COEUR d'ALENE - Renata McLeod said she grew up in the hallways of Coeur d'Alene City Hall.

McLeod moved to North Idaho when she was in second grade and got her first exposure to city government when she participated in a summer youth jobs program at the age of 15. She said she began the program by doing clerical work, and the role quickly grew on her.

"They sort of adopted me into a secretarial pool and I worked at the reception desk during afternoons my senior year," McLeod said. "It was fun because I got to go into so many departments and do so many different things. I loved the switchboard because you got to know what every department did, and meet and greet people."

The experience McLeod received in high school, coupled with the fact that the city pays for a portion of the cost of college for its employees, motivated her to take a full-time position with the city at 19. She said she was able to utilize that benefit to get through her education, while working a job she enjoyed.

For 25 years, McLeod has worked in almost every department in city government. In 2013, McLeod was appointed Coeur d'Alene city clerk after Susan Weathers retired.

From my observations, it seems like you're almost a gatekeeper and a referee. Is that an appropriate description?

We have minute books from 1887 and the philosophy behind the city clerk position is as the historian of the organization - so, on one level, you're the gatekeeper of the history of the city.

Part of the job is absolutely knowing the codes to run the meetings and knowing what is kosher and what isn't. So sort of by default you end up as that frontline person of 'I need something from City Hall, where do I go?'

Are there any unique challenges associated with that role?

It's an appointed position, one of four in the city. As an appointed official, I work directly for elected officials and every two years we have an election. By default that's sort of an interesting position to be in.

When they're filing their Sunshine Reports with you, you kind of have to question them a little on it. But these could potentially be your bosses, so there's innately this oddness to it. You learn to be diplomatic and how to not take sides - you have to remain in that unbiased position so people know there's a trust associated with this position.

Is it ever challenging to observe and record these public meetings when it might be a topic that you're personally passionate about?

You wouldn't be human if you didn't have those moments.

Our past city clerk, we used to laugh all the time about this, she would give the city council directions by the look on her face. I thought that I was pretty good at keeping my statuesque face and not showing any emotion, but one night I did exactly what Susan did! Sometimes there's just those human moments where you're just like 'No!'

As far as subject matter, I really try to keep a poker face because, again, it goes back to being unbiased in my minute taking. It's really important to keep that at bay.

But when it comes to process and procedure - I'll be like the nun with the ruler.

I would imagine that your position gives you a unique perspective on the city's elected officials. What have you learned about them over the course of the years?

Everybody sort of has a different way of doing things, but I think they all come from a community-minded perspective and I respect that about anybody who runs for governmental office.

Every council, when it changes members, changes a little bit in how it operates. This current group has absolutely stepped up for their particular goals and what they're interested in. I think that's what people elect them for.

Is the potential to have a new boss every two years weird for you? How did you get used to that?

It's staggered terms, so you have three council members up for election every two years. It's intended to allow for that opportunity to have the three existing members mentor the three new members so they can figure out the process and procedure. If you have not worked in a municipal government, there's no way for you to have a grasp of process and procedure. If we had a government where all six changed at the same time, it would be chaotic.

If you do your job and you stay diplomatic, you're not going to have a problem with a change in who your boss is.

Part of my role when they come on is to guide them and give them the tools they need to learn how to do their job. That's my opportunity to introduce myself to them and get on that playing field with them so there isn't that awkwardness.

What advice would you give to someone who might be interested in a career in the public sector?

If you're looking for a career that has amazing benefits, and if you really want to work with the people in your community, it's a great place to be.

I can't believe it's already been over 25 years.

It can be rewarding in some ways, and it's certainly challenging in others. But for the employees within, we just have a great team and when you have so many people that you work with that are on the same page and pleasant to work with, it makes it a great place to work.

What's your favorite memory from your time with the city?

I was working in the street department, I was maybe 17 years old, and subbing in for their admin assistant. I had to come back to City Hall, but they didn't have any vehicles available except for a truck with a big cherry-picker on the back. I had to drive it all the way down to City Hall and I still remember thinking 'I don't even know if I can clear the streetlight!"

Another fun one was when we did a city leadership class that was just city employees learning about all the departments. They had a 'Fest' one day and they let us drive street-sweepers and fire trucks and we got to climb up the fire ladder to the roof of the street department. That was super fun and I still brag to people about driving the fire truck.