First Campton Hills administator eager to give back
Campton Hills leaders have hired the village’s first administrator.
Jennifer Johnsen, a Batavia resident and village administrator for the past four years in Berkeley, will start later this month after she edged out 48 other applicants for the position.
Johnsen, 32, said she is eager and enthusiastic to play a role in the young village, which will turn 7 in the spring.
“I’m really a true public servant. I’m in it for the best interests of the community,” said Johnsen, an Elgin native. “This is really my way of giving back and serving residents. This is why I’m in the field.”
Village President Patsy Smith said Johnsen’s contract runs through August 2015 and she has a yearly salary of $89,000 for the full-time job.
“She’s familiar with our area,” Smith said. “I think she’ll just make a great fit.”
Campton Hills has more than twice the population of Berkeley and several times its geographical area, and Johnsen sees that as a challenge.
Johnsen, who has 10 years of government experience, has bachelor’s degrees in political science and math, and she earned her a master’s degree in public administration from Northern Illinois University.
She said she is good at multi-tasking, seeing projects from start to finish, and providing a hands-on presence.
Managing water resources and population growth, preserving the village’s historic elements and controlling spending are short-term and long-range issues that Johnsen has identified for the village.
“Basically, what we’re doing is growing a community. That’s very exciting,” she said. “I enjoy (multi-tasking). I like being busy. I like to see projects through from beginning to end.”
Her first day is Jan. 27.