Hanover Park village manager to retire in June
Hanover Park Village Manager Ron Moser will step down from his post confident the community is in a better place than when he took the job nearly three years ago.
Moser said Wednesday that he’ll June 15, ending a 14-year tenure with the village, the first 11 as its police chief.
“I’m happy with what we’ve accomplished in terms of public safety and trying to increase economic development, as well as improving our image in the larger sense,” Moser, 59, said.
Before coming to Hanover Park in 1998, Moser was police chief in Ottumwa, Iowa, and held prior law enforcement positions in Peoria, Rock Island and San Jose, Calif.
Hanover Park Mayor Rod Craig appointed Moser village manager in 2009 following a spate of gang violence and murders. Since taking on the new role, Moser and his successor, Police Chief David Webb, have poured resources into public safety. The revamped department is now better staffed, operates out of a new headquarters and is reporting record-low crime rates.
“I never expected to be a village manager,” Moser said. “It was quite a challenge and very rewarding.”
Moser said he’s also proud of the village’s economic development efforts, which have resulted in a new strategic plan, the village’s purchase of Hanover Square shopping center and steps toward a mixed-use development known as Village Center.
Moser only informed the board of his retirement this week, so no decision has been made on how the search for his replacement will proceed. He said he wanted to give a few months’ notice to help with the transition.
Moser plans on staying in the area but said he doesn’t have another full-time position lined up. He hopes to expand on the online criminal justice teaching he does, and is open to other opportunities in that field.
Craig lauded the village manager’s service.
“Our goal to make health and safety a priority in Hanover Park, as we improve the quality of life for residents, has become the day-to-day standard under Ron Moser’s leadership” Craig said.