BEATRICE – The City of Beatrice will be saying farewell to one of its most veteran employees early in January. Linda Koch, the City of Beatrice and Board of Public Works Finance Director, will retire after more than four decades of service with the city.


"When I started with the city I was hired as a bookkeeper. Terry Doyle was the City Administrator, then....and we were in the city hall (auditorium). Everybody was....police department, fire department, the library was downtown...things have changed so much, since then."


Koch says she’s been very fortunate to have administration that had faith in her and provided special training to move up the ladder….named the city’s first Finance Director….a position that used to be a business manager position.  The city is on a 30-year streak of winning awards for excellence in financial reporting.


"There used to be only two or three in the State of Nebraska. Now, there may be some counties and bigger cities that have done it. It's difficult, but yet it's a good thing to do...because once you've done it every year, your annual financial report is reviewed by GFOA for any changes in accounting standards. So, as new standards come down you're made to keep up with them and make sure your report conforms to those standards."


Mayor Stan Wirth says creating a Finance Director was done to bring more focus to the financial aspect of city and public works operations.
"Linda has done an outstanding job of doing that and the fact she's got a thirty-year streak of recognition for the work that her department has done....I think it was more to concentrate on one area than have so many other duties to do...just concentrate on the one area of finance."


Koch has served as Deputy City Clerk and City Clerk and earned certification as a Municipal Clerk. Koch has been the overseer of both city departments and utility departments when it comes to expenses and revenue.


"At the beginning, bringing both together and deciding who should do what and still keep our internal controls intact, was a process. But, I really think it works very well now. It's been a very good move, and I have a lot of very good staff with me that provides me with the information I need to compare the financials, keep everything up-to-date on a monthly basis and provide the reports to the Board of Public Works and the Council."


Koch says one challenge has been keeping up with state law changes and how they affect local budgeting. Koch says the city and public works board have great department heads who are conscientious about their individual budgets.


Hannah Bell will become the new Finance Director when Linda Koch retires in early January.