New interim administrator, task force in Pingree Grove

Pingree Grove Police Chief Carol Lussky will take on the role of interim village administrator after Friday and until the village hires someone to fill the part-time position, officials said.

Lussky's pay rate will increase from $43 to $46 per hour to account for the additional duties, said Village Administrator Bill Barlow, whose last day on the job is Friday. He will take on a full-time job as village manager in Maywood.

Lussky was unavailable for comment and will be back to work Monday. Barlow said. Village officials hope to have a new administrator start working no later than Nov. 14, but possibly as early as mid-October.

The interim appointment was approved Monday by the village board.

The board also voted to appoint 14 residents to serve on a new finance task force. A group of residents had proposed forming the task force during a heated meeting in August during which the village board raised certain taxes and fees to help deal with a $50,000 budget hole.

Village President Greg Marston said he interviewed all 14 residents one on one last week, and decided to recommend them all for appointment. “I am very inspired by them. I appreciate the time and effort they are putting in,” he said.

The new task force members are Marilyn Foley, Ron Hansen, Denise Wiedmeyer, Kathleen Sarullo, Rich Eckert, Don Hoffman, Matthew Bliss, Jon Peschke, Ryan Hallgren, Joe Nowosielski, Julie Dillon, Mark McQueen, Bruce Thesen and Darrel Featherly.

The task force is schedule to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, and hear a presentation by Barlow about the state of the village's finances.