OUR VIEW: Dixon pays tribute to an unforgettable public servant and ambassador

Former Dixon Mayor Jim Burke left an impressive legacy during his 16 years as mayor, but riverfront development was his greatest passion while at City Hall.

Burke led the city from 1999 to 2015, and after a battle with cancer, died in February 2016, at age 78. A founding member of the riverfront development project, perhaps his greatest accomplishment was the construction of Heritage Crossing.

On Tuesday, the Dixon City Council passed a resolution to make Burke a permanent part of the riverfront he fought so hard to bring to life. The 100 and 200 blocks of West River Street, between the Peoria and Galena Avenue bridges, will be renamed James G. Burke Way and the James G. Burke Pavilion will be dedicated at Heritage Crossing.

The riverfront wasn’t Burke’s only signature achievement. In many respects, he was the right leader at the right time in Dixon. The city’s greatest ambassador, his enthusiasm and positive attitude were infectious, magnifying his leadership abilities. He owned Burke Realty for more than 40 years, and never stopped selling the city to anyone who would listen.

He understood and embraced the city’s history – it was a driving force in what was prioritized during his administration. In addition to his beloved riverfront, Burke spearheaded the growth of the industrial park, and his ability to forge personal relationships with business leaders paved the way in bringing many companies to town, including Wal-Mart. He also had a vision for the revitalization of the downtown and central business district, overseeing the streetscape project.

When discussions of new projects emerged, his first instinct was “why not in Dixon?” Burke could always see the big picture, but had the ability to break it down into manageable parts. His tenure gave life to 19 new boards, and 28 organizations and projects. That list includes the Reagan Trail Committee, Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission, Veterans Memorial Commission, and the Dixon Veterans Memorial Commission Museum Board, Dixon Welcome Center, I-39 Logistics Corridor Association, Lee County Industrial Development Association and Dixon Sister Cities.

The mayor’s enthusiasm and positivity would be tested mightily during the Rita Crundwell scandal. Burke had known the former city comptroller most of her life and her betrayal must have wounded him deeply on a personal level. He was the first to alert the FBI of his suspicions, leading to Crundwell’s 2013 federal wire fraud conviction after diverting more than $53 million of the city’s money into her bank account over 2 decades.

It’s unfortunate that Crundwell will also be a big part of Burke’s timeline as mayor, but during that time, his love of Dixon and upbeat, steadying influence was more important than ever.

The city will gather for a community dedication event from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12 on the riverfront with a presentation at 5:30 p.m. and live music starting at 6 p.m. It’s the focus of the September “Business After Business” hosted by the Dixon Chamber of Commerce and Main Street, and it will become an annual event that pays tribute to Burke.