Lannon clerk, Jim Lamb, to retire

Posted: Jan. 29, 2013

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Jim Lamb, Lannon Village Clerk.

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Jim Lamb, Lannon Village Clerk.

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Village of Lannon - Just one more election season and Village Clerk Jim Lamb can spend his time getting ready to hit the golf course. Lamb recently announced his plans to retire at the end of April after 11 years of service to the village.

He likely won't miss the long hours that clerks put in during elections, but Lamb said he certainly will miss the people.

"You always say you'll be glad to go, (but) I'm going to miss the people, especially the ones I've been working with day in and day out. I'll also miss the ones that stop in and give you a smile and talk for a minute or two," Lamb said.

Lamb was hired full time for the village after his business folded after struggles felt from the effects of the 9-11 attacks. With experience in business and accounting, he was already helping the village part time, and when he needed another source of income he asked if they would consider him for the job.

"I needed a job and passed along my resume, and they thought it was good enough to invest the time and effort," Lamb said. He said he turned his resume in on a Friday, and by Sunday he was in Green Bay to begin training for a municipal clerk.

While clerks are required to undergo a substantial amount of training, Lamb said much of what he learned about the job was a baptism by fire. However, Lamb said fellow clerks were always on hand to help; it's just part of their culture he said.

"One thing about clerks is everyone understands the problems. If you have a problem you can call another clerk and they will help you out. This is such a specialized and needy field it's virtually impossible to keep up with all the rules, so if you run across something you don't know, you can always call someone up," he said.

But after more than a decade of long meetings, elections and keeping up with all the rules, Lamb said it's time to take it easy.

"I've worked for over 50 years. I'm 68 now, so it's time. I'm tired of the grind. Staying late for meetings, it gets tiring," Lamb said.

Village President Jerry Newman said Lamb will surely be missed, adding that whoever replaces him will have big shoes to fill.

The village has already received several applicants through the municipal clerk website where the position is posted, Newman said. All the applicants are already acting as full-time clerks or deputy clerks.

Lamb plans to spend more time enjoying activities he hasn't in some time, including reading and fishing. He also plans to golf more and spend time with his family, including three grandchildren. Of course, he added, his wife has already started her honey-do list.

He won't become a stranger at Lannon Village Hall. Lamb said he is a member of a nearby golf course and figured he could stop in to say hi after playing a round. "I plan on stopping and saying hi. I have to pester Kevin," Lamb said of Lt. Kevin Porter. That's probably a good thing he keeps an eye on the lieutenant after Newman made a crack about using his police authority to not let Lamb go that easily.

"Yeah, I guess we have to let him retire. I was questioning Lt. Porter to see if we could shoot him as a deserter, but I guess we can't," Newman said with a laugh.