After 10 years working for the city of Sedona, City Clerk Susan Irvine will be leaving the office on Dec. 16. Irvine will be moving to Parker, Colo., with her husband, Bill, their son, and her parents.
“We’re from Colorado, so it’s just time to go back home and be closer to family,” Irvine said.
Irvine, a native of Steamboat Springs, received a bachelor of science in finance from the University of Colorado Boulder. In Steamboat Springs, Irvine worked in the court system before taking a job as the Deputy Town Clerk and eventually Town Clerk of Hayden, a small town in northwest Colorado.
“It’s a town of less than 2,000, so the town clerk did virtually everything,” Irvine said. “It was council [meetings], planning and zoning, and board of adjustments. And still, with the duties of elections and council support.”
Irvine’s career in Sedona began in 2010 after her family came to visit friends in Camp Verde. The family eventually decided to move from Colorado toward the warmer weather in the Sedona area. After being hired on as deputy city clerk in July 2011, Irvine was promoted to city clerk later that October, after former clerk Randy Reed resigned to move to Washington State.
Irvine has worked under two mayors in her past decade at City Hall. Most notably during her time as city clerk, Irvine has helped the city navigate through the short-term rental issues, climate change discussions and COVID-19 pandemic mandates.
But Irvine said that the greatest part of her nearly 11 years with the city has been the people she formed relationships with at City Hall.
“This is very bittersweet for me,” Irvine said. “The staff here is just a really good group of people to work with. They’re like a second family.”
And in return, many other city workers also praise her for her dedication to her role. Deputy City Clerk Cherise Fullbright, City Manager Karen Osburn, formerly assistant city manager, and Mayor Sandy Moriarty, have all worked with Irvine for a number of years.
“Susan has been such a great teacher and it has been an honor to learn from her,” Fullbright said. “From Day One, I’ve been amazed by her knowledge and efficiency. She wears many hats here at the city, but always works tirelessly to carry out all of her duties, sometimes staying as late as 11 p.m. She truly goes above and beyond.”
Fullbright joined the City Clerk office in 2019. Irvine and Fullbright shared many responsibilities in the past two-and-a-half years. Fullbright said that Irvine has already had countless visitors since her announcement of leaving Sedona.
“I can’t speak highly enough about Susan, both professionally and personally,” said Osburn, who has been working for the city since 2012. “She has been exceptional in the city clerk role; councilors and staff alike rely heavily on her expertise. That technical proficiency will be hard to replace but I know I speak for many when I say we’ll miss her fun personality, warmth and positive attitude even more.”
Irvine is not sure where her career will take her next in Colorado. But Irvine said she is excited to use the skills she built up during her time working for the city of Sedona in whatever career she ends up in next.
“I’m very sorry that Susan is leaving. She has been an excellent city clerk and will be greatly missed,” said Moriarty, who has served as mayor since 2014. “I know that I depend on her in many ways, and she always goes above and beyond to serve the staff, the council and the residents. Her job is a critical one, and she could always be counted on when we needed her.”
The application for the city clerk position can be found on the city’s website. Applications will close on Dec. 5. Irvine has offered to serve as a virtual consultant for the new city clerk as Sedona heads into an election year.
