Des Plaines manager heading for Lake Zurich

Yet another senior staff member is leaving Des Plaines, as Acting City Manager Jason Slowinski is getting ready to head for Lake Zurich.

Slowinski will take over as Lake Zurich village administrator, a job that has been empty since December. His last day with Des Plaines is April 20.

It was Des Plaines’ third loss in as many months. City Attorney Dave Wiltse announced his retirement earlier this week, while Des Plaines’ longtime police chief, Jim Prandini, retired late last year.

Lake Zurich Trustee Tom Poynton said he was impressed with Slowinski.

“He seemed to possess the qualities that we ... were looking for,” Poynton said. “He appears to be strong in communication, staff management and handling budgets. His experience in Des Plaines was valuable, a good indicator of what we expect to see, an effective manager and communicator.

“I personally am ecstatic to have him on board, and I think he’ll be someone we as a board can work with very well,” he added.

Slowinski’s salary in Lake Zurich was not known Thursday.

Lake Zurich’s search began in November 2011, when then-Village Administrator Bob Vitas resigned and eventually received an $85,000 cash payout as part of a separation agreement. Slowinski was part of a pool of about 40 candidates for the job in a search conducted by the Lake Zurich Village Board and Village President Suzanne Branding.

Slowinski will take the seat being held by Roy Witherow, who has served as acting administrator since mid-January and is expected to reassume his position as assistant village administrator, according to Poynton.

In a news release Thursday, Des Plaines Mayor Martin Moylan said he anticipates a smooth transition to Community Development Director Michael Bartholomew, who will be Des Plaines’ new acting city manager.

Slowinski joined Des Plaines as assistant city manager in September 2008. Moylan appointed Slowinski acting city manager in January 2010 after the ouster of City Manager Jason Bajor.

“I’ve enjoyed working with Jason the past couple of years,” Moylan said in a news release. “He has been a real asset to the City of Des Plaines and we’ll miss him. I wish him all the best in his new position.”

Slowinski could not be reached Thursday afternoon.

In the release he said, “I have very much appreciated the confidence and support of Mayor Moylan and the City Council the past few years and the opportunity to serve the citizens of Des Plaines. We’ve worked together as a team and were able to accomplish some great things for the city.”

Among those accomplishments is overseeing the construction and opening of Rivers Casino last July, and the signing of a redevelopment agreement in February for a new commercial project near Mannheim and Higgins roads.

Slowinski also led the city through significant staff reductions, and led the struggle to turn an operating deficit into a considerable surplus. His staff also held firm to a “no raises” policy and worked with other departments and the city council to not increase the city’s portion of the property tax levy in fiscal years 2011 and 2012.

Slowinski also was actively searching for a replacement for the police chief and now city attorney, which now will fall to Bartholomew.

Ÿ Daily Herald staff Writer Mitch Armentrout contributed to this report.