Henry County Auditor retires after over 40 years of service

MT. PLEASANT — After over 40 years of service, Henry County Auditor Shelly Barber has closed the book on an impressive career, although it did close a few weeks earlier than planned. A tumble that left her with a broken arm sped up her retirement timeline and brought an abrupt end to a tenure that spanned technological revolutions, legislative shifts, and countless election nights.

Barber’s career in public service began right out of college in the Clarke County, Missouri Assessor’s Office. After about a year and a half in that position, Barber married her husband Alan, and the two of them moved to Henry County.

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While she initially made the commute for a few months, a position in the Henry County Auditor’s Office became available, and Barber happily took it in September 1981. She continued to work in this office in various roles over the next four decades of her career.

Barber’s first position in the auditor’s office involved managing property records and legal descriptions, but when another staff member abruptly left, her education in accounting and bookkeeping made her the perfect candidate to transition into overseeing payroll and accounting.

“From there, I did a little bit of everything,” she said, detailing her rise through the ranks before being appointed auditor in 2011. Along the way, she filled roles as an assistant clerk, deputy, and administrative assistant, gaining a broad understanding of the office.

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With so many years working for Henry County, Barber witnessed sweeping changes. When she first stepped into the office, technology was rudimentary at best.

“We had two huge machines with reels for tape that backed everything up,” she said.

During her career, she recalls most desks never having a computer on them, and employees had to go to a specific computer room to complete their work. She also remembers a time when staff shared a single printer. Fast forward to today, and Barber marvels at the technological advances that have streamlined everything from payroll to election reporting.

“Technology is wonderful when it works, but when it doesn’t, it’s incredibly frustrating,” she said.

Barber’s tenure wasn’t without challenges. She recalls late nights at the courthouse during election seasons before counting machines became standard.

“It was two or three in the morning before we’d leave because everything had to be counted by hand,” she said. “Now, we have results so much faster, but it’s all thanks to years of adaptation and hard work.”

One of Barber’s proudest accomplishments is deceptively simple but indicative of her practical approach to public service.

“The restrooms in each office didn’t have hot water,” she said. “Now they do. It’s a small thing, but it made a big difference for everyone.”

Her efforts to maintain the historic courthouse and ensure its functionality honor her predecessor Carol McCully who remodeled the building during her time in office.

“We’ve kept it up since that point in time and kept everything up-to-date,” Barber said. “People often compliment how beautiful it is.”

Barber’s role extended beyond her job description as she formed relationships that have endured decades.

“I’ve worked well with almost everyone,” she said. “Over more than 40 years, I’ve seen a lot of employees and supervisors come and go, but I will still have many friends. I still have many friends from who were past workers and past employees.”

Despite her injury throwing a wrench into things, Barber was already preparing to pass the torch to newly elected Auditor Robin Detrick. Barber has worked alongside Detrick for the past several years and work even more closely together over the last several months.

“I’ve been training Robin and the team for the last five to six years,” she said. “I’ve encouraged them to build relationships, make notes, and never hesitate to ask questions.”

She emphasized the importance of reaching out to state contacts and software vendors for support, lessons Barber herself relied on. Looking ahead, Barber recognizes the challenges Detrick will face in the years to come.

“It’s going to be a challenge no matter what, no matter who would have been there, with what legislation is doing, with House File 718, and all of this kind of stuff,” she said. “It’s going to be a challenge, whether I’d have been there, whether I wouldn’t, with things that legislation has put forth to happen in the next three to four years. This is the first time that they have ever come down with a number like this. And it was bad enough this last year that I did it, and it’s not going to get any easier.”

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“Hopefully legislation will open their eyes and see what they’ve done, because there’s a lot of small counties smaller than we are, that are going to be hurting before we do,” Barber said.

Reflecting on her career, Barber expressed heartfelt gratitude to Henry County residents. “It has been a pleasure to work for them,” she said. “I’ve always tried to do my best, and I’m thankful for their trust and support.”

As Barber steps into retirement, she looks forward to life on her family’s farm just across the Missouri state line. She plans to build a new home there and return to hobbies she’s long put aside, like gardening, sewing, and crafting. “I raised all my own flowers and plants before my responsibilities grew,” she said. “I’m excited to get back to that.”

Still, she won’t stray far from her Henry County roots. “I’ll still come to Mt. Pleasant to shop and visit,” she assured. “It’s only about 25 minutes away.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com