Janet Harrell has worked for the City of Grand Junction for nearly a decade. Before her current position as the Records Manager, Janet worked in the same department — the City Clerk’s office — as a Deputy City Clerk. When the previous records manager retired in September 2023, Harrell was excited about the possibility of a new challenge and applied for the position. “It was an opportunity to expand my knowledge to a different piece I hadn’t worked with as much before,” she said. “So far, it’s been a great fit.” Her favorite part of the job is the problem-solving. “I’m a puzzle person, so I like to sort out the details of things,” she said.
In 1969, Colorado passed the Colorado Open Records Act. This act “provides that all public records shall be open for inspection by any person at reasonable times…” Therefore, the City of Grand Junction ensures that public records are readily available. With approximately 800 employees, 17 departments and divisions, and thousands of records, it is important that the City has an organized system in place to ensure requests are responded to promptly.
As the records manager for the City of Grand Junction, Janet Harrell keeps this process working seamlessly. Her job is to help record and preserve the City’s public information. Her primary job duties include responding to FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) records requests and managing City records. Harrell facilitates any open records requests except for criminal justice records requests. The Police Department manages criminal justice records separately.
Harrell recognizes the significance of her role at the City of Grand Junction and has gained substantial knowledge since she began in 2023. “It revolves around knowing where records are held and making sure they are held for the correct amount of time,” she said. “The City has a variety of records – planning, historical, City Council, transportation and engineering, legal - just to name a few. A large portion of my job includes ensuring the records are electronically or physically preserved as required by law.”
While Harrell can help the public find City records, she says many are accessible without needing to submit a request. “People can access many City documents like ordinances, resolutions, meeting packets, contracts, and a variety of other documents,” she said. “Whether you’re looking for a certain topic, or looking for historical information, you can use the search in the records portal to see if it’s already available.”
Learn more about what it is like working for the City of Grand Junction and the diversity of available positions. For career opportunities with the City of Grand Junction, check out the City’s Job Board.