Pingree Grove loses administrator, gains full-time police chief

Pingree Grove lost a village manager and gained a full-time police chief all in one night this week.

On Monday, the village board officially accepted the resignation of James Bassett, the village manager who had overseen development in the town for nearly eight years.

While the village continues working its way toward establishing a 24-7 police department, officials tapped Chief Carol Lussky, its part-time chief for the past 16 months, to lead the transition.

Bassett and the village mutually parted ways in November amid concerns that his 200-mile-a day commute from Bourbonnais was an issue.

Bassett had been working from home since November to finish various projects.

But now that he's been hired as village administrator in Hawthorn Woods, he's decided to focus his energies there.

"I will miss working with the department heads and administrative staff more than I can possibly say," Bassett wrote. "Be proud of them, because they are an outstanding group of public servants."

His resignation is effective Feb. 29.

Lussky, who also works as a sergeant for the Hanover Park Police Department, gave her two weeks' notice there Tuesday. She'd been with Hanover Park for more than 25 years in various positions.

But working on a consistent basis in Pingree Grove means she can devote all her time to its needs.

"That's going to be so much nicer than having to flip flop back and forth," she said.

She begins her full-time job as Pingree Grove's police chief Feb 1. Her last day in Hanover Park is Jan. 22.