N. Aurora finds community director in Sugar Grove

After a five-month search, North Aurora named its first community development director Monday.

The village board approved the hiring of Scott Buening, who has been the Sugar Grove community development director for the past six years. He will start Feb. 19 at about $90,000 per year, Village Administrator Sue McLaughlin said.

Buening already informed his bosses at Sugar Grove that the move was expected, which allowed village officials to release his name.

In Buening, the village will find a professional who knows the area very well. He has 11 years of experience, a master's degree in planning and is a certified planner, McLaughlin said. The move will also provide the village with an in-house planning expert, something the village has needed, McLaughlin said.

Before working for Sugar Grove, Buening worked for the village of Lemont and also Kendall County in similar jobs.

"We're very excited to have him. We're looking forward to making some changes for the better," McLaughlin said.

North Aurora has a plan to rework what had been building and zoning department into the community development department. Although still handling permits and code enforcement, the new department through its director will also work closer with businesses which have shown interest in moving to the village, McLaughlin said.

The position will not actively shop empty storefronts to businesses, she said.

Some major tasks will be developing a written policy for the new department, helping the redevelopment of the Route 31 corridor and bringing the riverfront project to fruition, she said.

"He will bring cohesiveness to the department. We're building a better foundation for the future," Village President John Hansen said.

The village reviewed about 30 applicants and interviewed six of those for the position, McLaughlin said.

"This is a very important role to fill. I'm glad we were able to find a strong candidate," Trustee Mike Herlihy said.