Conversations With Clerks: Brian Krup

The Municipal Clerk truly is a community’s jack-of-all-trades, often overseeing multiple departments and performing numerous tasks daily to keep local governments and public services running smoothly and efficiently. Conversations with Clerks is a continuing DeCoder series in which we talk with Municipal Clerks from across the country to learn more about their unique experiences and what it takes to be effective and successful in their roles. In this issue we are proud to feature Davenport, Iowa’s Deputy City Clerk, Brian Krup.

Can you tell us a little bit about Davenport?

Davenport is an old city founded in 1836. It’s a blend of history and culture and modern amenities and we have a strong sense of community. It is one of a group of cities known as the Quad Cities that sits along the Mississippi River on the border between Iowa and Illinois. Davenport is the largest of the Quad Cities and we’re also the third largest city in Iowa. I think one of our biggest draws is our downtown and our riverfront. The riverfront is really central to our city’s charm. There are a variety of events that are hosted in LeClaire Park and in several other parks along the river. We also have Modern Woodmen Park that sits along the riverfront and is home to the Quad River Bandits, a minor-league baseball affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The park has won numerous awards including the most iconic minor league ballpark in the USA for two years in a row. In addition, we have an outdoor farmers market that runs through October and has been named one of the best riverfront farmers markets in the country.

What was your path to working in local government and ultimately to where you are now? Is that something you aspired to?

I never considered a career in local government, so I guess I stumbled into it in a way. I earned a degree in business management, and I had no idea what I was going to do with that. So, a few months after I graduated college, I applied for a part-time position with the police department. I didn’t hear anything right away and then got hired a year later. I held that part-time position for about a year and then I took a full-time position with the police department where I worked for three years. Next, a position opened at City Hall for a Principal Accounting Clerk, and I was offered the job and accepted. Finally, when our former Deputy City Clerk announced her retirement after 31 years, I decided to take a chance and apply for that position. And here I am!

What are some of your duties as Deputy City Clerk?

I work in City Administration where our City Administrator and communications team are housed. Our legal department is on the same floor which I work with regularly. I also work very closely with the Mayor and the City Council and really all the city departments, which is one of the things I enjoy most about this job. I manage the agenda for the City Council, attend all council meetings to record all votes, and prepare minutes and perform all of the other duties that follow a meeting. I am the coordinator for FOIA requests when they are submitted, assigning requests to the appropriate departments that need to fulfill them. I also swear-in council members after elections and am the coordinator for special events, which is essentially the liaison between event applicants and staff. I manage the City’s 14 boards and commissions and all of the functions that go along with membership to those.

What are some of the biggest challenges in your job?

There are a lot of deadlines — internal and legal — that we need to meet when it comes to publications and posting agendas. I think another big challenge is dealing with the stereotype that government workers are hard to reach or slow to respond or we’re not friendly. But in my experience with my coworkers and myself, we work hard every day to serve our community. So just trying to change that perception is a big deal particularly with the tenor of our country right now.

What do you like most about your job?

I enjoy being able to help people and our staff. Including my time working in the police department, I have over 17 years with the city, so I have a lot of institutional knowledge that I get to share on a daily basis. I also enjoy the structure that comes with this position. My number one strength is consistency and in this job that’s especially important when it comes to preparing agendas and records management.

What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen during your 17 years with the city?

We have been moving forward digitally in many aspects of the job. Before many processes were paper-based and required a lot of tedious manual work. Now we have automated most procedures with many things online and digitized.

How important is it for Davenport to have an up-to-date code?

It’s very important. We had to update our code recently, so I think ensuring that our code is current is going to help our residents and those looking to plant roots in Davenport, whether it be starting a business or moving here—it’s also going to help our staff when people have questions. With eCode360^®, our legislation is added quickly and is publicly available so I try to make sure residents, and staff, know where [our eCode] is and how to use it so they can find the answers that they need without having to wait for me or another city employee to help.

How do you keep yourself up to date in terms of information and skills needed for your job?

We have the Iowa League of Cities which is an amazing resource. They send out a newsletter every month and random emails throughout the month with proposed legislation, new legislation, and resources for government employees. I’m also part of a regional clerk group so I attend those meetings four times a year. A lot of the information isn’t always relevant to me, but it’s the networking aspect that is helpful and valuable. I am now also working towards my International Institute of Municipal Clerks certification. I already have my Iowa certification through the Iowa Municipal Finance Officers Association, which required almost 100 hours of classes offered through a program in partnership with Iowa State University.

You have received numerous nominations to General Code’s annual Municipal Clerks Honor Roll, which recognizes the excellent work clerks from around the country are doing. How does it feel to be recognized by your peers and residents?

It’s heartening and humbling. It makes me feel like I’m doing a good job and that people trust me and can come to me to help solve their problems. It’s not always an easy job, so recognition like this inspires me to keep giving 110% every day and to treat people with kindness and respect.

What is your best piece of advice for a new Municipal Clerk?

Always treat people the way you would want to be treated. Whether you’re interacting with residents, elected officials, or coworkers, showing respect, patience and professionalism goes a long way. The clerk’s office is often the first point of contact for the public, so how you treat others can shape their entire impression of local government. A kind and helpful attitude not only builds trust but also creates a more positive and collaborative workplace.

What is on your bucket list?

This might sound silly, but I’ve always wanted to be a contestant on Survivor! I have watched every episode of that show since it began over 25 years ago. I actually applied twice, once several years ago, and again this past May. The strategy and personal growth you see with the contestants has always appealed to me — and you don’t have to always be athletic to win!