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Writer's pictureTy Gant

Kane County Recorder Ver Jean Caruso retires after more than 40 years of service

Ver Jean Caruso, Kane County Recorder, has chosen not to run for reelection at the end of 2024, effectively retiring from her position. Caruso has served as the elected Recorder for 37 years and worked in the Recorder’s Office as a county employee for about five years prior to that. Says Caruso, “When I took office in 1987, the Utah State Legislature decided that all surveys done needed to be filed with a County Surveyor, and in counties with no surveyor, the Recorder’s Office would be the depository for those surveys. I have been the ‘custodian’ of all land records and surveys performed since then.”



Left to right, photos courtesy of Ver Jean Caruso:

  • Ver Jean Caruso, pictured here circa 2002.

  • Caruso won her first election against three men as opponents, stating “proving myself as an elected official and as a woman … was the hardest thing I had to do.”

  • Caruso thanked her staff for their support and hard work. 2023 staff (l-r) Isis Smith, Ver Jean Caruso, Chelcie Cox, Nicki Lamb and Lisa Chavez.

  • 2024 office staff (l-r) Rylie Staton, Isis Smith, Ver Jean Caruso, Liza Chavez and Jessica Bartlett.


Caruso recounts the progress the Recorder’s Office, and the county as a whole has made since then, stating, “In 1981, all the records were kept by hand. In 1983, Kane County got their first computers; the land records were still done by hand, plus we put the owner’s name, address and property information on the computer for tax purposes. In August of 2006, we went ‘live’ on the internet with the recording and in June 2022 we began all our recording electronically. I’ve reached retirement age this year, and my ninth term will be complete at the end of the year so it was the perfect time to step aside and let the next generation take over.” Isis Smith, who has been Caruso’s Chief Deputy since 2013 and ran in the position’s election unopposed, will be assuming the role.”. Says Caruso, “Isis knows and does the duties of the recorder. She will take office January 2025 as the 23rd Kane County recorder. I would like to thank all the staff members I have had for all they have done to keep the records up to date. I couldn’t have done it without them.”


When asked what prompted her to run for the position, Caruso replied, “When Web Adair decided to retire at the end of his term in 1986, the Recorder’s position came up for election. I had worked in the office for five years, so I decided to run. I ran against three men for the position and won.”



Caruso adds that earning respect in those initial years was one of the hardest parts of the job. “The hardest thing I have dealt with through the years was not being respected, having to prove myself as an elected official and as a woman. I have worked hard to be where I am today, and I appreciate all of those who have stood by me and supported me in my job. During elections, the most difficult thing for me was giving speeches (I admire those who can give a speech without having to write everything down and be able to stand there without shaking.) Even when I was unopposed they made me give a speech at the Republican Convention. I don’t remember speeches one through eight, but I remember my last speech: ‘I would like you all to know three things about me. Number one, I enjoy my job. Number two, I appreciate your support. Number three, I like short speeches.”


In contrast, Caruso states, “My favorite part of the job is when I get to help people search for their ancestors and property they owned. They get so excited when they find new information! There is so much history and information especially in the older records. Several people have written books on their family’s history with the information from our records.”


According to the Recorder’s Office, Kane County has over 18,000 parcels of land, and “it is the Recorder’s Office’s job to make sure all information is updated and correct on all parcels so the Assessor, Treasurer and Clerk/Auditor can proceed with their jobs.” Caruso adds, “When I started, I worked on the abstract books and sheets which contain the histories and transfers of all property in Kane County beginning in 1961. Any search before 1961 you had to search index cards on each transfer from the old books … Web had me start gathering and writing the information from the index cards and putting it on the abstract sheets. I continued through the years as time allowed, and I can proudly say that we have the total record of title for each property from 1856 to present on the abstract sheets!”


When asked what her plans were for the future, Caruso concludes, “I plan to enjoy my retirement one day at a time.” As closing thoughts to the interview, Caruso added a list of facts for the readership: “Brigham Young established the recorder’s office in 1850, and the recorder was to keep a record of every action or transaction that involved real property; Kane County’s records began in 1856 when Toquerville was the county seat, and has had 22 County Recorders since that time; in 1981, the county office was upstairs at the old courthouse, and moved into the current building in ‘82; and there were no preservation groups to restore the old courthouse, in the middle of the night someone went in and knocked down the walls so it would be demolished. It was rumored that one of the commissioners at the time was involved, and the old courthouse was demolished that same year.”

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