Reception for retiring Hillsboro mayor set
Staff writer
A reception to honor Delores Dalke for 24 years service as Hillsboro mayor will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 28 at Hillsboro City Hall.
The public is invited to stop by and wish her well. Refreshments will be served.
When contacted Tuesday, Dalke said she was feeling OK about her retirement.
“I think I am,” she said hesitantly. “I went to my last library board meeting the other day and almost cried. It’s kind of sad to be coming to the end of my role as mayor.”
Her first term began in 1991. She took two years off in 1995 and 1996 to care for her mother.
She said she reminded city employees at their recent Christmas dinner of all the things the City of Hillsboro did not have when she became mayor.
For example, there was no Hillsboro Heights.
“There was nothing out there,” she said. “Businesses wanted to expand but there was no room downtown, so the city moved to acquire that land.”
There used to be a hump in the middle of Main Street.
“I would be sitting in my office and couldn’t see the curb on the other side of the street,” she said.
Now, Main Street is broad and smooth.
She is looking forward to her reception on Dec. 28.
“I think it’s nice of the people in my office to plan a reception. I wasn’t expecting it. I’m sure I’m going to miss being mayor, but it was time for me to go and let someone else take over.”