Thursday, November 04, 1999
Longtime recorder to step down
After 19 years, Thall says it's time to relax
BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — Butler County Recorder Joyce Thall announced Wednesday that she will step down at the end of the year from the position she has held for 19 years.
She cited health and job burnout as two primary reasons for her decision to leave office one year before her term expires.
“I've had a few health problems, and this is a stressful job,” said Mrs. Thall, who will turn 65 later this month. “I love my job, but I work every day and seldom take vacations. You burn out.”
Another factor, she said, was the decision by Nancy Blakley, who has worked for Mrs. Thall for 16 years as administrator, to retire at the end of this year.
“She's been a key employee,” Mrs. Thall said. “It's a good time for me to step down.”
Carlos Todd, chairman of the Butler County Republican Party, praised Mrs. Thall's long service to Butler County.
“Her commitment to the people of Butler County goes far beyond what's expected of a person,” he said. “She's always taken her job very seriously.”
The Republican Party's central committee will meet in mid-January to name a replacement for Mrs. Thall.
The front-runner is Danny Crank, a Hamilton councilman who did not seek re-election this year.
The Republican Party already had endorsed him to run for the recorder's seat in 2000.
“I would think he would be the logical appointment,” Mr. Todd said. “That would be my recommendation.”
Over the past 19 years, Mrs. Thall has directed dramatic changes in the way the recorder's office conducts its business.
The recorder's office maintains and preserves all records that pertain to land in Butler County.
When Mrs. Thall became the county recorder, her office recorded data by writing it in big, heavy books.
In 1987, her office became one of the first recorder's offices in Ohio to be computerized.
“I was not a computer person, so that was hard work,” Mrs. Thall said. “We did it all in-house.”
She has continued to upgrade the technology to the point that by next Jan. 1, county property records going back to Jan. 1, 1987 will be available on the Internet.
Retiring will give Mrs. Thall more opportunities to visit her daughter and two grandchildren in Arizona.
“It would be kind of nice to go out there in February when it's so cold here,” she said.
But more than anything else, she looks forward to the rest.
“I'd just like to stay home and enjoy my house,” she said.
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