Dixon Mayor Jim Burke makes some last-minute phone calls on Monday.
"By 5:30, I'll be all finished," he said.
This marks his final day at City Hall. He's completing 16 years as mayor.
He chose not to run for a fifth term and will return to his real estate business.
"The key to being successful in politics and staying in office is to be able to manage your ego and other people's egos," he said.
That strategy was put to the test during his final term.
"She never apologized to anybody," he recalled.
Then-Dixon Comptroller Rita Crundwell embezzled nearly $54 million.
These were certainly Dixon's darkest days.
"I think the only regret that she had was that she got caught," he said.
Three years after Crundwell's arrest, Dixon is emerging as a better place.
The city recovered most of that embezzled money while embarking on a downtown streetscaping project and getting its finances in order.
By Monday evening, Dixon will have a new mayor, council and form of government.
Reflecting on four terms, each picture tells a story in Mayor Burke's office.
"Can you believe all of the stuff that we've got?" he chuckled.
Everything is off the walls now.
"This is the Ronald Reagan lifeguard statue," he said, pointing to an artist's concept.
Memories of special projects and triumphs for his city.
"This is from a groundbreaking," he continued. "This is our sister city."
Burke became a councilman at age 27. Now, after thousands of meetings in Dixon's chambers, he's leaving at age 77.
"I hope they say he did a heck of a job, and he made things happen," Burke said.
With hugs all around City Hall, it's something to embrace for this longtime leader.
"I'm going to miss it," he concluded. "I hate to go, but I know it's time to do this."