Syverson looks forward to retirement after serving as Commissioner
Wed, 12/26/2018 - 12:51pm
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By:
Karen Edelbach
“I've been around the courthouse a long time,” Arlen Syverson says, as he finishes his term as a County Commissioner at the end of the year. “I retired before in 2008 from custodian and maintenance for the courthouse and jail, for a total of 23 years working for the County. But after a while I needed something more to do.”
Thus, he decided to run for Clearwater County Commissioner and was elected in November of 2014, serving his term from 2015-2018.
“This was a good thing for me,” he says. “We learn from experience in our lifetime, as the world keeps on changing fast. I learned what I needed to know, and did what was expected of me.”
“I have learned from experience all my life,” he says. He enlisted in the Army right after graduating from high school in 1957, and then spent 30 years in the construction field, and says he learned a lot during that time.
As a Commissioner, Arlen spent many hours on committees, and drove to Moorhead for the Lake Agassiz Regional Library Board meetings from time to time. He said he really enjoyed his time with that group, sometimes making his trips an adventure, and lunch out with his wife. Once recently he had to stay overnight due to a snow storm.
“Now I won't have to worry about all those committees I was on,” he says.
“We have a good group of Commissioners, and I think they are doing well. The new ones should sit back a while and learn from John, Dean and Neal. They know what's 'cookin', and have received a lot of guidance from Dan Stenseng, the Chairman.”
“This has been a good experience, and I hope I've done some good,” he reflects. “You're always faced with decisions, and you don't have much time to research.”
“I think everyone should spend a term as a Commissioner,” Arlen says. “You will find out what our government is all about.”
Considering his retirement, Arlen says, “Now I can sit back and spend time fishing, and more time with my wife Eileen, and our family.”
Congratulations and thank you, Arlen.