Lake Zurich manager leaving for Colorado
Lake Zurich's top administrator is leaving for a job in Colorado.
Village Manager Jason Slowinski announced Friday he'll formally resign to become Golden, Colorado's city manager. His resignation will be effective Sept. 1, village officials said.
Slowinski's resignation announcement comes on the heels of a four-year contract extension the Lake Zurich village board approved for him in April. His base salary was set at $156,000 for this year, with 1 percent annual raises and an opportunity for additional increases, based on merit, under a performance evaluation procedure as part of the deal through 2019.
"It is with mixed emotions that I will leave this organization," Slowinski said in a statement. "Lake Zurich is an outstanding community and I feel honored to have been able to serve this community and the organization. '
Slowinski was hired away from Des Plaines in 2012 to replace Bogdan "Bob" Vitas, who received an $85,000 cash payout after resigning as Lake Zurich's village administrator in November 2011.
Mayor Thomas Poynton and other elected officials have credited Slowinski for several achievements during his time in Lake Zurich, such as keeping the village about $200,000 below projected expenditures in the 2013-14 budget. He also has been lauded for making progress on a long-stalled downtown revitalization as developers are now showing interest in possibly building condominiums on village-owned waterfront property.
Poynton said he wishes Slowinski and his family good luck and success in Golden.
"Jason's leadership and professionalism catapulted Lake Zurich's rise in relevance and respectability," Poynton said.
An interim village manager will step in for Slowinski when he departs. Village officials said the search process for a permanent replacement will begin immediately.
Golden officials said Slowinski, a Wisconsin native, was selected from a field of five city manager finalists. Slowinski will replace Mike Bestor, who's retiring after 21 years with Golden.
Slowinski was featured enjoying Golden with his family in a YouTube video produced by the city and posted after his hiring was announced Friday. Slowinski and his family watched a moose graze near a Golden street during the video shoot.
"It's beautiful," Slowinski said. "You just look around at the mountains. For sure, very beautiful. Nothing like this in Illinois."
Slowinski met with Golden's city council, employees and residents in June. Golden is similar in population to Lake Zurich, which has about 20,000 residents.