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Mills River town clerk is 2019 Clerk of the Year

Mills River Town Clerk Sue Powell poses with the town board and staff, from left, Mayor Chae Davis, planner Brian Burgess, town manager Daniel Cobb, tax collector Aurelie Taylor and council members Wayne Carland, Brian Caskey and Richmond Meadows.

By Lightning Reports, Published: August 19, 2019

Mills River Town Clerk Susan L. "Sue" Powell was honored on Saturday as the 2019 Clerk of the Year by the North Carolina Association of Municipal Clerks.

Before a crowded room of over 150 friends, colleagues, elected officials, and clerks from across North Carolina, Association President Leighanna Worley announced the award at the clerks' convention at the Yadkin Valley Event Center in Wilksboro.
“As the Town’s first employee in 2003, Sue has had to wear several hats, from human resources, planning, and zoning, to accounting, tax collector, finance and clerk; she is an enduring presence for the town and always works in the best interest of the community," Mills River Mayor Chae Davis said.

Former Town Manager Jeff Wells, who served the Town from 2014 to 2019, added: “Sue is the institutional backbone of Mills River. Her advice helped me make better decisions in the interests of Mills River. I was fortunate to work with her for four and half years.”
To be eligible for the award clerks must demonstrate commitment to professional development and community involvement, extraordinary job performance, bring innovative ideas to the Association, and be an active member in the municipal, state, and national associations.
Transylvania County Manager Jaime Laughter, who served as Mills River town manager until 2014, also praised Powell.

“I was fortunate to work with Sue for eight years and it taught me the tremendous value our clerks bring to the table as dedicated public servants who work tirelessly to lend order, structure and legacy to the often chaotic political process," she said.
Upon receiving the award Powell thanked her peers.

"There is no way I could have made any of my contributions to this community or my town without the support of every one of them and every one of you, and I believe we all deserve this," she said.
Speaking on behalf of Mills River, Tax Collector Aurelie Taylor said: “In the 11 years I have worked with Sue, she has done her job with style and grace, sometimes under difficult circumstances, and nobody in this room deserves this award more than you do, Sue.”