Public service is often a thankless job.
Sandra Drake knew that the moment she joined the Allen County appraisers office 30 years ago.
Its the nature of the beast, she explained, to decide how much a persons property is worth; and thusly, how much that owner must pay in taxes.
Fielding complaints is a job requirement.
You have to have thick skin, Drake said.
Sure there were hard days and occasional sleepless nights.
She recalled more than one occasion going home in tears after work.
I hate being yelled at, she admitted. But thats when my husband explained, its not about you, its about the job. You cant take it personally.
Drake, who has served as county appraiser since 1993, is retiring Friday, handing the reins to incoming appraiser, Jami Clark.
A reception to honor Drake is planned from 1 to 3 p.m. in the upstairs conference room at the courthouse. The public is invited.
DRAKE had little inkling shed have a career as an appraiser.
She was working as a babysitter at the time when she saw an ad for a part-time position to assist with a statewide reappraisal effort. The goal was to ensure every home, business and farm was appraised at or as near as possible to fair market value.
That meant going over each parcel, tape measure and clipboard in hand.
It was a big change, Drake recalled.
