Lake County briefs

New contract for Gurnee administrator:

Gurnee Village Administrator James Hayner will be on the job for at least two more years. Village trustees Monday evening approved a two-year contract extension for Hayner, a lifelong Gurnee resident who grew up on a mink farm. Mayor Kristina Kovarik said Hayner's "institutional knowledge" of the village always is valuable, but it's become even more important in difficult economic times. Known throughout Lake County governmental circles, Hayner began his government life in Gurnee as an administrative assistant in 1977. His current salary was unavailable.

Antioch passes budget:

A newly reworked 2010 budget was passed by Antioch village board members at their meeting Monday night. A $10.8 million budget was originally passed by the board under former mayor Dorothy Larson, but was rescinded by Mayor Larry Hanson shortly after he was sworn in last month. Hanson expressed concern about expenditures verses revenue projections. Since then, Village Manager Jim Keim identified $600,221 in cost reductions, but found "holes in the budget" requiring $848,437 in additional expenditures not covered in the original plan. The new $11.1 budget includes an immediate 1 percent pay increase for nonunion employees. Village workers could earn an additional 2 percent pay increase based on performance. Trustee Scott Pierce was the only board member to vote "no" on the budget proposal.