St. Helens finance head hangs up her calculator

Marilyn Peterson, considered a significant source of institutional memory, is retiring to spend more time with her family

By Tyler Graf

The South County Spotlight, Aug 25, 2010 (1 Reader comment)

Tyler Graf / The South County Spotlight

CRUNCHING NUMBERS — Marilyn Peterson, St. Helens finance director, at work in her office. In October she will retire as the longest serving city employee.

When Marilyn Peterson started working for the city of St. Helens as a utilities specialist in 1972, city business was conducted with handshakes and backslaps. In other words: It was a boy’s club.

Thirty-eight years later, and now as the city’s finance director, the longest serving city employee is able to reflect on how things have changed over the course of nearly four decades.

“Back then, when I started, there were never formal contracts,” Peterson said. “The reason government takes so long is because there’s a lot of bureaucracy.”

Because of her longevity, Peterson provides much of the institutional memory for other employees. In October, however, she will take her years of accumulated knowledge with her into retirement.

“It’s time for me to pass along my pencil,” she said.

City Administrator Chad Olsen said that for a relative newcomer such as him – with only four years under his belt – Peterson’s knowhow has streamlined governmental procedures, especially budgeting.

“She certainly has a lot of knowledge she brings the city,” he said.

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