| New face at county recorder’s office |
By: Wendy Reuer
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Posted: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 9:46 pm
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Rick Kvien looks through a book inside the Steele County Recorder’s office. Kvien was appointed the Steele County Recorder and began work August 24.
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By WENDY REUER
wreuer@owatonna.com
OWATONNA — A new face has taken over one of the county’s oldest offices.
Rick Kvien was appointed county recorder after Avis Lewison announced her retirement earlier this year. Kvien started work on Aug. 24, learning the ropes alongside Lewison. He was officially sworn into office on Monday.
Kvien is no stranger to the office of recorder. Born and raised in Roseau, he worked in the Roseau County recorder’s office for 23 years and served as the county recorder for six years from 2000 to 2006.
In 2006, Kvien opted for something new, in a whole new state and climate. Kvien and his wife moved to Mesa, Ariz., where Kvien performed contract work for Boeing Apache Helicopter Manufacturing and did office work for a national hardware chain.
“I found out that I really missed the Midwest,” Kvien said of living in Arizona. “I missed Minnesota, the four seasons, the people, the work ethic. All that comes along with the good Minnesota people.”
As Kvien was looking for jobs back in his home state, he found the open recorder’s position in Steele County.
According to Kay Oberle, Steele County Human Resource Director, the county received about 60 applications for the position, many of which were highly qualified.
“We were really happy, we had some with experience in the recorder’s office. That was great,” Oberle said.
The county recorder’s office is responsible for vital records such as birth certificates, death certificates and coroner’s reports as well as real estate records and uniform commercial codes.
At the recorder’s office, passports are applied for, notary commissions are filed, and deeds are also recorded. The office is also a satellite office of the Secretary of State for the filing and retrieving of personal property liens.
Kvien said the biggest project is and will continue to be indexing and scanning of the older documents into a computerized database, something that was started while Lewison was in office. However, Kvien said with the current staff and efficient methods Lewison had employed before her departure, it will make for a smoother road ahead.
“I completely admire the staff. They are just so incredibly knowledgeable. I feel absolutely honored to work with the them because of the quality of their work,” Kvien said. “Because of the way Avis did everything, there’s nothing to be changed really. She’s just rock solid.”
Kvien and his wife will be making their home in Owatonna. Already Kvien said they are settling in nicely.
“I like the size of Owatonna,” Kvien said. “It basically has everything you need but it still has that small town atmosphere.”
The Steele County Recorder’s Office is located at the County administration building on Florence Avenue. The office can be found online at www.co.steele.mn.us.
Wendy Reuer can be reached at 444-1565.
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