By Robert Williams

Editor

Regardless of who was mayor or on city council, there has been one axiom in governing Vergas that has been unanimously agreed upon. That being, when Clerk/Treasurer Julie Lammers takes a rare vacation, or is out sick, most city government operations come to a halt. Due to that being true, the council elected to create the new position of Deputy Clerk and hired Rachel Nustad to assist Lammers with her duties along with keeping the city office running smoothly in her absence.

Nustad grew up on a farm between Vergas and Detroit Lakes graduating high school from the latter in 2012.

After graduation, Nustad elected to jump right into the workforce beginning in the food industry.

“I tried all sorts of different jobs and never knew what I wanted to do when I grew up,” said Nustad.

Those jobs gave her a look at different industries from gas stations to wildlife refuges and ranging farther from being an optometric technician, internet car sales, a dock and lift service supervisor and the list continued.

“One thing that really stuck with me was customer service; I really like talking to people and making a difference,” said Nustad.

The transition to Deputy Clerk has been half old hat and half breaking new ground.

“It was a lot at first,” she said. “Thankfully, I know my way around a computer and answering phones. I’ve done all sorts of billing at my past jobs, but the whole politics side of the job is very new to me and it’s definitely going to take some time for me to get used to that.”

Nustad quickly found out that there is less time to get used to things and more time to get right into it, like it or not. The job also came with more titles.

“I hate talking in front of a bunch of people and now I’m the Event Center Coordinator and I’m on the Park Board,” she laughed. “So now I go to all these meetings and have to present information and talk. It’s kind of scary, but once I get used to it I’ll be fine.”

Nustad did not seek out the position with the city. In fact, it found her when she was recommended by Liquor Store Manager Kyle Theisen.

“He reached out to me when the job opened and said he thought I would be good at it and it was right up my alley,” Nustad said. 

Not only has the work been challenging and rewarding but the job’s proximity to Nustad’s home has made life easier.

“I love it; I live right across the street so I walk to work every day and my kids don’t have to go to after school care,” she said. “I get to spend a lot more time with my family, which has been my goal.”

Nustad has her hands full at home raising two boys, ages seven and eight, along with her boyfriend of three years Wyatt. The family also has a dog, two cats and chickens.

Working for the City of Vergas also has personal meaning as Nustad’s family has been a part of Vergas for generations.

“A lot of people know my family because my grandparents had a dairy farm and my parents built their house on the same farmstead,” she said. “We grew up really close and I used to come to Vergas with my dad all the time going to Goodman’s, getting popcorn from Pinky at the hardware store. My dad actually used to work at the grain elevator where Refined Homes is now. I have small roots in this town. I didn’t grow up in this town but I grew up coming here all the time.”

Being able to contribute to the village is a bonus, as is the work environment, something that has been fulfilling for Nustad in her first few months on the job.

“I love being part of the committees that I’m a part of; I feel rewarded when I get home from work,” she said. “This place is so much more rewarding and relaxing and family-oriented. Definitely something I’m not used to.”

Nustad’s current office hours at the Government Services Center are Monday-Thursday. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. 12 p.m.