Burke named new village manager in Lincolnshire
A former Gurnee staffer was tapped to be Lincolnshire's next village manager Monday night.
Brad Burke will replace manager Bob Irvin, who is leaving the post he's held since 1993 at the end of the month.
Burke now serves as Kenilworth's village manager. He's had that job since 2006.
Burke worked in Gurnee's administration from 1996 to 2004. He served as a spokesman, an assistant to the village manager and assistant village manager in Gurnee.
From there he went to Lake Bluff, where he served as assistant village administrator for two years, and then he moved on to Kenilworth.
Burke, 41, of Highland Park, will have a starting salary of $155,000, officials said. He'll start the new job Aug. 20.
Burke didn't attend Monday's meeting in Lincolnshire. In a telephone interview, he said he's excited to lead a different kind of town.
Whereas Kenilworth is a relatively small, mostly residential community, Lincolnshire is larger and has a greater blend of homes, businesses, offices, shops and restaurants.
“It's an opportunity to work in a more complex community,” he said.
The board approved Burke's hiring without objection — but also without naming him during the meeting period.
Irvin, 57, of Libertyville, has worked in local government for 33 years. A Baltimore native, he came to Lincolnshire from Kirksville, Mo.
Irvin is particularly proud of the town's continued financial stability and the annexation deal that led to the constriction of the City Park shopping center, which features retail stores and popular restaurants, among other projects.
Trustee Liz Brandt credited Irvin for overseeing the development of the town's North Park, the widening of Route 22 through town and the deals that led to the Lincolnshire Commons and Village Green shopping centers.
“I think he had 18 great years in Lincolnshire and accomplished many things,” Brandt said before Monday's meeting.
Irvin doesn't know what the future holds for him.
“I don't think I'm done working,” he said. “I'm looking for something new to do.”