Elgin’s new city clerk may come across some of her own records in her new role.

The city has hired Kimberly Dewis, a 13-year resident, as its new records guru to replace Diane Robertson who retired in the spring.

“It seemed like a natural fit to work for the city I lived in,” Dewis said.

For the past 12 years she has worked as deputy clerk in Mount Prospect and also has experience in records management with private companies. Dewis says she likes “being able to help people find the information they’re looking for.”

She holds a bachelor of arts in history from Northern Illinois University and also recently completed the paralegal program at Elgin Community College. In Mount Prospect, she had started to work with the administrative adjudication program as court clerk and said she thought the extra training in legalese would be beneficial. Even if she’s not in a courtroom in Elgin, she said the lessons should come in handy.

“It’s good to know your way around legal world dealing with council and updating ordinances and rules and regulations,” she said. “It’s good to have at least a background so you’re up to speed and know what you’re talking about. I feel it has been a good fit for what I did and what I am doing.”

Dewis was one of about 150 applicants for the job. Mayor Dave Kaptain led the five-person selection team and said he wanted someone who lived in Elgin. Kaptain was impressed by Dewis’ previous experience and her work computerizing decades worth of Mount Prospect records.

“That kind of stuck with us,” he said. “She’s very diligent and will do a great job.”