Burr Ridge Clerk Retiring After 40 years

BURR RIDGE, IL — Burr Ridge's elected village clerk is leaving after more than four decades of service to the village. Her last day is May 22.

Clerk Karen Thomas announced her retirement in a letter last week to Village Administrator Doug Pollock. She said her decision to leave was not an easy one.

"Retirement will allow me to spend more time traveling, meeting new people and spending time with old friends and family," Thomas said. "I hope you and the board know that the best interests of Burr Ridge have always been important to me, and I am proud of any contribution I have made to keep Burr Ridge a Special Place," a reference to the village's slogan.

In his memo to the village board, Pollock praised Thomas' service. "Her knowledge of the village and dedication to the residents will be greatly missed," he said. A retirement reception will be held soon, he said.

At a later village board meeting, the staff will provide more information on filling the village clerk's position, Pollock said in the memo. Thomas' salary is about $60,000, according to OpenTheBooks.com.

According to the village's website, the main duties of a clerk are to maintain the official records of the village, attesting to the mayor's signature on documents, serve as the clerk to the village board and act as a deputy registrar of voters.

Just one week before Thomas' retirement, one of the village's accounting clerks, Barb Joyce, will retire. In a letter, she said it was "time for the next chapter of my life." She has been with the village for 24 years.

Her job involves managing all the water billing accounts. The village has more than 4,500 accounts.