Meet Prospect Heights' new city administrator

Joe Wade says he thrives on helping others.

That'll be among his main tasks as newly hired city administrator for Prospect Heights, where he sees the job's primary duty as helping the mayor, city council, and city staff accomplish their goals.

“The goal of everybody is to do their best for the community,” he said.

Wade, who comes to the city after serving in administrative roles in Carpentersville and Morton Grove, started his new job June 8 and has been trying to learn the community as quickly as possible.

On Thursday, that meant helping the police department's youth outreach program by giving at-risk children a tour of city hall and talking to them about how local government works.

“It's fun to see a community through a child's eyes because they look at it much differently,” said Wade, a Waukegan native who now lives in Glenview.

Wade said the city is at a good starting point for reaching its economic and community goals, in part because of a comprehensive plan approved by the city council in 2014.

The plan details areas for improved economic development, such as near the Metra train station and Chicago Executive Airport, and also ideas to improve water quality, as many residents are still on well water.

Wade said he enjoys that the plan also includes community activities, such as the youth outreach program, “so it's not all just about land use.”

He was hired from a field of 38 applicants for the job that's been vacant since June 2014 when his predecessor, Ken Lopez, resigned after only two months. Former Buffalo Grove administrator William Balling had been serving as interim administrator since Lopez's departure.

Wade holds master's degrees in public administration from Northern Illinois University and industrial relations from Loyola University in Chicago. He served as assistant village manager and economic development director for Carpentersville for three years, and previously spent six years as village administrator in Morton Grove

“He has a great background in economic development, and that's an area I stressed from my first day in office,” Mayor Nick Helmer said.

Economic development is especially important for Prospect Heights, a non-home rule community with no general property tax. That leaves the city reliant on sales taxes and restaurant/hotel taxes for much of its revenue.

Despite being new, Wade already knows hot spots where development could take place. Among them, the city-owned arena property at Willow and Sanders roads and the former Social Security office on Euclid and Elmhurst roads.

He also listed improving trail and sidewalk connectivity and the possibility of creating a town center as priorities.

“That's going to be a challenge,” Wade said of Prospect Heights' lack of home rule authority. “Every town has its challenges and new things to learn. That keeps you fresh. I've never worked in a town where the city is responsible for an airport, either.”

Helmer praised the efforts of Balling, who as interim administrator was leading the city's effort to link residents and businesses to Lake Michigan water. Balling chose not to seek the permanent administrator's job.

“He helped to make sure we were in good condition during the search (for a full-time administrator),” Helmer said. “He continues to be on call, and if we do need him we know where to find him.”

Along with Wade's experience in economic development, Helmer said he won favor with city leaders by indicating he would not be looking for other jobs if hired by Prospect Heights,

“Wade was willing to make a commitment to our city,” Helmer said.

Wade's contract, which pays him a $145,000 salary, was approved by aldermen at the city council's May 26 meeting.

Residents can meet Wade at the upcoming Prospect Heights Block Party on June 27 at Lions Park, 110 W. Camp McDonald Road.