Sterling to Honor Longtime City Employee Debra Forbes at Public Reception

The City of Sterling will mark the retirement of Debra Forbes with a public reception on January 16, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Sterling Public Library Community Room, 420 North 5th Street. The event is open to the public and invites residents to stop by to congratulate Forbes on four decades plus of service to the city.

Forbes’ 42-year tenure spans multiple economic cycles and municipal developments, making her departure a significant moment for local civic continuity. Long-serving employees like Forbes often carry institutional knowledge about city operations, procedures and local relationships that municipal officials rely on to maintain steady services. Losing that experience can create short-term pressure on staff workloads and training budgets as replacements are recruited and brought up to speed.

Small cities and their budgets must account not only for the immediate logistics of replacing a position but also for longer-term pension and benefit implications. Retirement transitions commonly involve one-time costs for recruiting and training, and potential adjustments to payroll if the incoming hire commands a different wage. For residents, the practical impact is usually minimal when transitions are managed proactively, but the moment highlights the importance of succession planning in Logan County’s municipal workforces.

The community reception at the library is aimed at providing an opportunity for public recognition and an informal forum for neighbors, colleagues and city officials to express appreciation. Public events like this also serve as a check on civic engagement, reminding elected officials and administrators of the value voters place on experienced public servants.

Logan County residents who attend will gain closure and a sense of continuity as the city moves toward a new staffing chapter. For local policymakers, Forbes’ retirement underscores a broader trend affecting many small governments: balancing respect for long service with the budgetary and operational realities of replacing veteran workers. The Sterling Public Library Community Room will be the site for those conversations and the community farewell on January 16.