Linda Richardson will bid adieu to her job as Independence Township DPW Director after 13 years leading the department.
David Mckee, former water and sewer superintendent of Waterford Township officially started the job on Monday, April 13.
Before officially retiring, Richardson will spend some time showing Mckee the ropes. Her official retirement date is Oct. 31, 2015, so she will still be here for a while.
Richardson has witnessed a lot of change in the township over the years since she first started working for Independence Township back in 1976.
Throughout the years, she held various jobs from working for the police and senior center to running Clarkston’s Lakeview Cemetery.
Running the cemetery was an interesting job.
‘I sold the graves and dug the graves,? she remembers. There was even a big story written about her being the first female grave digger.
Richardson had an interesting experience working at the cemetery on her first day, something she will never forget.
‘On my first day working at the cemetery I saw a guy walking around who looked like he was picking berries off the trees,? Richardson recalls. ‘When I went to look for him again he was nowhere to be found.?
All her experience throughout the years running the various departments would be good for her future, she said.
Richardson said she always enjoyed working outside, so working at the DPW has always been a good fit.
In 1988, Richardson became the assistant DPW director and was later appointed interim director from 2000-2001.
Her duties as DPW director over the past 13 years included overseeing water and sewer services in the community, cemeteries, safety paths and street lighting.