Departing Lake County administrator honored for service
As he prepares to take a new job in Florida, Lake County Administrator Barry Burton was honored by the county board Tuesday.
The board adopted a resolution praising Burton and the work he's done for the county since being hired as its administrator in 2002.
Burton has accepted a job as administrator in Pinellas County, which is on the Gulf Coast. His last day on the job in Lake County is Oct. 24, so Tuesday's board meeting likely was his last.
County Clerk Carla Wyckoff read the resolution honoring Burton before its approval. She described Burton's successful fiscal guidance, particularly during the Great Recession, as well as his oversight of projects including the recently completed courthouse expansion in Waukegan, the construction of a central permit facility in Libertyville and the expansion of the juvenile justice center near Vernon Hills.
As the resolution noted, Burton also oversaw the effort to replace the Winchester House nursing home, the responses to four flooding-related federal disasters and various efforts to relieve traffic congestion in the region.
After Wyckoff finished, Interim Board Chairwoman Carol Calabresa talked about Burton's solid economic guidance, ethical standards and professionalism.
"We always had that under his leadership," said Calabresa, a Libertyville Republican.
Ethics has been a campaign issue for several Democratic county candidates who insist more should be done to ensure ethical behavior by board members and county employees.
Burton was presented a framed copy of the resolution. Afterward, he said working for the people of Lake County has been an honor.
"Lake County will always be very special to me," he said.
In closing, the Florida-bound Burton invited the board members to "visit me in January." He received a standing ovation from nearly all the board members.
Deputy Administrator Amy McEwan will serve as interim administrator after Burton's departure. A national search for a new administrator is expected.