Milestone: City honors retirees Tjemsland, VanAusdle

By Matthew Nash • July 17, 2024 1:30 am
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Pete Tjemsland, retiring City of Sequim utilities manager, was acknowledged on June 24 for his 35 years serving the city with a proclamation from city councilors and mayor Brandon Janisse.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Pete Tjemsland, retiring City of Sequim utilities manager, was acknowledged on June 24 for his 35 years serving the city with a proclamation from city councilors and mayor Brandon Janisse.

Sequim city councilors honored two retiring employees — Pete Tjemsland and Sarah VanAusdle — in June with proclamations recognizing their years of service for the community.

Tjemsland started in the City of Sequim in 1989 as a laborer and has served in many roles over his 35 years, including Maintenance Worker, Garbage Truck Operator, Water Treatment Plant Operator, and as Utilities Manager since 2008.

He worked as construction manager for the $10 million Water Reclamation Facility upgrade project in 2008 to reduce environmental impact and improve area water quality.

Tjemsland also served as Chief Equipment Operator with the U.S. Navy Seabees from 1982-2003, and was deployed five times, including assignments in Beirut and Lebanon and in Desert Storm (1990-1991).

City councilor Vicki Lowe said she appreciated how much Tjemsland put into his work and that she was sad to see his institutional knowledge leave the city.

VanAusdle started with the city as an Accounting Assistant in 2011 before becoming a Public Works Management Analyst in 2012. She was promoted to Assistant Public Works Director in 2021, and served as interim Public Works Director until she permanently took the role in 2022.

She was part of the team that implemented the city’s first Capital Improvement Program (CIP) in 2013, the first long-range financial plan, and the first multi-year fleet replacement program.

Among her other accomplishments, she also assisted and facilitated the development of the wholesale sewer agreements with Clallam County for Carlsborg and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe in Blyn.

VanAusdle thanked public works employees on June 24 saying it’s “been heartening and humbling to watch all of them … and it’s been an honor to be part of that team.”

Councilor Rachel Anderson said VanAusdle has been an inspiration that always has “so much patience and grace.”

Councilor Nicole Hartman said both Tjemsland and VanAusdle show “an immense pride in their team.”

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Sarah VanAusdle, retiring City of Sequim public works director, was acknowledged on June 24 for working for the city more than a decade. She thanked public works employees saying it’s “been an honor to be part of that team.”

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Sarah VanAusdle, retiring City of Sequim public works director, was acknowledged on June 24 for working for the city more than a decade. She thanked public works employees saying it’s “been an honor to be part of that team.”