Lake in the Hills trustee stepping down

Lake in the Hills Trustee Liz Wakeman will resign her post on the village board at the end of the month to take a job with the law firm that represents the village.

Wakeman, who was appointed to the board in June 2004 and elected in April 2005, will work in municipal litigation and family law at Zukowski Rogers Flood and McArdle in Crystal Lake.

Her final day as trustee has not been determined.

"It would be a conflict of interest for me to represent the board and be employed by the village attorney," Wakeman said. "It is with a heavy heart that I leave the board. It has been a very rewarding experience."

Her experience as a lawyer made Wakeman a great asset to the board, fellow board members said Monday.

"She brought analytic skills to the board as a lawyer, and that is always beneficial to us non-lawyer types," Trustee Ray Bogdanowski said. "I am disappointed to see her go. She will be missed."

Village President Ed Plaza noted Wakeman's aptitude in keeping abreast of village business.

"She is very judicious and has a very good work ethic and is very involved in issues that we have had in the village," Plaza said. "She is the most studious of my trustees in terms of reviewing and studying what we have in front of us as a board on a weekly basis."

Though Wakeman spent just over three years on the board, her involvement in the village extends to the mid-1990s, when she was instrumental in forming the village's parks and recreation board.

Wakeman served as the board's chairwoman from 1996 until 2000.

In 2004, Wakeman filled out the final 10 months of Steve Stahl's trustee term after he moved to Tennessee.

Wakeman then joined three other incumbents who successfully retained their seats in the April 2005 municipal election.

"It has been excellent. This is an outstanding village board with a fabulous and professional staff," Wakeman said. "The village operates how any taxpayer would want it, with educated debate and a wealth of information from village staff."

Plaza said he will nominate Wakeman's successor for village board approval at a board meeting next month.