The city’s personnel director is responsible for a variety of duties, from working to help establish personnel policies to maintaining all personnel records.

Since 1993, that position has been filled by Kay Patt, a longtime Natchez city employee. The position reports to the city clerk.

But after Patt’s retirement this year, the personnel director will report directly to the mayor and board of aldermen, making it a department head position.

This is a smart move, as it puts the person in charge of human relations directly in contact and on the same level with the managers of each city department.

The job is simply too large to report to the city clerk.

Just a few of the duties include:

4Conferring with departmental officials to establish or interpret intra-departmental personnel policies and procedures.

4Administering grievance arbitration and appeals processes.

4Acting as equal employment opportunity officer for the city.

4Administering a computerized payroll, including municipal pension systems.

4Maintaining records on all payroll transactions.

4Acting as liaison between employees and Public Employees Retirement System.

4Maintaining data for medical, dental and other insurances for employees.

4Maintaining and recording all workers’ compensation claims.

4Serving as drug and alcohol coordinator.

4Assisting with election work.

We and the city will miss Patt’s hard work after her retirement. And we hope the mayor and board take a close look at the possibilities for her replacement. We look forward to welcoming a new city department head.