A longtime Washington city employee is clocking out for the final time this week.

City Clerk Illa Earnest is retiring after working for the City of Washington for over 36 years. The Washington native was first hired as a utility billing clerk in 1984, with the ambition to advance in positions to deputy clerk in 1987, and city clerk in 2008. Earnest says she hadn’t imagined having such a long tenure back when she was first hired, but she says when you’re doing what you love, the time flies by.

Earnest says she’ll miss her recently renovated office, among other aspects, “Certainly I’ll miss the staff, seeing the city people, and working with citizens and the mayor and council. I mean I’ve really enjoyed my interactions with the mayor and council and the citizens, trying to help them if they have a problem or directing them to people if they can help them with a problem, or just seeing people day to day.”

Earnest says she looks forward to doing some travel when pandemic restrictions have eased, as well as working on various projects and simple relaxation. She won’t be a stranger to Washington residents, as she serves on the Lending Hands Adult Day Center Board as well as other committees, and she enjoys attending community events. Earnest also mentions that former KCII news director Sally Hart will be a valuable employee as the new city clerk.