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Longtime Hayden clerk prepares to retire

Sundberg to be recognized at Town Council meeting Thursday for 34 years of service

Beth Sundberg
042111_sundberg_mug

— The town of Hayden is losing its first, and only, municipal court clerk.

Beth Sundberg is retiring after 34 years with Hayden. Sundberg joked Wednesday that she never thought about staying as long as she did after starting her job in 1977.

“I liked the job,” she said. “I guess there was no reason to leave. And I didn’t want to take a full-time job. It worked out great.”



The Town Council will recognize Sundberg’s service to Hayden at tonight’s meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 7:30. Town Council members also will recognize municipal court Judge Steve Frasier, who is retiring after 14 years on the job.

Sundberg studied secretarial training at Colorado State University, where she met her husband, John. After living in Germany while John was in the Army, the couple settled in Hayden, where John was born.



After raising three kids and working part-time jobs for the U.S. Forest Service office in Hayden and the town’s elementary school lunchroom, Sundberg applied to become the part-time municipal court clerk. Sundberg said that before her, the town employed a justice of the peace and the town clerk took care of municipal court duties.

Hayden Finance Director Lisa Dowling, who has worked with Sundberg the past 18 years, said Sundberg created the processes for the municipal court — from processing tickets, sending depositions to the state and creating a filing system.

“I’ve probably not met anyone more dedicated to her job,” Dowling said.

Town Clerk Susan Irvine agreed.

“In the 12 years I’ve been here, I think she had someone sub in for her once,” Irvine said. “She’ll come down in the evenings, on weekends.”

After working in municipal courts held in two town halls — the American Legion Post 89 and the Hayden Public Library — and serving for five judges, Sundberg said it was time to retire.

She’s looking forward to working in her garden and spending time with her five grandchildren. Sundberg said she gets to do those things on a regular basis anyway because her job keeps her busy only a few hours per week.

Sundberg has been working to train the new court clerk. Her last day was Tuesday. But she said it probably wouldn’t be her last time in Town Hall.

“I’ll probably still do some things,” she said. “I know I will.”

Also at tonight’s meeting, the Town Council will consider whether to approve a special events permit for a barbecue fundraiser June 25 at The Haven Community Center, and it will hear a presentation from Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association Executive Vice President Sandy Evans Hall about the winter air service program at Yampa Valley Regional Airport.

— To reach Jack Weinstein, call 970-871-4203 or email jweinstein@SteamboatToday.com


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