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Quick ends 22-year stint as treasurer
After 22 years, Susan Quick walked away from her desk in the Bourbon County Treasurer's office for the last time today.
After being defeated in the November 2012 election to Rhonda Dunn, Quick said she is ready for retirement.
"I'm ready," Quick said. "I hated that I lost the election, of course, but I'm ready now. I've worked a long time."
The treasurer's job is something that is always on her mind.
"Even when you're home or doing something else, you're thinking, 'OK, I should have done this or I have to do this."
Even when she was sworn in as treasurer in October 2001, Quick was already familiar with the job. She had worked in the treasurer's office since 1991, serving as the deputy for the majority of that time, but she has done a little bit of everything. Quick worked at the counter for 10 years, and admits that was not always an easy responsibility. Sometimes customers aren't too happy when it's time to pay their taxes, she said.
"I had two of my very good friends that worked here," Quick said. "One in this office and one worked in the register of deeds, so I was thrilled to get to come to work here."
Opal Hess, who was the treasurer for more than 37 years, was Quick's mentor, she said.
"She was very knowledgeable, very good to work for," Quick said. "She taught me a lot of things. It's kind of ironic. I'm one of the older ones here now. It's weird."
She was 41 when she began working for the counter. Now all of those who were older than she was are gone.
Prior to working in the treasurer's office, Quick had worked at Western Insurance for 14 years where she worked in the accounting in the department.
Since 1991, Quick said the office has used three different software companies, "Which is always a challenge," Quick said. "But I've had good people to work with."
She has two employees in the treasurer's office and four people in the motor vehicle registration office.
The computer changed everything for the office. When she began, receipts were handwritten on the statements. All the records had to be stored in the courthouse basement.
"We had tons and tons of receipts," Quick said. "But we don't have to keep them anymore because we have them on the computer."
Now old receipts can be reproduced electronically. That feature is part of the office's latest computer software package.
"IT (information technology) people are great that way," Quick said. "They can just do things with a click."
Although Quick is calling her leaving a retirement, she won't be idle, but she won't be using computers, either. She's going to work part-time for her sister and brother-in-law who own the Nu Grille. Quick will be working in the back making and baking pies.
"I love the cooking shows and cooking," Quick said.
The job will allow her to continue to see people.
"I won't have to go home and not see anyone," Quick said. "I've always enjoyed people. Very few times have we had any real problems. I've had good employees and I hope I've been a decent boss to them. Sometimes different ones have told me I've been too easy, but I believe people treat you like you treat them."
She said she believes she has treated people honestly and do the job honestly and correctly.
She also hopes to spend more time with her children and grandchildren.
Quick was honored with a reception on Friday. She will end her career at noon after cash count is completed in the office. Then Dunn will be sworn in and Quick will go on to brush up on those pie recipes.