Many people in Butler County shine because of the service they give to the community. While some work for education and funding, others work to keep the county beautiful. But to keep the county operating, someone has to take care of the daily details that make Butler County such a great place to live. For the last 20 years, Jerre Turner has been doing that, but this October she will pass the torch to a new county administrator.

Turner started her career with Butler County in 1982 as a payroll clerk when Judge Calvin Steindorff was serving as probate judge and county commission chairman. When County Administrator Jane Boyd retired in 1994, Steindorff moved Turner to the position, where she has remained for eight years.

"My job consists of overseeing the office, mainly the financial portion of bank accounts and budgets. There are a lot of day-to-day activities that come with this position. For example, just this morning Maintenance Supervisor Alan Farrington called me before work and said the basement of the courthouse was flooded, so we had to get the water turned off, and the air conditioner" she said.

Turner said that she has seen a lot of changes in the past 20 years, but she says that it is the people she has worked with through the years who have made the difference. "There have been a lot of happy times, but I think one of the hardest parts of it all was losing Commissioner Joe Hendrix.

"We still miss him

how he would come in and talk to us and then be on his way. I've had a lot of good experiences with former commissioners that I still enjoy talking with and I have met a lot of truly wonderful people," she said.

She added that what has made a big difference in the people that she has worked with is that they have all believed in teamwork. "If one person got ahead on something, then we would help each other catch up.

"I know a lot of times different departments think that we are tough, but they are allotted a certain amount of money, and we have to stay within the budget. In months like June and July, many departments are getting close to using up their budgets, and part of the job is to let them know," Turner said.

She said that traveling with her husband, Harold, and visiting more with their six grandchildren is how she plans to spend her time. "I envision a lot of camping in the near future," she laughed.

But Turner says leaving the position won't be that easy. "I've met a lot of good people while working here, and I've seen a lot of people retire. People have come and they have gone, but I've always enjoyed them. Butler County is moving forward and I wish the very best for them," she said.

And for the next county administrator, Turner gives one piece of advice: "Hang in there."