By Clay LePard
clepard@cbs4qc.com
For months Dixon residents say they had no idea how all this could happen to them.
But after today's guilty plea with Rita Crundwell, they say they are finally seeing justice being served.
"I'm appalled she could have done this to people she actually even grew up with and had no thought to how she's affecting all our lives in the process," says Patricia Petrie, Dixon resident.
After today's announcement, residents say they're hoping for the maximum sentence.
"I guess to spend the next 20 years thinking how she's treated us all of us in Dixon," Petrie adds.
The city new comptroller, or as it's called now "Finance Director", says she's glad to see it all moving in the right direction.
"It's an emotional thing that if nothing were to happen to her - it would be very hurtful for a lot of individuals," says Paula Meyer, Dixon Finance Director.
The new director says there will be more oversight to prevent something like this from happening again.
"Creating more of a finance department that we didn't have before and trying to segregate duties so no one person can take everything and have control of everything," Meyer adds.
Regardless of what happens in the future, residents say they'll never forget the name Rita Crundwell.
"It's going to be the legacy of Dixon now and forever but you have to pick up the pieces and move forward," Petrie explains.
Legal battles continue for Crundwell; she faces 60 counts of theft in Lee County. Her next scheduled court appearance is in December 19th .
