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A resilient, funny people person are ways co-workers describe Twyla Faust, who has chosen to retire from Greenfield Municipal Utilities effective this Friday.
Faust, who has spent almost 19 years with GMU, came from working at Eaton Corporation in Winterset, a factory that made electrical panels. She was their billing clerk and originally held a similar position in Greenfield, though her job duties have increased considerably over time.
"We do accounts payable, pay roll, and we help customers who come in and pay their bills. Jessica and I share [job duties]," Faust said. "My favorite parts of my job are the people, waiting on them and saying 'hey.'"
GMU has 10 employees and provides utilities services to around 1,000 customers and also oversees the upkeep of the city's infastructure. Faust and Foster have much larger jobs than most people realize.
"I think the funniest thing was that one person several years ago asked me what I do the rest of the time when I'm not taking their bill," Faust said. "They don't understand that there are so many reports to do. It's not just, 'Here, I read your meter and here's your bill.' I don't think they understand what all we do in this office. We do building permits and other things. It's a lot."
In 1999, Faust felt the skills she used at Eaton, which was closing, would be transferrable to GMU. Now, she and her husband Rusty are excited to spend time with their 13 grandchildren, who are spread all over southern Iowa.
"All four of my kids are within an hour and a half of us," Faust said.
"You have your ups and downs [with any co-workers], but this has been good. I have my bad days and they've handled it well," Faust added. "There's such a big age difference but I've loved it. This was a hard decision to make. It's just time."
Faust's current co-workers will miss her when she's gone.
"Life will certainly be different without Twyla in the office," Foster said. "She's always got a funny story or laugh to share or will lighten a bleak day with random song and dance."