Elgin official becomes 8th high-ranking official to leave since last year

An Elgin department head at the center of a complaint against the city manager resigned Wednesday, the eighth high-ranking official to leave since last year.

Colby Basham, the city's director of neighborhood services, said his last day on the job will be Oct. 24, and he will start as director of public works in Elk Grove Village on Oct. 29.

Basham said he looks forward to returning to public works and overseeing projects from start to finish.

"It's a great opportunity in a community that's very financially stable, with a very stable board," he said. "The village manager has been there many, many years, and it's just a very stable place."

Basham was in the spotlight earlier this year after another employee, City Engineer Ron Rudd, filed a workplace violence complaint saying City Manager Rick Kozal choked Basham during a senior staff meeting in January.

Basham confirmed that during the city's internal investigation; Kozal described his actions as a "bro hug."

The other 13 witnesses said they believed Kozal's actions were playful and not violent, and Kozal received a verbal reprimand from the city council.

"Obviously Rick and mine's relationship has been a little strained," Basham said Wednesday. "But that's not the main motivating factor in leaving. It's just a great opportunity with a great community."

Basham has worked in Elgin since 2010 and was named to his current post, overseeing code compliance, in June 2017. His current salary is $139,660. He will get an increase in Elk Grove Village, he said, declining to say how much.

He is the fourth department head - the sixth counting two interim positions - to leave since May 2017, when Public Services Director Greg Rokos resigned.

City Engineer Joe Evers retired in September 2017 and Interim Public Services Director Kyla Jacobsen retired in December 2017. Assistant City Manager Aaron Cosentino took a job in the private sector in April, and Police Chief Jeff Swoboda left in June for a job in Colorado.

Deputy Police Chief Bill Wolf, named interim chief, took a job with the Schaumburg Police Department in August. Parks and Recreation Department Director Randy Reopelle retired last month.

City Manager Rick Kozal didn't immediately return a request for comment.

Mayor David Kaptain said he doesn't believe Kozal has any issues in retaining personnel. "People have different reasons for leaving," he said, pointing out three people retired, and Wolf and Swoboda have financial incentives because they get full pensions in addition to their new salaries.

"With Colby, there was some issues, obviously ..." Kaptain said. "But do I see it with the others? Absolutely not."