Amy Wall-Lance has been a constant presence at Crawford City Hall for nearly three decades.
She’s served as the city clerk, handling everything from water bills and business licenses to property taxes and cemetery questions. For many residents, she is the first person they speak with when they contact the city.
“I like the people,” Wall-Lance said. “I like meeting people and talking with them.”
Wall-Lance began working for the city while working as a substitute teacher at Oglethorpe County High School.
“I was at Kroger one evening when they announced over the loudspeaker that I had a phone call,” Wall-Lance said. “It was my parents telling me Martha Faust wanted me to come interview at the city council meeting.”
Martha Faust, a Crawford City Council member at the time, recommended Wall-Lance for the position.
“I told them we could do a 90-day trial period,” Wall-Lance said. “If you’re not happy with me or I’m not happy with the job, we can go our separate ways.”
Nearly 30 years later, she’s still there.
Wall-Lance grew up in Stephens and has lived in Oglethorpe County her entire life. She met her husband Brian Lance in the first grade, and they were friends before they began dating in the mid-1990s.
Valuable resource
Crawford Mayor Alan Erwin, who also knew Wall-Lance from their time in Oglethorpe County schools together, said the city has benefited from her long tenure and experience.
“The city of Crawford is lucky to have her,” Erwin said. “She’s very thorough and always professional.”
Erwin said Wall-Lance has also been a key resource for city officials, especially those who are new.
“She helps keep the city in line,” Erwin said. “When you have new council members or a new mayor, she’s always eager to help and steer you in the right direction.”
During this time, Wall-Lance said she’s seen Crawford grow while maintaining its small-town character. The city has upgraded its water system and built a new sewer plant, projects she said were necessary as the area continues to develop.
Still, growth inside the city limits is finite.
“We’re limited on space,” she said. “Most of the property in the city already has homes or businesses on it.”
Everyday routine
Her workdays often begin the same way, by picking up the mail and processing payments. From there, the responsibilities vary.
Wall-Lance collects water bill payments, processes building permits, handles occupational taxes for businesses and answers phone calls from residents throughout the day.
Sometimes those calls have nothing to do with Crawford at all.
“I get calls about Crawford County all the time,” she said with a laugh.
Even when she can’t solve a problem, she tries to help residents find the right person who can. Erwin said that ability to guide residents toward solutions is part of what makes Wall-Lance effective in the role.
“She’s very knowledgeable,” he said. “If she doesn’t know something, she usually knows who to call.”
From Dawgs to beach
Outside of work, Wall-Lance said she enjoys spending time with family, especially her nieces and nephews. She and her husband take an annual trip to Vilano Beach near St. Augustine, Florida.
She is also a longtime University of Georgia fan and rarely plans anything on fall Saturdays.
When she eventually retires, Wall-Lance said the people she sees every day will be the hardest part to leave behind.
“I’ll miss seeing the people I see every month,” she said. “That’s probably what I’ll miss the most.”
For now, she remains a steady presence at City Hall.
“I love what I do,” Wall-Lance said. “I love it every day.”