Nina Webber reflects on time as Hot Springs County Clerk

Following the General election in November, Rose DeSyn was voted in as the next Hot Springs County Clerk, replacing Nina Webber, though Webber is proud of her contributions to the county and excited what the future will bring.

Webber first came into the position when it was vacated by the previous clerk, and was encouraged to apply by the Hot Springs County Republican Committee. Following an interview process by 10-15 people — though she noted at the time it felt like a hundred — she was chosen to go before the county commissioners. In March of 2014, she was appointed to the position and in November the same year she was officially elected.

It’s an exciting position for sure, Webber said, and she was grateful for her background in finance, marketing and dealing with government entities.

As she was appointed during an election year, Webber said the most interesting experiences have been working the elections. Prior to her being clerk, she said, her knowledge was much like a lot of people’s — you go in, you get your ballot and you vote. Behind the scenes, she learned just how much goes into the training and security procedures, as well as the judging process.

Another aspect of the position Webber was involved with is the revamping of the voucher systems for accounts payable for the county. With the revision, she said, accounts are paid timely and accurately, and every penny is accounted for.

Webber said she was also instrumental in the wellness program for the county and working with Wyoming Health Fairs for blood draws. The program, she said, helps county employees identify issues they might not otherwise know about and provides a means to keep employees healthy as long as possible. She also expressed appreciation to the employees and commissioners who invested in the program to make it possible.

She’s also proud of being part of the process, through ArcaSearch, of getting a good portion of books and other paper records in the County Clerk’s office digitized. This can be quite helpful for those who are trying to do research, she explained, as due to our remote location it would otherwise mean a long drive for people to come get copies. The digitization of the documents allows the possibility of creating a site where people can search and print the records they need.

The project she’s most proud of is the new airport. Though not part of the initial work, she worked with local and federal agencies to get the project moving and finished.

As for the future, Webber is currently in the process of moving to Cody and said there are some amazing opportunities in Park County and she has some political supporters there as well. She’s had some job offers, she said, but is also looking into the possibility of starting her own business.

She said she’s looking toward the future, enjoying new challenges and is excited about the next chapter in her life. While in Hot Springs County, she enjoyed working with the other elected officials, engineers, consultants and the community. The lessons she learned are valuable, she said, and she wishes all of the elected officials the best in the future.