“Service Department” continued

Service Department employees trim trees, sweep streets, repair and replace signs, and paint hydrants in the summer months, said Pickerington Service Director Edward Drobina.

“The City has very hardworking employees who take pride in their jobs. I am very fortunate to work for the residents of Pickerington along with a great support staff,” Drobina said.

On the Utility side, to respond to sewer challenges even more quickly, the City has purchased a sewer jet trailer to relieve sewer backups. In the

cityprofile: Jan Eichner

While some people worry about figuring their personal income taxes and getting them turned in to the City of Pickerington on time, Jan Eichner has about 11,000 taxes to calculate each year.

Since 1989, Eichner has worked in the payroll and income tax department for the City, including the last nine years as the tax administrator.

“I feel a friendly face, a sympathetic ear and a cooperative spirit in collecting and fairly administering taxes are musts for a local tax office. We are there to help our citizens fulfill and understand their tax obligations,” said Eichner.

On Jan. 1, 2013, Eichner, who was the first parks and recreation director for the Village of Pickerington, will end her 32 years of service with the City and turn over the reins of the tax department to Kim Pulley, a former auditor with the state of Ohio and a private firm.

The Pickerington Income Tax Department is responsible for collecting the City’s largest revenue source, which provides funding for City services and programs for 18,000 residents.

“What I will remember most about Jan is her ability to interact with the residents and turn the not-so-pleasant job of tax collections into an opportunity to educate,” said Chris Schornack, Pickerington’s finance director.

“Jan has handled residents with grace, openness and humor,” he added.

When Eichner started with the tax department, Pickerington was a village of 600 people.

Under her leadership, the department was able to keep up with managing the income taxes of a rapidly growing City with just a few people by “embracing technology.” past, the Department had to call in a contractor for sewer cleaning, according to Drobina. In 2013, the Department is also going to establish programs for water tank maintenance, valve maintenance and replacement, hydrant tracking and painting, and the cleaning and videoing of sanitary sewer lines.

These programs are designed to spot potential challenges before they become big problems for City residents so that Pickerington remains a beautiful place to call home.

“Jan initiated various upgrades to the software system, including electronic filing, which reduces the amount of paperwork received by the department while increasing the accuracy of the returns received,” Schornack said.

As a result of improvements in technology, taxpayers can now log onto an account they create on the City’s website and check what they owe and what they have paid.

When taxes are due, residents can even make credit card payments online and businesses can electronically pay their bills.

While Eichner enjoys her job and keeping pace with technology, she decided to retire this year as a result of personal tragedy and triumph.

In January 2012, she was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer of the lymph nodes and began chemotherapy treatments.

In May, her 45-year-old son Kevin passed away from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

A few months later, Eichner’s father died while she was in the hospital undergoing colon surgery to remove another cancer.

Eichner is now cancer-free and is being watched regularly to guard against any reoccurrences.

“They say, ‘What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger,’ and I feel I can conquer almost anything after this year’s events. I now know I am a survivor, in more ways than one, and can use my experience to encourage others in similar circumstances,” Eichner said.

In 2013, taxpayers will benefit from Eichner’s work long after she has left the department.

In the New Year, taxpayers will be able to e-file tax returns with a new online e-filing system.

In preparation for Eichner’s retirement and to keep the department running smoothly, the City hired Pulley in April as her successor.

“I am leaving my department in the very capable hands of Kim Pulley and we have discussed that philosophy and she is onboard with it,” Eichner said.

“Of course, it is with mixed feelings that I leave a place that has been such a huge part of my life for so long. But I don’t live far and you can bet they will see my face often around City Hall,” she added.

Pulley, who holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Muskingum College, said she has “big shoes” to fill.

Already, she is impressed with the city that has grown over the years, but has maintained its “familyfriendly” atmosphere.

One of the challenges of her new job is to help the city move forward in collecting delinquent taxes.

“Nobody likes to pay taxes, but we try to be as friendly and as helpful as we can be,” Pulley said.

Pulley will acquire all the tax duties of the department when the New Year rings in on Jan. 1.