Wanda Burton Honored for Nearly 42 Years With City

Wanda Burton has seen much change in her nearly 42 years working for the city of St. Charles.

She's worked under eight different mayors and countless supervisors, but one constant has been her dedication to the job.

Bruce Evans, director of Community Development, said Burton has probably interacted with or dealt with most of the people in St. Charles. Most recently Burton has worked as an administrative assistant for the department of community development.

"She's always got a smile for them," he said. "I've seen her go the extra mile to help them get through the bureaucracy. She's been a wonderful representative of the city."

Barton started working for streets department during her senior year of high school in 1969. Burton was one of three students chosen to participate in a business program for seniors at St. Charles High School. She never intended to stay with the city for 42 years, but took the job when she graduated and never left.

"It’s been my longest senior year," she told the St. Charles City Council Tuesday.

City council members and staff thanked her for her hard work during the meeting Tuesday night. Burton will retire Aug. 1 because she has a health condition, she said. 

Burton said she was always taught by family members to go the extra mile and to do her best whether she got paid or not. She said she encountered challenges on the job, like racism and angry people, but tried to smile and do her best.

"I told people, 'You know, one thing I can really think about is God is not going to hold me responsible for how people treat me,'" she said. "He’s going to hold me responsible for how I treat them."

While she was before the council, she asked them to consider hiring someone to fill her position after she's gone. 

"We really need that," she said. "Over the years I’ve worked there, there’s never been a time I've been bored--and there's never been a time I’ve been caught up. That is a blessing."