Jo Greiner winds down County Recorder career

WASHINGTON — When County Recorder Jo Greiner started working at the office, it was very much like any other job.

“I applied for the job 25 years ago and I got it,” she said. “I didn’t know a lot about it, the only time I’d been in that office was Leadership Washington … I wasn’t real sure of everything that went on, but I grew to really enjoy it.”

She continued to enjoy that work, especially the attention to details, and became the County Recorder — the official head of the department — 12 years ago.

“I don’t ever have that feeling on Sunday night of, ‘Oh, it’s Monday, I’ll have to go to work,’” she said. “I like helping people, I do a lot with … all the reports that have to go to the state departments that we work with. Everything has to be down right to the penny that we pay. I enjoy doing that, I enjoy doing the math.”

The work does have it’s downsides, however. The County Recorder is an elected position, required to run for office every four years.

Greiner said it was her least favorite part of the job.

“Having the nomination paper and asking people to sign, I did not like that,” she said. “I’m just not that much of an outward person that I can say to someone, ‘I need your signature,’ … generally it was people I would just see around.”

The campaign process was easier for Greiner than most elected officials, however. She has never had to run against an opponent, something that’s made the process more bearable.

“You have to get your nomination paper in on time and other than that it’s not that much of a distraction,” she said. “If someone runs against you, that’s a whole different ballgame.”

The position, as with most government leadership, also comes with plenty of late hours. While that’s exhausting at times, Greiner said it could also be very tranquil.

“Sometimes, when you’re here and the building is closed and no one else is here, it can be so quiet, it’s a calming, restful effect,” she said. “This building takes on a whole different atmosphere when no one’s here. We have these 12-inch concrete walls, so you don’t hear much going on outside.”

The recorder’s office generally works behind the scenes, with an office out of sight from the courthouse’s stairway, and a lack of visitors from the general public.

“I guess I don’t have to have that recognition,” Greiner said. “People thank us a lot in the office when we help them with something, and that’s enough for me. There isn’t much glory, and that’s fine.”

While she’s enjoyed her time, Greiner said she did not plan on running for re-election in November. The decision is not an easy one, and Greiner said she’d miss her work with other county officials.

“I’ve really been blessed to work with Jeff and Dan and Jared and John, they’re just fantastic people,” she said. “And the department head people too, I’ll miss seeing the people that come into the office … working with them has just been an honor. We all get along really well, and that’s not always the case in counties. We’re very fortunate to have that.”

Still, Greiner said it was time for someone else to take over.

“It’s always been kind of important to me that when you run for four years, you’re there for four years,” she said. “I feel like in four years I definitely would not want to still be here … because I’m old. I just want to go at a slower pace and do what I want to do.”

As for what she’ll to do with that extra time, Greiner said she hadn’t made any specific plans yet.

“I haven’t really thought about that too much, because almost a year yet until I’m at the end of my term, Dec. 31 would be my last day,” she said. “We have grandchildren that are active in school sports and we like to go to their things. It will make it easier to do that.”

If nothing else, Greiner said she could look forward to spending time on some neglected hobbies.

“I like my flowers outside in the spring and summer, I like to work with those and I just don’t have much time,” she said. “I’ve been interested in genealogy and could never get into that very far because it takes a lot of time. I have some remodeling projects at home that my husband doesn’t know about yet, I’d better not say more.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com