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As recently retired Scott Peterson drives around Grand Junction, the memories of his rewarding career with the City of Grand Junction come flooding in. Peterson recently retired after two decades of working in the Community Development Department. He started as an associate planner and worked his way up to senior planner. 

While working as a planner for the City, there have been many developments that Peterson helped bring to fruition. From large commercial projects to new subdivisions, these memories serve as warm reminders of the meaningful impact his career with the City of Grand Junction had on the place he calls home. 

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Like many of the employees who work for the City of Grand Junction, Peterson credits his career to the strong relationships he built with his co-workers and the pride he took in the work he accomplished during his tenure. Peterson found great satisfaction in knowing he played a role to help get exciting projects to the finish line.  

His favorite part of the job was the people he affectionately called his “work family.” “You spend 40 hours or more per week with your family at work,” he said. “The friendships I made here over the past 20 years, with current employees and past employees, are ones I’ll keep for the rest of my life. That’s what motivated me to get up and go to work in the morning.”

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Peterson, along with many employees, have built impressive careers with the City of Grand Junction. Anniversaries consisting of 20, 25, and even 30 years of service are not uncommon. This is a testament to the positive work culture at the City of Grand Junction. 

“There is pride in knowing you are helping the community as a public servant, a public employee,” Peterson said. “That’s our goal — to create a better community for others to enjoy for future generations. That’s the satisfaction I felt and explains why employees stay with the organization for as long as they do. They are making a significant impact on people’s lives, not just for their circle of friends and their neighborhood, but for the whole community.”

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While Grand Junction has grown over the last few decades, the growth didn’t come as a surprise to Peterson - especially since Grand Junction is the largest city between Denver and Salt Lake City, sitting almost equidistant between the two. “You could see the potential 20 years ago,” he said. “With the outdoor life and the great climate — we get close to 300 days of sunshine per year — it’s no surprise that the nation has found Grand Junction. It’s become a destination for not only vacationers, but retirees, telecommuters, and others who enjoy the outdoor lifestyle.”

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Peterson’s favorite thing about living in Grand Junction is the easy and abundant access to nature. “I love the trails along the riverfront trail system. I’m a road biker so the 30 miles of trails along the river is fantastic,” he said. In addition to biking, Peterson enjoys spending time on the links at Grand Junction’s five golf courses. “I love the variety of courses here,” he said “Plus, within an hour’s drive, there are numerous other courses you can play.”

Aside from more time on the golf course, Peterson said he plans to travel with his wife. “It’s a great big world out there but Grand Junction will always be our base and our home.” 

 

If you’re looking for a career, consider a position with the City of Grand Junction. The City of Grand Junction has multiple positions open, in a variety of fields.