Cornett?s tenure as treasurer sees many changes; retirement fast approaches

by Peter Jakey- Managing Editor

Within days, Pat Cornett-Bauer will have balanced her last book. Cornett-Bauer, who has been employed in the Presque Isle County treasurer?s office for the past 22 years and nine months, will wrap up her final duties December 19.

Cornett-Bauer, a Rogers City resident, joined the treasurer?s office March 26, 1986, after an appointment by the prosecutor, probate judge, and clerk, to replace the former treasurer, who was leaving mid-term. She had been handling a myriad of duties at Huron National Bank, before getting the job.

That was the easy part, as she had to win the 1986 primary and general election to just finish the term.

?I had competition from within my own party, and then from the Democratic party,? said Cornett-Bauer. ?Two years later, it happened again.?

This time, she ran for her first full-term in office and again faced competition in the primary and general election, but went on to win. The only other contested race was in 2000.

DURING THE last two-plus decades, there have been some major legislative and technological changes that Cornett-Bauer has led her department through. ?When I first got here, we didn?t have computers,? said Cornett-Bauer. ?Everything was done by hand. They only thing automated was the tax bills and they were prepared by a downstate company.?

The first of the major moves by state lawmakers, which had a direct impact with local treasurer offices, was the start of the state education tax and homestead exemptions. ?That was a big, big change,? she said.

In 1999, the delinquent tax laws were changed, ?That was more of a headache than anything.? Just recently, the fiscal year was moved from January to December to the beginning of July.

?It was my recommendation that we switch the fiscal year,? said Cornett-Bauer. ?With the change of revenue from December to July, it just made sense to start the year when the revenue starts coming in.?

Even with all the changes, the core of the staff has remained intact. Beth Heinzel and Colleen Main have assisted her in the office during her entire tenure. Heinzel will be the next treasurer, beginning January 1, after winni

ng an uncontested race for the post this year.

?They are threatening to chain me to my desk,? said Cornett-Bauer. ?I?m really excited about retiring. I think things are going to run smoothly. ?Everybody that is here at the courthouse — we?ve all been here a long time. There hasn?t been a whole lot of turnover.?

Her husband Dale, who is president of Huron National Bank, is going to work for a few more years. In the meantime, once retirement begins, she?ll have the enviable task of getting used to not going to work five days out of the week. Once he retires they plan to do some traveling.

Cornett-Bauer was part owner of the first Dairy Queen in Rogers City 40 years ago, which is now the Super Scoop. ?I?m sad to leave my co-employees,? she said, ?but 22 years, nine months, is a long time.?

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