Lorene Arnold has seen a lot of changes in her 14 years in Vicksburg’s purchasing department, seven of which she has spent as purchasing director.

“You have to go into any job with the idea that there’s going to be some change. You have to be willing to change,” she said. “You treat it as a learning vehicle. That’s the way you grow. Our world has changed.”

Now, after seeing a changing world firsthand, Arnold’s stepping down from her role and into retirement. Her last day will be next Tuesday, 11 days before her 65th birthday.

Since Arnold began working as a purchasing clerk in June 1993, prices on items for which she has sought bids for various city projects, have continued to rise exponentially, she said.

From 2000, when Arnold became director, to 2005, the price of a barrel of oil was 73 percent higher. Along the same lines, the price of steel more than doubled from 2003 to 2005. Those prices have continued to rise even more over the years, she said.

“Pricing is a lot more volatile now,” she said. “Anything with oil and building materials — it all costs a lot more.”

Tim Smith, who has worked for the city since he was in high school 26 years ago, will take over Arnold’s role beginning Wednesday. He currently works as project manager for the city, where he purchases natural gas and deals with cell phone contracts and waste management. He will continue with some of those projects and take on a dual role as purchasing director and utility manager, he said. He, too, has seen prices change — especially with natural gas.

“In the early ’90s, gas was off the spot market. We purchased gas for $1,” he said. “Now, it’s $7 or $8, and in the winter, it’s anywhere from $10 to $15. The gas business has changed tremendously. The whole world economy affects it. It’s more sensitive now.”

Whether it’s a paper clip or a fire truck, everything the city purchases — with the exception of materials used on engineering projects — must come through the purchasing office, which employs three additional full-time workers.

They purchase “everything that all the departments need — from heavy equipment down to pens and paper clips,” Smith said.

Purchases below $10,000 and quotes below $1,500 don’t require bids. If they are more than that amount and do require bids, however, Arnold has gone before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and had the purchases approved.

“This department directly reports to the board,” she said.

Bids are determined by dollar amount and the need for items is determined by descriptions by department heads.

“If we’re in need of purchasing a fire truck, before that happens, the department heads have to make up the budget,” she said. “If they think they will need it, it has to be presented when they meet for the budget request. It’s initially approved at that point, and if it’s approved, they say, ‘This is what we need.'”

Arnold’s job, then, has been to look at the requested item and find if there are any restricted specifics based on what the equipment has to do. Then she will look to find what the market has available, she said. Depending on department heads is one of the most important aspects of the job.

“I can get the form (done) correctly, but I don’t know what (the purchased item) is going to do,” she said. “You have to have department heads you can depend on — and I do. There’s no way to describe how helpful they’ve been.”

Ann Grimshel, a certified professional public buyer in the purchasing department, came to work at the city the same year Arnold did and has worked with her for eight years. She said Arnold has helped her learn the entire process.

“She has helped with teaching us the knowledge of what she’s learned herself. She’s helped us with our work,” Grimshel said. “She was our mentor. All of the supervisors really go to her for guidance and the city board goes to her. She keeps them really abreast of everything.”

Arnold has worked with three mayors, two of whom have had multiple terms. Mayor Laurence Leyens, in his second term, said she has been “extremely professional” during his administration.

“There are a lot of laws and a lot of legal process regarding purchasing,” he said. “She has done a phenomenal job. She’s one of those department heads who has held the line — she’s one of those comfort areas where I don’t feel like I have to look over her shoulder. I will miss her.”

Now, instead of punching in numbers, signing purchase orders and opening sealed bids, Arnold will spend more time with her music, her church and her family, she said. She will also do some traveling with her husband, Gerald Arnold, who has been retired for the past 15 years.

“He’s been more insistent on traveling. We like to follow bluegrass music,” she said.

But, breaking her routine of getting into the office at 6:30 every morning will not be easy.

“I’m sure it will be quite an adjustment — no doubt,” she said. “It’s been a good ride. I’ve had a good time. I am just so glad I’m retiring on a good, strong, progressive board.”

Grimshel said Arnold will be missed by her employees.

“She was a very good asset to the city,” she said. “I told her to keep her cell phone close after she leaves — in case I have a question.”

Smith, who has been training with Arnold this week, said she has put him into a good position to take over the job.

“Lorene has some very good employees over there, and she has everything running smoothly, which is a real big help for me,” he said. “Everything is already ready for me.”