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Mundelein to merge engineering, public works departments

In a cost-cutting move, Mundelein officials are merging the town's engineering and public works departments.

Some staff positions could be cut as part of the move, but nothing has been finalized, trustees said Tuesday. A savings estimate was not available.

Layoffs in these and other departments are being considered as part of the budgeting process for the next fiscal year, which begins May 1, officials said. Opportunities for additional consolidations will be examined, too.

“All the departments are on the table,” Trustee Ray Semple said.

The engineering department consists of four employees and is led by Village Engineer Bill Emmerich. It designs road-improvement plans, reviews developer site plans and handles other tasks.

The public works department has 45 workers and is led by Director Kenneth Miller, who is set to retire in February. His crews maintain the town's streets, water lines and sewers.

Miller's upcoming retirement gave town leaders an opportunity to consider the merger, Semple said.

The consolidated department will be called the engineering and public works department and will have one director. Village leaders will accept applications for the top post.

“I think we're going to encourage everyone to apply and take applications as they come,” Voss said.

The village board voted Monday to create the single director position. The vote, made without public discussion, followed a Dec. 13 board talk about combining the departments.

The merger will become effective once a new director is hired, Voss said.

Semple expects that will happen before the current fiscal year ends April 30.