Neal's 18-year run as Wayne County clerk of courts ends
Retiring Clerk of Courts Tim Neal, middle, poses with Wayne County Commissioner Dave McMillen, left, retiring Commissioner Ron Amstutz, Commissioner Jonathan Hofstetter and Commissioner-elect Matt Martin after receiving a proclamation for his 18 years of service to Wayne County as clerk of courts.
After serving as the City of Orrville’s accounting manager for 18 years, Tim Neal decided it was time to run for office and was elected as the Wayne County clerk of courts in 2006, where he served another 18 years.
Retiring Wayne County Commissioner Ron Amstutz thanked Neal for his leadership and dedication to Wayne County.
“In 2014, through Tim’s leadership, Wayne County became the first county to implement the Pioneer Court Management System,” Amstutz said.
According to Amstutz, the system reduced costs and improved efficiency.
“Going paperless was definitely the biggest change to our office,” Neal said. “When we went live, it was like ripping a Band-Aid off. One day we had paper; the next we didn’t. But it has worked out well.”
During his time in office, Neal could be seen taking shifts each year at his office’s booth at the Wayne County Fair.
“I love the fair and 4-H, and I will miss that,” Neal said. “There used to be an elected officials booth, but that went away. I asked the fair manager if I could keep a booth just for my office, and he found me a spot.”
In addition to spearheading the effort to go paperless, Neal and his staff did the following:
—Implemented e-citations with law-enforcement agencies.
—Was the first to implement a credit and debit card system.
—Installed surveillance cameras for safety.
—Helped reduce budgets to avoid raising taxes.
—Installed audio and video equipment for Municipal and Common Pleas courts.
—Eliminated Orrville’s court requirement.
—Implemented collections of delinquent fines through the Attorney General’s Office.
—Provided digital access to decades-old records of cases.
As the administrative backbone of the court’s operations, Neal met challenges with determination and fostered a sense of community engagement within the judicial framework.
“I am eternally grateful and blessed to have worked with such a great group of public servants, including all those within the Clerk of Courts Office, the county elected officials and their departments, and law enforcement,” Neal said.
Dan Starcher is the public communications coordinator for Wayne County.