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KUCIMAT Winter 2007 Newsletter
KUCIMAT Awards 2006
Emily Watson (Class of 2006) - 2006 Intern Excellence Award
Emily Watson completed a full-time internship with the City of Chanute, KS, starting in June 2005. She was promoted to the role of Assistant to the City Manager following completion of her MPA degree in May 2006. She earned this new position and promotion because of her ability to earn trust combined with skill, ability, assertiveness, and a cheerful attitude. This successful combination gets Emily results with city employees and citizens alike. Many in Chanute believe that she has been an outstanding representative of the Public Administration program.
Emily began her internship working with each and every department. She used the jackhammer; she shoveled the concrete; she patrolled with police officers; she went through search and rescue training dressed in full fire gear, and climbed the fully extended 75 ft. ladder with firefighters; she collected trash; she understands water and wastewater issues; she understands the importance of our three electric power plants; and she knows what it is like to be in a trench with a gas line. She especially understands the “city team” and the variety of relationships that make our organization work. In addition, Emily’s willingness to seek and accept responsibility is noteworthy. She has not been hidden in a back room; in fact, quite the opposite would describe her internship.
Municipal Finance has proven to be a particular interest of hers. She was the staff coordinator for the 2005 audit, at her request. She collected necessary, relevant information prior to the audit, and met daily with the auditor’s team. She coordinated organizational work to answer questions and took the time to understand the important details of each situation.
Emily identified the need for Chanute to adopt financial policies. After doing research, she set some best practices benchmarks. She then brought together the varying views of multiple city departments, the City Attorney, the City’s Investment Committee, and auditors. The City Commission has unanimously adopted a Debt Service Policy and a Fund Balance Policy, both written by Emily. Her presentations to the governing body and the community were influential in conveying the importance of the need for policies regarding issues that had been taken for granted. Her purchasing policy is being written and she will be presenting it to the City Commission shortly. Her credit card use policy has been adopted and incorporated into the organization’s daily routines. The result is that Emily has forced the organization to think through important issues that influence and reinforce the organization’s integrity.
Emily has also experienced having one of her proposed ordinances picked apart by the City Commission, critiqued by the vocal minority live on TV, and voted down by the City Commission. Some in the community are working hard to clean-up the community. Nuisance abatement, junk vehicles, and neighborhood watches are all a part of the effort. Emily’s positive assertiveness led her to “carry the banner” for getting people to quit using their front yards as parking lots. Her research, careful writing, and desire to do what is right, wound up not working well at the time, but she smiled and handled the circumstances in a professional manner.
Emily has become a part of the Chanute community. As an intern she joined civic organizations, helped civic causes, and she will soon be taking on more public roles representing the City of Chanute throughout the city, and throughout Kansas.
After her first year in the trenches she still expresses a desire to see wrongs righted, and seek justice in all circumstances. Emily is making a positive difference as a leader in the city organization and is putting her skills to work to build community. I am glad she chooses to be a part of the community’s leadership.
Randy Riggs
City Manager
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