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Longtime Scott County Clerk Rita Milam retires
For nearly 40 years, Rita Milam has been the face of the Scott County Clerk’s office.
In that time, Milam has managed every election, trained election judges, served as secretary to the county commission and welcomed new county employees. She’s answered voters’ questions, helped railroad and utility companies with their tax statements, worked with community members and so much more.
After 38 years working in the Scott County Clerk’s Office, Milam, who opted not to seek re-election in November, officially retired Saturday, Dec. 31. Of those years, she’s served the past 27 as the county clerk.
As her last days in office approached, Milam took time to reflect on her career. She first began as an employee in the collector’s office in 1983 and moved to the county clerk’s office in 1984.
“Bob Kielhofner was county clerk when I started in April 1984,” Milam recalled. “He asked me to help them on Election Day, answering the phone and stuff. He said he didn’t have a full-time position, but by the end of the day, he offered me a full-time position.”
Then, in 1994, Milam ran for county clerk and took office on Jan. 1, 1995.
People often think the county clerk only manages elections, but there is so much to do in the county clerk’s office in a third-class county like Scott County, Milam said.
“We are the human resources department,” she said of the county clerk’s office. “Every employee that is hired in any department comes to the clerk’s office to complete their paperwork. We pay all the purchases made by each elected official after they approve them, and the county commission approves them.”
The county clerk’s office also issues notary commissions and liquor licenses, and Milam serves as budget officer and secretary to the county commission.
“The county clerk’s office also works with all entities, helping them set their tax rates, works with railroad and utility companies with their tax statements and a lot more things that we just do,” Milam said.
Throughout the years, Milam said the laws in general have been the biggest changes she’s seen.
“People sit in high positions and try to tell us how to do our jobs when they don’t even know what or how to do it. With the technology now, some people thinks it has made them smarter,” she joked.
Keeping up with those new laws and ensuring she handled them correctly was among the biggest challenges of her job, Milam said.
And most rewarding part of being county clerk, Milam said, was getting the chance to meet so many wonderful people.
“I love a challenge, and this position gives you that. I am happy that I still feel I have done the best I could for Scott County residents,” Milam said.
Having turned 65 on July 30 and facing recent losses of loved ones, Milam said retiring now just seemed right.
“I decided life is too short so I better enjoy it while I can,” Milam said. “My oldest sister (Pat) passed away Nov. 19, 2020, and her husband (Jim) passed away Dec. 13, 2020, so I have a whole different look at life.
She continued: “My brother (Mike) just passed away Dec. 19, 2022, so that changed my plans some because I had planned on running around with him and our 93-year-old mom. Hopefully, mom and I can still do some things. This job needs a young person with new ideas and energy.”
Milam said she’s also looking forward to spending more time with her husband, Brad; their children and spouses, Jarrett (Malinda) Milam and Julie (Michael) Riley; and grandchildren.
“We have five granddaughters (Blaire, 16; Avree, 13; Harper, 5; Brendan, 9; Jalyn, 9), so I am sure they will keep me busy,” Milam said. “I want to be able to do what I want to do when I want to do it, but everyone who is retired tells me I will be busier than when I worked — but that will be fine.”
While Milam is looking forward to retirement, she said there’s one thing she will miss — her staff.
“My staff (co-workers) is the best,” Milam said. “Bev Riley, Rosie Irwin, Marissa Menz and Emily Phillips are such hard workers and love people like I do, so we made a great team. I could not have done it without all of the people that have worked with me during these years.”
Milam said the county is in good hands with the new county clerk, Allen Seabaugh, who was sworn in Friday, Dec. 30.
“Allen is young and has that energy that is needed to perform these duties,” Milam said of Seabaugh. “He is familiar with the clerk’s office and will do a great job.”
Throughout her tenure, Milam was the recipient of the Rosemary Plitt Award for Excellence in Election Administration. She also received recognition by being a former president of the County Clerk’s Association, where she served on many committees, and a member of the Board for the County Employee’s Retirement Fund and the Missouri Public Entity Risk Management Fund.
As Milam’s time as the county clerk came to an end, she also expressed gratitude to the citizens of Scott County.
“Scott County residents are awesome,” Milam said. “You have supported me for years and became my friends and family. It has been an honor to serve as your county clerk and allowing me to do what I loved. God bless each of you — and please don’t forget me.”