City clerk Kaylene Melton got a surprise at last Wednesday night’s Ronan City Council meeting – the good kind.

Melton is a member of the Montana Municipal Clerks, Treasurers and Finance Officers, which held a training May 3-7. Melton was unable to attend, so deputy clerk Gwen Dolber made the trek to Billings for the Montana Municipal Institute. She returned with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Melton, then had to concoct a devious plan to lure Melton to last Wednesday’s city council meeting.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Doubler presented Melton with her award and read a statement from the MMCTFO.

"Kaylene has worked for the City of Ronan for going on 20 years. When Kaylene became the city’s clerk and treasurer, she created processes to ensure the files would be organized and preserved as required by state mandates; her systems have worked exceptionally well …

“To condense everything Kaylene does into one sentence, I would say: Kaylene takes the initiative to keep Ronan running smoothly and with fiduciary to the residents who call it home."

“It’s huge coming from my fellow clerks in Montana,” Melton said, holding up her award.

The council members congratulated the long-serving clerk and gave her a round of applause.