Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen reports that the investigation into the death of Terrence “Terry” Brisk which occurred Nov. 7th, in Belle Prairie Township, is now considered a homicide investigation. Investigators are also now seeking the public’s h

By Dawn Timbs

Staples World reporter

Lacey Smieja, the new clerk/treasurer for the City of Motley,  believes strongly that “things happen for a reason.”

Such as, her not seeing the job posting for the position until late in the game, but deciding to apply anyway, on the very last day possible.

She wasn’t sure if she had all of the qualifications, Lacey said; but after reading the job description, she felt she would be a strong fit and knew it was a career path she wanted to be on.

“I applied and here we are,” Lacey said recently at her new desk at Motley City Hall.

Out of 16 applicants, Lacey was one of five candidates selected to be interviewed on Sept. 29. The process included a full day of panel discussions, facility tours, as well as the interview with the city council. At the end of the day, the council voted to offer the position to Lacey. Her first official day of work was Nov. 1.

She’s enjoyed getting to know the other city employees, as well as several residents. “People have stopped in to say ‘hi.’ Everyone has been so friendly,” Lacey said.

Having spent several years in California, as well as Michigan, Lacey and her husband, Jon Smieja, are happy to be back in Central Minnesota. They moved back to Little Falls in May of 2015. It’s the town they both grew up in, Lacey said, adding that she and Jon dated during high school. Their daughter, Mayzie, will be three years old in February. They also have a dog, Lincoln. The Smiejas are happy to be closer to family.

After high school, Lacey went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Michigan University in political science/pre-law; and philosophy and a Master of Public Administration degree from San Diego State University. 

Her plan had always been to be a lawyer, Lacey said. However, after studying abroad in Australia, she decided to change her education focus. “They are so laid back there,” she said of the Australian people. “Their message is, ‘Do what makes you happy.’”

It was a message Lacey took to heart, mentioning that she knew she didn’t want the stress of being a lawyer.  Instead, she turned her focus toward working with a non-profit organization or local government.

In addition to her internship in Australia, Lacey had an internship in San Diego, working for the  non-profit Outdoor Outreach. Ultimately, Lacey found her strengths were in the area of local government.

She’s a ‘by-the-book’ kind of person, Lacey said, adding that she likes to follow the rules. These are qualities Lacey feels are required for a city clerk/treasurer position.

Prior to accepting the job at Motley City Hall, Lacey had worked as an auditor/quality control specialist at Rutledge & Associates; and as a senior claims examiner at the Law Offices of Thomas W. Rutledge, APC, in Poway, Calif.

It’s been an interesting time to take on her new role as city clerk/treasurer. 

The week after she started was the election, Lacey said, followed by a city council meeting and a budget meeting...a lot to absorb in a short time. She is the third clerk to work at Motley City Hall this year, which should make for an interesting audit, Lacey noted. 

It’s a challenge she is ready to take on, however. She notes that there is a lot to learn, but she is excited about her new job. As far as goals for the city, Lacey said she’s focusing on the task at hand for the next while, including making sure all of the required deadlines are met before the end of the year.

In her free time, Lacey  said she and her husband, Jon (who works as an environmental chemist), enjoy spending time outdoors and taking road trips on occasion. 

She shared that when they left California, they packed up everything in their Honda and spent three months traveling across the country. They visited National Parks along the way, hiking and back-packing during the day and pitching their tent at night. They were also able to visit with a number of friends as they made their way back to Minnesota.

Now 33, Lacey said she is ready for this next phase of her journey as Motley’s city clerk/treasurer. She looks forward to meeting more of the town’s residents and knowing how she can best be of service. A ‘meet and greet’ will be scheduled at city hall sometime in the near future.