming and friendly and the ladies are al-ways accommodating. There’s a small-town charm.” The tone of the Corrigan City Hall is often the first impression new comers, or passersby, have of the City of Corrigan. Furthermore, the at-tention to critical responsibili-ties ensures that Corrigan’s res-idents will receive the service they have grown to depend on. Fortunately for this town, it is well taken care of by the pleas-ant, professional and dedicated employees at the City Hall.(Continuing the City of Corrigan feature, next week will highlight the Corrigan Po-lice Department and Municipal Court. Followed by the Wa-ter/Sewer and Sanitation, and Public Works Departments and Mickey Reily Public Library. )